Sir Michael Palin backs calls to redesign ‘racist’ St George knighthood medal as it ‘looks like George Floyd’s murder’
SIR Michael Palin today backed calls to redesign the 'racist' St George knighthood medal after claims it looked like George Floyd's murder.
The Monty Python star was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George but said the image on the medal was "inappropriate and offensive."
The image is meant to show the Archangel Michael defeating Satan but concerns have been raised that it appeared to be similar to the death of George Floyd in the US.
The American had begged "I can't breathe" after being held down by cops, tragically dying cardiopulmonary arrest.
His death sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the globe, including in the UK.
And speaking to the , Sir Michael said: 'Though the image on my award is of a white Satan being vanquished, I think that depicted is inappropriate and offensive and I would back the Governor-General of Jamaica's call for it to be re-designed."
The image on the medal had initially shown a white angel standing on the neck of a black man.
However in 2011, it was changed to feature a white devil.
As Sir Patrick received the award in 2009, his medal would feature the old design.
The Governor General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen has also said he will not wear the medal.
A spokesperson for the Governor-General said: 'This follows concerns raised by citizens over the image on the medal, and the growing global rejection of the use of objects that normalise the continued degradation of people of colour."
A petition has also called for changes to be made to the medal.
The change.org petition states: 'This is a highly offensive image. It is also reminiscent of the recent killing of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal."
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Sir Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said: "The original image may have been of St Michael slaying Satan, but the figure has no horns or tail and is clearly a black man."
A government spokesperson said: "The premise of this petition is factually incorrect – the insignia for the Order of St Michael and St George was updated in 2011."
