Across Britain, statues of famous people are at the center of a public debate. Activists say statues honoring some political or business leaders from the past should be removed from public places. But other people say these monuments should be kept, not destroyed, for the lessons they teach. Many statues were put up during the years of the British Empire, between 1830 and 1914. Now, some of them are at the center of angry debates over culture and history. These arguments have turned violent and destructive in some cases. Some monuments are being guarded to prevent damage from activists. For example, a statue of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London’s Parliament Square has been covered up to protect against damage.