Stolen Plaque at Portchester Castle Highlights Enduring Racism, Descendants Say

A plaque commemorating African-Caribbean prisoners of war held at Portchester Castle in the 18th century has been stolen, a theft that descendants of those prisoners say reflects the persistent spirit of racism.

The plaque detailed the story of 2,500 African-Caribbean men, women, and children transported to Britain as prisoners of war in 1796. Its disappearance has drawn criticism from descendants who view the act as a painful echo of historical injustices and ongoing discrimination faced by Black and Indigenous Caribbean people.