A statue of Oliver Cromwell in Wythenshawe Park has been daubed in graffiti.
Vandals have spray-painted the words 'Cromwell is a cockroach' and 'f*** racist' on the monument.
The acronym 'BLM', which stands for 'Black Lives Matter' has also been written on the statue.
The historical significance of statues in Greater Manchester has been thrown into the spotlight since mass protests broke out over the death of black man George Floyd in police custody in the U.S.
Demonstrators in Bristol pulled down the controversial statue of a 17th century slave trader, Edward Colston.
Earlier this month, Manchester City Council announced they would review every statue in the city in response to the Black Lives Matter protests.
The Grade II listed bronze statue of Cromwell, which is mounted on a granite plinth and pedestal, is dated 1875.
It was originally located on Deansgate.
Oliver Cromwell was an English general and statesman who led the Parliament of England's armies against King Charles I during the English Civil War in the 17th century.
Thousands of people were massacred during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
The vandalism of the statue has divided opinion in Wythenshawe.
Councillor Glynn Evans, who represents the Brooklands ward, said: "It's just mindless graffiti. He did some things wrong, like with the Irish people.
"The pyramids were built by slave labourers - would we pull them down? It's history. People haven't found that statue offensive for many years. It's just because of what has happened in America and all over. It's somebody jumping on the bandwagon.
"If the council decides to move it then fine, but (the vandalism) is making the park look a mess. People take their children to the park, we have visitors from all over. To go on and spoil that, it's mindless vandalism."
Councillor Sarah Judge, who represents Woodhouse Park, said she supported the Black Lives Matter protests, but said she feared that the act of spraying the statue with graffiti could 'distract' from the movement.
