AUSTIN, TX — On Wednesday, members of the House Committee on Administration and the Senate Committee on Administration issued a joint letter calling for the immediate removal of several Confederate memorials located on the Capitol Grounds. In addition, the members call for the renaming of the John H. Reagan State Office Building.
“By maintaining idols and symbols of hate we are endorsing their body of work as deserving of high honor,” said Rep. Carl Sherman, (D-DeSoto). “It’s time to remove idols of men who did not love all men, nor did they believe that people of color were created equal by God. There has never been a time so right to do what’s right.”
For over a century, these memorials have signaled to visitors, staff and legislators alike, that the State of Texas venerates the legacy of the Confederacy. By virtue of their placement on state grounds, these memorials are elevated to a reverence reserved for the most righteous of individuals and causes.
“Life size images of men who actually fought to oppress and enslave the entire Black race continue to perpetuate the generational trauma of racism,” remarked Rep. Shawn Thierry (D-Houston). “The time is overdue to correct the record as we can no longer glorify those who fought to uphold the barbaric practice of slavery.
“As a life-long Texan, and descendant of slavery, I join this diverse coalition of my colleagues in the House and Senate as we call for the removal of threatening Confederate imagery from the Capitol grounds. The goal is clear: We must ensure that every walkway and hallway of our Capitol is viewed as a safe space for all Texans.”
