Texas judge: Controversial Confederate statute at courthouse ‘not going anywhere’

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By Darla Guillen, Chron.com / Houston Chronicle

Published 8:37 am, Monday, June 19, 2017

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The controversial statute on the south lawn of the Lamar County Courthouse will remain following a Friday vote. >>Click to see other Confederate monuments in Texas.

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Nearly 150 years after the end of the Civil War, monuments exist to the Confederate States of America.

Here are some places in Texas where remnants of the Confederacy are alive and well…

Nearly 150 years after the end of the Civil War, monuments exist to the Confederate States of America.

Here are some places in Texas where remnants of the Confederacy are alive and well…

Photo: File

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Orange, Texas
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, who built this nearly-completed structure, call it the biggest Confederate memorial built in 100 years. When completed it will fly eight Confederate flags within view of Interstate 10 (seen behind). The Beaumont Enterprise reports the monument faced wide opposition from local residents and city council, which had no legal tools to stop construction.
Photo courtesy of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. less

Orange, Texas
The Sons of Confederate Veterans, who built this nearly-completed structure, call it the biggest Confederate memorial built in 100 years. When completed it … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Palestine, Texas
Five flags of the Confederacy are flown at the memorial plaza in Palestine. Funded by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the plaza opened in 2013. Pictured above, members of the SCV camp 2156 gathered in ceremony to dedicate a black granite plaque to veterans and families of the Confederacy.
Photo courtesy of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. less

Palestine, Texas
Five flags of the Confederacy are flown at the memorial plaza in Palestine. Funded by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the plaza opened in 2013. … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Sabine Pass, Texas
Where the Sabine River enters the Gulf of Mexico, 47 Confederate men held off a large Union attack, destroying two Inion boats and capturing hundreds of prisoners. Today the site is managed by the Texas Historical Commission, and it hosts battle reenactments in honor of the Confederate soldiers.
Photo courtesy of the Texas State Historical Commission less

Sabine Pass, Texas
Where the Sabine River enters the Gulf of Mexico, 47 Confederate men held off a large Union attack, destroying two Inion boats and capturing hundreds of prisoners. … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Hempstead, Texas
The Liendo Plantation was a center for Confederate recruiting efforts and held Union prisoners during the war. Now it holds battle reenactments and demonstrations of Civil War era Confederate life at its annual Civil War Weekend.
Photo courtesy of the Liendo Plantation less

Hempstead, Texas
The Liendo Plantation was a center for Confederate recruiting efforts and held Union prisoners during the war. Now it holds battle reenactments and demonstrations of … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Galveston, Texas
A 1911 monument outside the Galveston County courthouse, named “Dignified Resignation,” was “erected to the soldiers and sailors of the Confederate States of America.” An inscription on the plaque reads, “there has never been an armed force which in purity of motives intensity of courage and heroism has equaled the army and navy of the Confederate States of America.”
Photo from Wikipedia Commons less

Galveston, Texas
A 1911 monument outside the Galveston County courthouse, named “Dignified Resignation,” was “erected to the soldiers and sailors of the Confederate States of … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Anderson, Texas
The plaza beside the Grimes County courthouse flies a Confederate flag behind a gate with metal lettering reading “Confederate Memorial Plaza.” A metal statue depicts one of several Grimes County residents who fought with the 4th Texas volunteer infantry brigade in Virginia.
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Anderson, Texas
The plaza beside the Grimes County courthouse flies a Confederate flag behind a gate with metal lettering reading “Confederate Memorial Plaza.” A metal statue … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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Austin, Texas
A bronze and stone monument built in 1903 at the capitol building in Austin honors veterans of the Confederacy. Statues of Confederate members of the navy, infantry, artillery and cavalry surround Confederate president Jefferson Davis. The monument reads, “Died for state rights guaranteed under the constitution. The people of the South, animated by the spirit of 1776, to preserve their rights, withdrew from the federal compact in 1861. The North resorted to coercion. The South, against overwhelming numbers and resources, fought until exhausted.”
Photo from Wikipedia Commons less

Austin, Texas
A bronze and stone monument built in 1903 at the capitol building in Austin honors veterans of the Confederacy. Statues of Confederate members of the … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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In 1931, the Texas legislature named January 19 as Robert E.
Lee’s Birthday, after the general of the Confederate States. In 1973 the legislature
changed the holiday to Confederate Heroes Day.

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In 1931, the Texas legislature named January 19 as Robert E. Lee’s Birthday, after the general of the Confederate States. In 1973 the legislature changed the holiday to Confederate

… more

Photo: Harry Cabluck, STF

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Gonzales, Texas
A Confederate soldier stands atop a tall pillar in this 1909 monument dedicated to “our confederate dead.” The pillar is centered in a plaza also dedicated to the soldiers.
Photo courtesy of www.TourGonzales.com less

Gonzales, Texas
A Confederate soldier stands atop a tall pillar in this 1909 monument dedicated to “our confederate dead.” The pillar is centered in a plaza also dedicated to the … more

Photo: Dylan Baddour

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A controversial statue on the lawn of the Lamar County Courthouse will remain in place following a voting session Friday.

The monument features statues of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Albert Sidney Johnston and a Confederate soldier. It has the word “CONFEDERATE” scrawled on the bottom.

To have a Confederate memorial moved, the Texas Historical Commission requires a permit. The judge held the Friday morning vote to determine if the permit should be obtained.

The vote to have it relocated was tied 2-2 at the session. The Paris News reports the crowd was lively, with several vocal community members packed into the commissioner’s court meeting. Tempers flared at the meeting.

ELSEWHERE: Confederacy will stay in place at University of Texas

According to DFW-CBS, some residents said it was outdated and did not represent the neighborhood’s values. Others argued that it’s a part of their history. One person said, “It’s a heritage of hate. Is that what you want to hold onto?” Another attendee countered that it represented a “movement across America to take away our rights and our history.”

The United Daughters of the Confederacy Rufus C. Burleson 2709, Texas Division said they’d already paid for a crane to have it removed and the vote shouldn’t take place.

Judge Maurice Superville Jr. reportedly said: “I think in the near term, it’s a nonstarter. I mean that it’s not going anywhere. In the near term it’s over for now, but in the broader context, it will reemerge.”