Finally, some semblance of sanity regarding the removal of historical statues has been levied.
A district court judge issued a temporary restraining order following a Dallas City Council vote to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The general – not the ESPN commentator.
The sculpture of Lee and an unknown soldier on horseback in Lee Park has been around for 81 years.
On Wednesday, the Council voted 13-1 in favor of the statue’s removal. The proposal also sought to change the names of roads and parks that have been associated with Civil War-era individuals.
JUST IN: The #Dallas City Council has voted to immediately remove monument in Oak Lawn dedicated to Robert E. Lee: https://t.co/MJwRUAeG8D pic.twitter.com/H5PB2JQPPl
— WFAA-TV (@wfaachannel8) September 6, 2017
Lee monument vote passes 13-1 with Callahan voting present. pic.twitter.com/VJTZYfke2w
— Tristan Hallman (@TristanHallman) September 6, 2017
“These monuments represent a false telling of history,” council member Philip Kingston opined. And he said that without a hint of irony over the fact that removing historical statues is a form of re-writing history.
The Texas division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans stepped in to try and prevent the statue’s removal. While workers brought in a crane to the site and tightened straps around the statue, U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater granted the temporary restraining order.
Here is video of the crane driving away …
Federal court prevented the removal of a Robert E Lee statue in Dallas pic.twitter.com/oqdUJWQHfC
— Joe Biggs (@Rambobiggs) September 6, 2017
Last month, President Trump railed against the removal of historical statues, labeling it “foolish.”
Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments. You…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017
…can’t change history, but you can learn from it. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson – who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish! Also…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017
…the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017
Of course, Trump’s sarcasm turned to reality when liberals did indeed start insisting on the removal of statues and monuments erected on behalf of Washington and Jefferson.
Former city council member Sandra Crenshaw said, “Some people think that by taking a statue down, that’s going to erase racism,” adding that the notion was “misguided.”
Do you agree that removing statues is misguided? Do you support this judge issuing a restraining order? Share your thoughts below!
