INSIDER
Photo of Pearland High School students wearing Confederate clothing outrages parents, civil rights leaders
Read full article: Photo of Pearland High School students wearing Confederate clothing outrages parents, civil rights leadersThe security of our children,” exclaimed Harvey Wolff, a parent of two students enrolled in Pearland High School. Yet, despite what they allege were obvious intentions among the group, parents said the administration at Pearland High School didn’t act soon enough. KPRC 2 received a response from the school district Friday afternoon, confirming the clothing violated the dress code. “Per the Pearland ISD dress code, apparel or accessories which include cultural divisiveness and racial intolerance may not be worn. “That’s what started that whole dress code revolution, which is great," said Melissa Wilson, a parent.
After Needville HS senior asked to remove Black Lives Matter mask, parents and students cry foul
Read full article: After Needville HS senior asked to remove Black Lives Matter mask, parents and students cry foulHOUSTON A ban on Black Lives Matter face masks at Needville High School has some parents and students accusing the school and district of bias and silencing students trying to express their first amendment rights to free speech. She says she questioned his rationale and asked why other students are allowed to wear masks that say Trump on them, apparently in support of President Donald Trump. The Needville Independent School District did not answer KPRC 2s specific questions regarding students being allowed to wear Trump masks. When a student wore a Black Lives Matter face mask, that student was told the same thing that face mask was not permitted. The district recognizes that it is important to provide students with guidance regarding what face masks are permitted and which are not.
Across South, a push to change Confederate school names
Read full article: Across South, a push to change Confederate school namesMultiple school systems in Alabama, Texas and Virginia have voted to change school names in recent months, but local resistance and state laws make that no simple task. The Montgomery County School Board voted in July to change the names of the three schools, but a 2017 state law protects Confederate monuments and other long-standing memorials and names. In Virginia, the removal of Confederate names began in the states northern region in 2018, when J.E.B. Washington-Lee High School in Arlington changed its name to Washington-Liberty at the start of the 2019-2020 academic year. In Hanover County, a conservative jurisdiction outside Richmond, the school board narrowly voted to change the name of Lee-Davis High.
Houston Museum of African American Culture takes possession of Confederate monument that once stood in Sam Houston Park
Read full article: Houston Museum of African American Culture takes possession of Confederate monument that once stood in Sam Houston ParkThe Spirit of the Confederacy statue is seen after being transferred to the Houston Museum of African American Culture in this image provided by the museum on Aug. 18, 2020. HOUSTON A Confederate monument that stood in a Houston park for more than a century before it was removed two months ago is now in the possession of the Houston Museum of African American Culture. The Spirit of the Confederacy was removed from Sam Houston Park during the overnight hours of June 17. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the statue would be given to the museum so that it can be viewed in the appropriate context. An effigy of Confederate commander Robert Dick Dowling was removed from Hermann Park the following day.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames the presence of Confederate monuments at the Texas Capitol on Democrats after being urged to remove them
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames the presence of Confederate monuments at the Texas Capitol on Democrats after being urged to remove themCredit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneIn response to a letter by Democratic state senators urging the removal of Confederate monuments and symbols at the Texas Capitol, Lt. Gov. Currently, about 80% of Democrats in the Texas Legislature are people of color, compared to about 4% of Republicans. ReferenceDemocratic state senators penned a letter urging the removal of Confederate monuments and symbols at the Texas Capitol. At the end of your letter you state that the Democrat Senators stand in solidarity against racism and all forms of discrimination. Let me assure you that I and every Republican in the Texas Senate also oppose racism in any form.
State senator charged with 'injury' to Confederate monument
Read full article: State senator charged with 'injury' to Confederate monumentNORFOLK, Va. A Virginia state senator has been charged with damaging a Confederate monument in Portsmouth during protests that also led to a demonstrator being critically injured when a statue was torn down, authorities said Monday. Lucas is a longtime Democratic legislator and a key power broker in the state Senate, joining the chamber in 1992. The monument in Portsmouth consists of a large obelisk and statues of four Confederate military personnel. Felony charges leveled against a sitting state senator are to be taken seriously, and should not be sought out for political gain, he said in a statement. "It is for that reason that the Republican Party of Virginia calls for Senator Lucas to turn herself in.
Texas A&M can't remove Sul Ross statue without the Legislature's approval, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says
Read full article: Texas A&M can't remove Sul Ross statue without the Legislature's approval, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton saysThe Lawrence Sullivan Sul Ross statue on the campus of Texas A&M University. Shelby Knowles for The Texas TribuneOnly the Texas Legislature has the authority to permanently remove the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue at Texas A&M University, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in an opinion released Friday. Those task forces will ultimately make a recommendation on how best to address concerns about Sul Ross and other monuments, Young said. A&M System Chancellor John Sharp previously opposed removing the statue, then later said that he supported the task forces' review. "While my personal opinion has not changed about the importance of Lawrence Sullivan Ross to Texas A&M, we Aggies must stand united against racism and love one another," Sharp's statement said.
Goose Creek CISD to vote on changing name of Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown during Sept. meeting
Read full article: Goose Creek CISD to vote on changing name of Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown during Sept. meetingBAYTOWN, Texas The board of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District said they want to hear more from the community before calling for a board vote at a September meeting on whether or not to rename Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas. The result of the Sept. 9 vote by the board will determine if the high school gets a new name, district officials said. We cant justify retaining the name if it harms even one student, said board member Agustin Loredo. According to the district, minorities make up more than 80% of the student body at Robert E. Lee High School. The district is preparing for a large turnout of citizens who will want to express their opinions for and against the name change.
Missouri City councilmembers to hear public comments on street signs linked to KKK, Confederacy
Read full article: Missouri City councilmembers to hear public comments on street signs linked to KKK, ConfederacyHOUSTON – Missouri City councilmembers will hold a public meeting Monday evening to discuss offensive and racially-insensitive street signs in the city. Some of the signs in question are said to be named after Confederate leaders and a founding member of the Ku Klux Klan. The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. and councilmembers will listen to comments for or against an ordinance to establish regulations for the naming of streets in the city. If you want to make a public comment on this issue, you can sign up here before 4 p.m. Monday. You can also watch a live stream of the meeting here.
Texas organizers say local police did not protect protesters from opposing groups
Read full article: Texas organizers say local police did not protect protesters from opposing groupsWEATHERFORD, Texas Community leaders say local law enforcement in Texas did not protect protesters from opposing groups after weekend rallies turned violent. But organizer Tony Crawford, of Parker County Progressives, said police did not seem to know what to do and failed to protect the protesters. The groups had planned to march from a city park to the Parker County Courthouse. Parker County Judge Pat Deen said two people were arrested. On Sunday, a Portland Protest Rally and a Back the Blue Rally in Tyler turned violent.
Fox's Carlson criticized for saying Democrats hate America
Read full article: Fox's Carlson criticized for saying Democrats hate AmericaNEW YORK Television's most popular political host, Tucker Carlson, says leaders of the Democratic party should be disqualified from running the country because they despise it. While some analysts called it divisive, Carlson praised it as the best speech the president has made in his life. Carlson said that these people hate America. Theres no longer any question about that.The leaders of todays Democratic Party ... despise this country, he said. Besides Biden, Carlson on Monday singled out U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a former military helicopter pilot who lost both legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq.
Fight for what is right: One womans battle to keep a Confederate statue out of her community
Read full article: Fight for what is right: One womans battle to keep a Confederate statue out of her communityAs she approached the Old Lake County Courthouse, the fear she felt as a girl walking those same streets rushed through her body. A memorial for the Groveland Four was erected outside the Old Lake County Courthouse last year, when the young men were posthumously pardoned. "It's evil and wrong and we shouldn't have it here in our community," Hazelton said. In 2019 DeSantis officially requested the Kirby Smith statue be replaced by a statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an African American civil rights activist and educator. During a 2019 Lake County Board of County Commissioners meeting, residents spoke for and against the statue.
Pelosi orders removal of Confederate portraits from Capitol
Read full article: Pelosi orders removal of Confederate portraits from CapitolWASHINGTON House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she is ordering the removal from the Capitol of portraits honoring four previous House speakers who served in the Confederacy. In a letter to the House clerk, Pelosi requested the immediate removal of portraits depicting former speakers Robert Hunter of Virginia, James Orr of South Carolina and Howell Cobb and Charles Crisp, both of Georgia. Hunter, who served at nearly every level of the Confederacy, including as Confederate secretary of state, served as speaker from 1839-41. Cobb served as speaker from 1849-51, while Crisp served after the Civil War, from 1891-95. Earlier this month, Pelosi urged the removal of Confederate statues from the Capitol and the renaming of U.S. military bases that honor Confederate Army officers.
‘Spirit of the Confederacy’ statue removed from Sam Houston Park, to be relocated to Houston Museum of African-American Culture
Read full article: ‘Spirit of the Confederacy’ statue removed from Sam Houston Park, to be relocated to Houston Museum of African-American CultureHOUSTON – The “Spirit of the Confederacy” statue has been removed from Sam Houston Park. Mayor Sylvester Turner said it is one of two Confederate statues that will be removed before Juneteenth. The statue will be relocated to the Houston Museum of African-American Culture in Midtown. Turner said his decision to remove Houston’s Confederate statues from public parks marks a major turning point at an important time in our history. You don’t see any statues honoring any of the Nazi regimes in Germany and you definitely wouldn’t see statue honoring Nazis who fought with Hitler in any Holocaust museums,” Douglas told KPRC 2.
Pharrell Williams Joins Virginia Governor in Announcing Legislation to Make Juneteenth an Official Holiday
Read full article: Pharrell Williams Joins Virginia Governor in Announcing Legislation to Make Juneteenth an Official HolidayTexas first made it a state holiday in 1980. The Democratic governor is giving every executive branch employee this Friday off as a paid holiday and will work with the legislature later this year to pass a law codifying Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday. The announcement came less than two weeks after Northam announced he was ordering the removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee along Richmond's prominent Monument Avenue. Earlier this year, Northam signed legislation scrapping Lee-Jackson Day, a state holiday named after two Confederate generals. Northam was joined Tuesday at his news conference by musician Pharrell Williams, who is from Virginia.
LIST: Houston has 12 statues and paintings on display depicting Confederate leaders, the Civil War and slavery
Read full article: LIST: Houston has 12 statues and paintings on display depicting Confederate leaders, the Civil War and slaveryHOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Thursday he plans to relocate two Confederate statues from Houston parks in commemoration of Juneteenth next week. The task force had recommended that the statues be removed from public property and not be destroyed after submitting their findings. See a full list of artwork in Houston that are connected to the Confederacy, the Civil War or slavery here. (HOUSTON PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT)George H. HermannLocation: Hermann Park, Gragg ParkDedication Date: 1981, 1943George Hermann became a benefactor to the City of Houston, donating funds and property for Hermann Park, Memorial Hermann, and Hermann Square. George H Hermann statue in Hermann Park (Houston Parks & Recreation)George Hermann statue at Gragg Park (Houston Parks and Recreation)Sam HoustonLocation: Hermann ParkDedication date: 1908Sam Houston became the first president of the Republic of Texas, first Senator of Texas, and Governor.
President Trump says he will not even consider efforts to remove Confederate commanders names from military bases
Read full article: President Trump says he will not even consider efforts to remove Confederate commanders names from military bases(CNN) President Donald Trump said Wednesday he opposes any effort by the US military to rename the nearly one dozen major bases and installations that bear the names of Confederate military commanders. US Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Defense Secretary Mark Esper are said to be open to holding a "bipartisan conversation" about renaming nearly a dozen major bases and installations that bear the names of Confederate military commanders, according to an Army official. But Trump tweeted: "These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a... ....history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations." Army bases across the country have continued to bear the names of Confederate military commanders even amid intense external pressure to rename them.
Virginia protesters tear down a statue of Jefferson Davis a day after bringing down Christopher Columbus
Read full article: Virginia protesters tear down a statue of Jefferson Davis a day after bringing down Christopher ColumbusRICHMOND, Virginia A crowd of protesters in Richmond, Virginia, brought down the statue of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, CNN affiliate WRIC reported. But protesters vandalized a statue of Christopher Columbus, tore it down using ropes and threw it in the park. Ahead of the rally, the Richmond Indigenous Society tweeted "we are gathering at Byrd Park to protest yet another racist monument. Christopher Columbus was a murderer of Indigenous people, mainstreaming the genocidal culture against Indigenous people that we still see today. The state's governor has also announced plans to remove another statue honoring Confederate General Robert R. Lee from Richmond's historic Monument Avenue.
2 confederate statues in Houston to be relocated from public parks in commemoration of Juneteenth, Turner says
Read full article: 2 confederate statues in Houston to be relocated from public parks in commemoration of Juneteenth, Turner saysHOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the citys plans to relocate two Confederate statues, the Dowling and Spirit of Confederacy, in commemoration of Juneteenth. The Spirit of the Confederacy will be moved from San Houston Park in downtown Houston to the Houston Museum of African American Culture in the Museum District with grant money from the Houston Endowment. Turner hopes that the relocation of the statues will prevent vandalism and provide better historical context for the statues than public parks. The task force had recommended that the statues be removed from public property and not be destroyed after submitting their findings. See a full list of artwork in Houston that are connected to the Confederacy, the Civil War or slavery here.