Photo by Dave Williams
DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Jaws are dropping across the Lone Star State as the city of Austin’s Equity Office suggests the city may want to change its name.
Stephen F. Austin is known as “the father of Texas” and hailed for many accomplishments. Now he is being remembered now for his opposition to abolition. When Mexico tried to ban slavery in the province of Tejas Austin reportedly said if slaves were freed they would be “vagabonds, a nuisance and a menace.” That’s why a report published last week suggested the Austin City Council consider a name change for Texas’ capital city in its report on monuments and street names that may also be changed or removed.
The report acknowleged that there would be significant opposition to the suggestion which would require public input and perhaps a citywide election. Two streets named after confederate figures were changed earlier this year despite the opposition of a majority of residents living on and near those streets.
The Austin American Statesman quotes the Equity Office report conclusion: “It is essential to acknowledge that societal values are fluid, and they can be and are different today compared to when our city made decisions to name and/or place these Confederate symbols in our community.
“It is also important to acknowledge that nearly all monuments to the Confederacy and its leaders were erected without a true democratic process. People of color often had no voice and no opportunity to raise concerns about the city’s decision to honor Confederate leaders.”
In the past three years Texas has led all states in removal of monuments and renaming of institutions following the Charleston, South Carolina church massacre of nine African Americans by 21 year-old white supremacist Dylann Roof.