A rally to save the Confederate monument in Travis Park was met by counterprotesters in support of removing the memorial last Saturday.
The mostly peaceful events in San Antonio coincided with violent demonstrations the same day in Charlottesville, Virginia stemming from a similar debate about the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Part of downtown's Travis Park since its dedication in 1899, the 40-foot-tall memorial to Confederate soldiers withstood resistance during initial construction as well as calls for removal in 2015.
The recent rally and local interest is spurred by the submission of a council consideration request by District 1 representative Roberto Treviño and District 2 representative William "Cruz" Shaw to relocate the monument.
"Going forward, community involvement will be critical to developing a thoughtful and appropriate relocation plan," Treviño said in a statement. "Please continue to bring forth your opinions and ideas. We are listening.”
What is the history behind Confederate monuments in San Antonio? Can a compromise be found for the statue in Travis Park?
How do disputes over similar issues nationwide affect the future of identity in the United States?
Guests:
- Councilman Roberto Treviño, chair of the City of San Antonio Arts, Culture & Heritage Committee
- John McCammon, president of the Confederate Cemetery Association
- Patrick J. Kelly, associate professor of history at the University of Texas San Antonio
- Joey Palacios, reporter for Texas Public Radio
This is a community conversation and we want to hear from you. Leave a voicemail with your questions and comments in advance by calling 210-615-8982. During the live show (12 - 1 p.m.), call 210-614-8980, email thesource@tpr.org or tweet at @TPRSource.
