A recent report on Confederate monuments in the city of Austin suggested that not only should the city rename a handful of parks and streets, but it should also consider finding a new name. Austin's Equity Office had an issue with Austin because the city's namesake Stephen F. Austin opposed Mexico's attempt to ban slavery in the province of Tejas.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, the report cited a quote by Austin, who is known as the "Father of Texas," which suggested the if Mexico freed their slaves they would become "vagabonds, a nuisance, and a menace."
The report listed renaming the city under a section of "assets for secondary review” and is likely not going to be considered by city officials. In order to change the name of the city, they would have to hold an election.
The report pointed out that many of the monuments were named after Confederate officials "without a true democratic process."
“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,” the Equity Office's report notes.
“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,” it continues.
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