The Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin) today joined the call of Williamson County residents who gathered outside the county courthouse demanding commissioners to remove the Confederate statue from the courthouse ground.
SEE:Residents in Williamson County call for removal of Confederate statue
“As symbols of oppression, slavery, and white supremacy, statues honoring the Confederacy do not belong in public spaces. This statue and other Confederate monuments are a source of intimidation for people of color and a source of shame for all Americans. The statue should be moved to a history museum to be displayed in a historical context that criticizes and degrades, rather than celebrates and honors, what it represents,” said Shaimaa Zayan, Operations Manager with CAIR-Austin.
She noted that back in 2017, and not far from Williamson County, UT-Austin removed its four statues that were mounted in a prominent location on campus. The university president at the time said, “We don’t choose our history, but we choose what we honor and celebrate on our campus.”
Also, last week, CAIR’s national office welcomed removal of Confederate monument from a main street in Grenada, Mississippi.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate names, holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: Shaimaa Zayan Operations Manager CAIR Austin, (512) 785-7105, szayan@cair.com