Residents make final pleas for Dallas Confederate monuments

Wednesday night was the last chance for Dallas residents to address city council over the future of the city's Confederate monuments. The city council is expected to vote on the matter in a couple of weeks.

As expected, many of the people who took the time to go to the meeting took the chance to plead against the city removing the monuments and other symbols of the Confederacy. Some said they didn’t want them removed for historical reasons. Others simply believe it will create a hassle for them.

The fight over Dallas' Confederate monuments that started in summer has now reached fall.
By winter, some of the last pieces of the Confederacy on Dallas city property could be on the way out. A city council vote is expected November 8 to sign off on task force recommendations to boot the already removed Lee park statue and still standing Confederate war monument to an educational institution.

But before they do, around 58 people, mostly Dallas residents, once again and for the final time before council shared a piece of their minds.

“Mr. mayor, what kind of society are you creating when you destroy its past?” asked Beth Biesel. “A weak, gutless society of whiners and cupcakes who can't handle the truth.”

Some of those in the audience didn't have much to say about history but did about their addresses. Among the task force recommendations are changing certain street names.

“The hardships that will be placed on the people who actually live there to change the name creates a lot of bad feelings,” said Linda Parsel.

While seasons have changed during the fight over the Confederate monuments, it's unclear how many council members will fight to keep them on city property and go against the task force recommendations.

“We cannot ignore this is the springboard of the Klan,” said task force member Coy Murchison. “We cannot ignore that many people were hurt.”

What is clear is there are a lot of citizens who want to be heard before the council decides.

“I just want you to really consider the ramifications of what you're going to take here,” said Jim Temborious.

The next hearing on the issue will be next week. City council will be briefed on the task force recommendations. The vote is ultimately expected one week after that on November 8.