Special Meeting Set for July 7th to TAKE THEM DOWN!

Petition updateRemove the Confederate Monuments from Bastrop County PropertySpecial Meeting Set for July 7th to TAKE THEM DOWN!

Cheryl LeeBastrop, TX, United States

Jun 23, 2020

Good Morning Supporters! Yesterday was a great day in our push to have the Confederate Monument removed from the grounds of the Bastrop County Courthouse. We faced a small share of opposers raising the same argument about how we are trying to erase their history and heritage but they were overshadowed by some great speakers both inside and outside the Courthouse with very moving and heart wrenching stories from citizens in our community who spoke on the real life experiences they faced in Bastrop during the Jim Crow era.

Judge Paul Pape did not comply with our request to have the item as written on the agenda, "to remove all Confederate Monuments from public spaces in Bastrop County." He instead changed the language to read, "to discuss racial injustices, interracial tension, and ways to promote equality for all." After many of us questioned their process and the renaming of our request, ultimately the court decided to keep the language the same. The court did however agree to set a special meeting date of July 7th, so at this point they can call the agenda item dirt, we made it clear the topic of discussion will be about removing those monuments.

So Whats Next:

We are planning to again rally outside the courthouse on this date. We need everyone who is able to come out in support on this day. We have mask, we have water, and we have sanitizer for your protection. We have been told that the entire meeting will be dedicated to our request so if you are interested in speaking during citizens comments please click the link below for the form to sign up once they post the agenda item online. We will keep you updated on that and you can mail in the form, email it, fax it, or bring it with you on the 7th and submit it the morning of the 7th before 9a.

https://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/upload/page/0075/docs/Public%20Participation%20Form.pdf

Next, we are at 4,960 signatures on the change.org petition. Sooooo close to our 5,000. I talked to several people on the lawn who still had not signed so please if you have just been putting it off, stop what you are doing and take that 5 minutes to push us over 5,000. Sign and share the link below to your social network:

https://www.change.org/takethemdownbastrop

And finally, continue to call, email, fax, or write your support for removal to the following members of the court. We need to continue to flood them with request to TAKE THEM DOWN! I spoke with someone who has a business in the downtown area and he has offered to contribute up a substantial amount of money to help relocate them and I am sure their are other business that will follow suit. So take some time this week to call the judge and commissioners between now and the 7th to let them know you support their removal.

County Clerk Rose Pietsch

803 Pine Street, Room 112 | Bastrop, Texas 78602 | Phone: (512) 332-7234 | Fax: (512) 332-7241

County Judge Paul Pape

Phone: (512) 332-7201

Pct. 1 Commissioner Mel Hamner (Bastrop area)

Phone: (512) 332-7295

Pct. 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett (Smithville area)

Phone: Phone: (512) 581-4002

Pct. 3 Commissioner Mark Meuth (Cedar Creek area)

Phone: (512) 581-4000

Pct 4 Commissioner Donna Snowden (Elgin area)

Phone: (512) 332-7267