The American Civil War was fought and lost by seceding states who went to war to preserve and expand the institution on slavery. Members of the Confederacy were traitors to the United States and the principals of freedom, equality and basic human rights that so many have died to protect. Far too many believe confederate statutes, flags, etc. have a place in our society and argue that their removal is an "erasure of our history", but their very existence and their place in our government institutions is the true erasure of history. Propaganda ridden memorials that imply the Civil War was fought only to preserve the individual rights of our State of Texas and not for the continuation of enslavement of our black brothers and sisters deny the racist history of our state. Their placement is a testament to those values having a place in our society today. The difference between remembrance and romanticism of racist institutions lies in the placement of confederate memorials that exist in our cities to this day. Therefore, we ask the Texas government to remove any and all confederate statues in any state-funded institutions including government buildings, state funded universities, public schools, and the Texas Capitol. Help send a message to the Texas government that racism and violent oppression have no place in our State or Country.