Flowers replace statue in Travis Park as battle over Confederate monument continues
SAN ANTONIO - The multi-year battle over the Confederate soldier statue wages on, but now the skirmish is in court instead of Travis Park.
Recently-planted flowers adorn the center of the park today.
"That's just a filler," said San Antonio resident Roland de la Garza, who was soaking up sunshine in the park this week. "It's really absent of the history of this park."
The controversial statue resided for over a century in the downtown park before it was removed in the middle of a contentious September night in 2017.
"It was just a beautiful feature as part of the park for historical reasons," de la Garza said.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy, who claim ownership of the statue and an attached time capsule, sued the City of San Antonio to court to protest the move. But a federal judge recently ordered the two sides to mediate their dispute.
"The city is to open to reaching an amicable resolution. We will follow the judge's mediation order that aims to resolve this lawsuit," said Debbie Klein, deputy city attorney, in a statement to News4.
Robin Terrazas, president of the Daughters' local chapter, said she isn't sure a deal can be reached and criticized the city for it's lack of communication.
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"It's been nonexistent," Terrazas said. "When the monument was taken down, we had tried to contact the city to talk to them about whether this was really the right thing to do, and if it was the right thing to do, how to go about it."
Terrazas said the city damaged the statue when it was hastily removed, although it can be repaired.
"I'm sure it's thousands of dollars, but how many thousands, i don't know," she said.
Also being debated is where the statue should ultimately be placed. It is currently in storage, in a secret location.
"I'd like to see the monument go right back into Travis Park," Terrazas said.
And if that doesn't happen?
"It needs to be in context," she said. "And the preference would be that it is a place that the public can see without having to pay for it."
Alamo conservator Pam Rosser has been appointed special master of the time capsule, which apparently has suffered water damage.
"There’s a hole in it," Terrazas said. "We know that when they first opened it, that there was water. We’re not sure how the water got in there.
"Of course it's sentimental to us. We need to go through the whole process of finding out what’s in there, if anything. And working on the preservation of what’s there."
Stories at the time the capsule was placed in 1899 indicated artifacts inside might range from photographs and a bible the solders would have carried around to a small flag, dried flowers, coins and confederate money.
"We certainly want all of the damages paid for. The statue was damaged," Terrazas said. "The time capsule was damaged."
That issue will be part of the arbitration process.
When and if an agreement is reached, San Antonians like de la Garza will once again be able to enjoy history via a much-debated statue.
For now, the fight continues
