On Friday the State Preservation Board voted to remove a controversial Confederate plaque at the Texas state Capitol.
The board members (including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the Texas House Dennis Bonnen) did not explain how or when the plaque would come down, nor did they discuss where it will end up once it's removed, but one thing is for sure - it's leaving.
The plaque has been hanging in the capitol since 1959 and displays the Children of the Confederacy Creed:
"BECAUSE WE DESIRE TO PERPETUATE, IN LOVE AND HONOR, THE HEROIC DEEDS OF THOSE WHO ENLISTED IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY, AND UPHELD ITS FLAG THROUGH FOUR YEARS OF WAR, WE, THE CHILDREN OF THE SOUTH, HAVE UNITED IN AN ORGANIZATION CALLED 'CHILDREN OF THE CONFEDERACY,' IN WHICH OUR STRENGTH, ENTHUSIASM, AND LOVE OF JUSTICE CAN EXERT ITS INFLUENCE."
"WE, THEREFORE, PLEDGE OURSELVES TO PRESERVE PURE IDEALS; TO HONOR OUR VETERANS; TO STUDY AND TEACH THE TRUTHS OF HISTORY(ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF WHICH IS, THAT THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES WAS NOT A REBELLION, NOR WAS ITS UNDERLYING CAUSE TO SUSTAIN SLAVERY), AND TO ALWAYS ACT IN A MANNER THAT WILL REFLECT HONOR UPON OUR NOBLE AND PATRIOTIC ANCESTORS."
"ERECTED BY TEXAS DIVISION
CHILDREN OF THE CONFEDERACY
AUGUST 7, 1959"
UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 30: Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)