Plan to move a Confederate statue to Port Arthur appears stalled
The fate of a Confederate statue honoring Dick Dowling remained in limbo Friday, but the fight over it led to a clash — and perhaps a bit of understanding — between the mayor of Port Arthur and at least one resident who confronted him about history.
Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie called a news conference to announce that he had secured a commitment to keep the monument, currently at Hermann Park in Houston, from being moved to a state park at the site of the 1863 Battle of Sabine Pass.
That’s where Dowling and 46 Rebel soldiers under his command successfully fended off a Union attack. Some of the two dozen black U.S. sailors were among those killed. The park already has one statue of the Confederate leader, in addition to displays about the battle.
Bartie was informed about the proposal to move the monument late Thursday by an Enterprise reporter. He immediately vowed to stop it, even though a committee of the Texas Historical Commission had already approved it.
Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Happening-now-Bartie-news-conference-on-15336444.php
