Confederate Plaques
Debate Starts Anew

A Confederate heritage group renewed its effort to get controversial historical markers put back in the Texas Supreme Court building.

 

The Sons of Confederate Veterans are still protesting the removal of two memorial plaques almost four years ago.  One of the plaques displays the Confederate battle flag and has angered civil rights groups in the past.

Monday, (March 22, 2003), a Travis County judge dismissed the group's lawsuit against the state.  The SCV argued removal of the plaques was illegal.

 

"The Confederate Pension money paid for this building. Why shouldn't we honor the people that paid for the building.  That's the way I feel about it," Jim Lyons with the Sons of Confederate Veterans said, "You pay for
something, you should have the privilege of having your name on it I feel like."

 

The group says it will likely appeal the dismissal of their lawsuit and will continue fighting to get the plaques put back up in the Supreme Court building.