Dear PFAW Member,
Can you add your name to our petition to remove monuments that celebrate the Confederacy?
Celebrating those who fought to preserve the institution of slavery is a celebration of white supremacy, and these confederate tributes serve as a painful daily reminder to people of color, and in particular Black people, that their lives and contributions are valued less than those of white people and sends the message to millions of Americans that they and their communities are not fully welcome as part of their towns, states, and country.
The movement to remove and rename confederate monuments has been revitalized as a consequence of increased activism in the last few weeks demanding change to assert that Black lives matter. Cities and counties across the country are removing monuments to confederate soldiers and perpetrators of slavery.
The state of Mississippi is removing the confederate battle flag from their state flag.1 Harris County in Texas is considering renaming Robert E. Lee Road to Dolores Huerta Road to stop celebrating the racist legacy of confederate generals who fought to continue to enslave Black people and highlight Huerta's lifetime commitment to social justice.2 And just YESTERDAY, Richmond, Virginia removed its statue of Stonewall Jackson.
These actions are great examples of the kind of progress we need to see across the country.
Removing these harmful monuments that celebrate some of the worst moments in our nation's long legacy of white supremacy is a long overdue first step to work to grapple with the lived realities of Black people in this country. Keeping up monuments to those who fought to destroy the Union in order to preserve slavery – including schools, parks, buildings, and roads named for confederate leaders – perpetuates the systemic racism and white supremacy that continues to result in discrimination, anti-Black police violence, and egregious racial inequity.
Please join us as we continue to maintain momentum for real, structural change to dismantle white supremacy.
Thank you for your advocacy. Wishing you and your family health and safety!
In community,
Charlie, PFAW
1 Read PFAW's statement on the retirement of this flag here.
2 Read PFAW's statement on the renaming of Robert E. Lee Road to Dolores Huerta Road here.
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