Petition Seeks to Remove Denton Confederate Statue

While to some the statue of a Confederate soldier that stands before the Denton County Courthouse represents a piece of history, others say they believe it just represents hypocrisy.

That stand has incited two University of North Texas students to start a petition for the removal of the historical landmark, a statue of a Confederate soldier holding his gun to represent the South in the Civil War.

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[Aron Duhon, a white student behind the petition] said the statue, with its two separate fountains, is a standing ovation to racism. The two fountains were originally made separate for whites and blacks.

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“We live in a diverse population,” said Jason V. Waite, another student [race uncertain] behind the petition. “We have the University of North Texas here. We have lots of foreign students, lots of commuters and this only puts a damper on entrepreneurial interests in Denton.”

Denton County Judge Mary Horn said the students’ petition is the third time the confederate statue issue has caught the attention of the commissioners court.

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“When I see a Confederate soldier memorial, I got to stop to have a picture of that,” said Sandy Kolls, a self-professed [white] historical buff.

Kolls came across the statue while visiting Texas from Illinois.

“I’m a northerner and I honor the soldiers who fought for the Confederacy, okay?” she said of the statue. “So, I get a good feeling.”

There are also others who disagree.

“I believe it represents hatred,” said Coby Williams [a black].

“That’s just like having, I guess, like a slave owner with a whip,” agreed Leah Herford [another black].

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