Texas hero
Regarding “Armed demonstrators defend park monument” (Page A3, Sunday), protesters in Hermann Park, protesting a perceived threat to remove the magnificent statue of Sam Houston, the father of our state, come armed and displaying American and Confederate flags. These protesters are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution by “the right of the people peacefully to assemble.” Do you bring firearms to a peaceful assembly? Did they think that if there might be a counter-assembly (which never materialized) they could go to war with them? Is that why they carried arms and a Confederate battle flag?
There should have been only two flags at that demonstration to support Sam Houston: the American Stars and Stripes and the Texas Lone Star State flag, for which Houston fought many battles. It should also be noted that Sam Houston was against Texas joining the Confederacy, and he refused to pledge allegiance to the confederacy, which cost him his position as governor of Texas. He was vilified by the supporters of the Confederacy until his death in 1863.
I strongly support the right of peaceful assembly, whether for or against something one might believe in. But it behooves the protesters to understand what they are protesting for or against, and the proper way to protest. Displaying a Confederate flag is not supportive of Sam Houston.