University Of Texas At Austin Sued For Removing Confederate Statues

AUSTIN, TX — A relative of a man who donated Confederate statues to the University of Texas at Austin at the turn of the last century is suing the school for removing the sculptures s from campus grounds last weekend, according to a published report.

A relative of Maj. George Washington Littlefield—a cattleman and banker who was among the university's biggest donors—filed a lawsuit against UT-Austin President Gregory L. Fenves for ordering the removal of the statues last Sunday night, the Austin American-Statesman said. In the lawsuit, the relative notes that Littlefield donated the statues in the early part of the 20th century under an agreement to promote the "Southern perspective of American history," according to the lawsuit.

Just after 10 p.m. on Sunday, crews started removing statues honoring Confederacy figures that had long stood on the South Mall portion of campus. Fenves said in a statement the statues were taken down in response to recent attacks by racists elsewhere in the country who seemed energized by such Civil War symbols.

Watch: University Of Texas Removes 4 Confederate Statues Overnight

The lawsuit also accuses the university of squelching free speech in the process, counter to its own ideals. "The university agreed to communicate political speech in perpetuity," the suit reads, as reported by the Statesman. "Now, however, Pres. Fenves has breached the university’s promise to communicate minority political speech.”

Among the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are Steven Littlefield of Montana and David McMahon, commander of the Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, according to the report.

George Washington Littlefield was a venerated supporter of UT-Austin, and not just for his statues' donation. According to archival information at UT-Austin, Littlefield emerged as a prominent benefactor when the school decided in 1991 to formally recognize its most grandiose donors.

"When The University of Texas at Austin decided in 1991 to recognize its most generous benefactors through an honorary society, the question arose as to what to call the new organization," university officials previously wrote. "One name stood out as an exemplar of the many distinguished individuals who have sustained and advanced the University throughout its history. George Washington Littlefield (1842-1920) was a member of the UT Board of Regents and a respected business leader who cared deeply for the University and gave generously."

University officials then ticked off his many gifts: Funds to purchase the John Henry Wrenn Library, to build the Littlefield Fountain and the Alice P. Littlefield Dormitory; through a bequest, he donated his family’s home, which today is a beloved campus landmark; in another bequest, seed funding for the construction of the UT Tower.

In short: "Littlefield gave more to the University during its first 50 years than any other individual," university officials noted. "Through his gifts and active engagement, he personifies the philanthropic spirit at UT Austin."

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Littlefield also fought for the Confederacy, enlisting in Company I, Eighth Texas Cavalry (Terry's Texas Rangers), which fought in the Army of Tennessee. Terry's Texas Rangers members were volunteers from the Lone Star State fighting for the Confederate Army. Before his service, Littlefield grew up in a family plantation in Gonzales County and took over another family plantation after his military discharge in 1864.

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A university spokesman confirmed in an email to Patch that school officials had received notice of the litigation, but couldn't comment further given the pending nature of the lawsuit: "The university has received the lawsuit," J.B. Bird wrote in an email in response to questions from Patch. "The university generally does not comment on litigation in the media and will respond through the formal legal channels."

But Bird noted that Fenves consulted with many stakeholders before ordering the statue's removal, and did not a unilaterally: "University lawyers carefully studied the relocation of the statues, which was handled appropriately," Bird wrote.

In an earlier prepared statement, Fenves described his process: "During the past several days, I have talked with student leaders, students, faculty members, staff members and alumni to listen to their views after the revelatory events in Charlottesville," Fenves wrote at the time. "I also revisited the very thorough 2015 task force report. After considering the original task force report and with the events of the past week and my discussions with the campus community in mind, I have decided to relocate the remaining four statues.”

To read the report resulting from the work of task force, titled "Task Force on Historical Representation of Statuary at UT Austin," click here.

Under cover of darkness through the dawn hours of Monday, statues of Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Albert Sidney Johnston were removed along with those honoring Confederate postmaster John H. Reagan and James Hogg, who was the first native-born governor of Texas.

The Statesman noted that the attorney filing the lawsuit, Kirk Lyons, is the same lawyer who filed a similar lawsuit two years ago seeking to prevent the university from removing statues of Jefferson Davis, who served as president of the Confederacy, and former President Woodrow Wilson. Both of those statues also were located on the South lawn, the former now in a campus museum and the latter in storage.

A judge ultimately denied the lawyer's restraining order, clearing the way for the statues' removal.

To read more about George Washington Littlefield from the Texas State Historical Association, click here.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

Photo of Gen. Robert E. Lee via the New York Public Library Digital Collections