Javier R. Garcia: "Brownsville Is Officially A Ghetto City!"

ghet·to
ˈɡedō/
noun

1. a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

Javier Garcia, the editor of Bronsbil Estacion, long a promoter of the city's history, finds the defacement of the Jefferson Davis Memorial in Washington Park to be a tipping point for the city.  Garcia now declares unequivocally, that "Brownsville is officially a ghetto city."

It's noteworthy that Garcia, always precise with his words, did not use barrio to describe our town, but ghetto.  We will leave it to Mr. Garcia to explain his word choice.

Friday, driving through town with Brownsville Observer music writer Diego Lee Rot, Diego pointed at the rock in Washington Park and shouted:  "Look at that!"

We stopped and took pictures.  Someone had painted on the statue the words:  "No Trump!  No KKK!  No Fascist U.S.A.!"

I told Diego that I was going to post this picture on my blog under the title "Racist Rock Desecrated!," but that I was bothered by using the word "desecrated," since it implied the statue was sacred.

"Use the word 'tagged," offered Diego.

I went with "desecrated," despite my reservations.

Craig Stone

Someone who likely did feel the the monument was sacred is former Program & Education Coordinator of the Brownsville Historical Museum, Craig Stone.  Stone, incidentally, was also a member of the 6th brigade, Texas division, of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Relocating the Jefferson Davis Memorial is on the agenda of Tuesday's city commission meeting:

12. Consideration and ACTION to relocate the Jefferson Davis Highway Memorial. (Commissioners J. Tetreau/B. Neece)