Confederate leaders’ names to be removed from 2 Austin roads

AUSTIN, Texas – Leaders in Texas’ capital city have voted to remove the names of Confederate leaders from two roads.

The Austin City Council voted Thursday to change the names of Robert E. Lee Road and Jeff Davis Avenue.

Robert E. Lee Road will be named for Azie Taylor Morton, the country’s first black U.S. treasurer. Morton grew up and went to college in Austin. The roadway’s official designation will be Azie Morton Road.

Jeff Davis Avenue will be named for William Holland, a black man who served as a Travis County commissioner and in the Texas Legislature.

Most residents who responded to surveys from the city objected to the proposed name changes, though most of the speakers at City Hall on Thursday were in favour of the revisions.

The city estimates the renaming will cost $2,900.