The head of the Alamo Trust, the group that manages the Alamo, has left her job after being publicly criticized by a top Republican official in Texas.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wrote a letter to the Alamo Trust’s board, suggesting that Kate Rogers should either step down or be removed. Patrick said he was concerned about an academic paper she wrote where she questioned the education policies of the Republican-led state legislature. He also suggested that she wanted the Alamo to focus on more than just Texas history.
Rogers said in a statement that it was time for her to move on.
Patrick had shared a letter to the board on social media, calling Rogers’ paper “shocking.” In the paper, Rogers mentioned a book that questions the traditional stories about the Alamo. That book suggests that one of the main reasons for the Texas Revolution was the desire of Anglo settlers to keep slaves, even though Mexico had outlawed it.
Patrick said that Rogers’ views on how the history of the Alamo should be told are very different from his own. He said it raises serious questions about her judgment.
The Alamo is a very important place in Texas history, known as “the Shrine of Texas Liberty.” The state plans to spend a lot of money to renovate it, including building a new museum and visitor center.
Some people are upset about Patrick’s actions. Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai called it “gross political interference” and said that politics should not be involved in teaching history.
Patrick said that it is important to make sure that future generations never forget the sacrifices made for freedom at the Alamo. He said he will continue to defend the Alamo against any attempt to rewrite its history.
