New bill would protect iconic Sam Houston statue in Hermann Park

A Texas lawmaker has proposed a new bill to protect historical monuments like Hermann Park's Sam Houston. Click through to learn more about the statue's history. A Texas lawmaker has proposed a new bill to protect historical monuments like Hermann Park's Sam Houston. Click through to learn more about the statue's history. Photo: Steve Gonzales Photo: Steve Gonzales Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close New bill would protect iconic Sam Houston statue in Hermann Park 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

A Texas lawmaker has proposed a bill to protect historical monuments in response to a fake attempt at removing the Sam Houston statue in Hermann Park more than two months ago.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, a Conroe Republican, called Senate Bill 112 a "necessary" response to "recent attempts across the state" of removing public monuments.

"A rally occurred in Hermann Park in Houston earlier this year regarding the removal of the Sam Houston statue," Creighton said in a news release. "Sam Houston is the namesake of the city of Houston and one of Texas' most important founding fathers."

BIG SAM DRAMA: Texas group calls for removal of iconic Sam Houston statue from Hermann Park

The hubbub around Sam Houston, an unapologetic slave owner during the 1800s, began in late May after a fake Facebook group called Texas Antifa created a page calling for the statue's removal. The entire page was a farce perpetrated by an alt-right group that had borrowed the name from the anti-fascist group, Houston Antifa, the Houston Press reported.

"Comrades, we need to fight to remove the disgusting statues of ALL war criminals and slave owners. Texans want these statues removed!" the fake group wrote May 22 on its Facebook page.

Despite Texas Antifa's efforts being debunked, that did not stop armed protesters from flocking to the Big Sam to protect it in June.

BUSTED: Armed protesters at Hermann Park defend Sam Houston statue

While Big Sam seems safe for now, a Confederate statue in San Antonio is under siege.

The statue in Travis Park has been there since 1899 and features a confederate soldier with the words "Our Confederate Dead" and "Lest we forget" engraved on it. Two councilmen have called for a vote in August to decide if the statue should be moved.

"These statutes and monuments are important to Texans," Creighton said. "Texas should not erase our history -- we should learn from it."