I'm sure if an angry mob of Christians tore down the baphomet statue in Arkansas, like the students tore down Silent Sam, the media would be demanding they were all identified and jailed. Just because you don't like something doesn't give you license to destroy it.
I'm not defending the Silent Sam statue, it really doesn't hold any meaning for me, but it does for people who's ancestors fought for the state. The dedication of the statue was for those that were students or alumni of UNC-CH. A lot of those people took up arms in defense of NC.
At the time of leading up to the Civil War the country was divided, much like it is now ideologically. Depending on stats, about 1/3 of southerners, to include some blacks, owned slaves. So, claiming everybody that fought for the south fought to preserve slavery is ludicrous.
If CA or TX seceded from the Union & a president ordered the rebellion put down, a lot of those citizens would defend their homes if they felt what would be seen as a foreign army invaded their new country. That's human nature. Somebody breaks into your house, you don't make tea!
There are legal remedies to remove something that you don't like. Petition for the removal. If that fails do it again, and again, and again until you succeed. This has been done in other locations, but breaking the law is breaking the law.
Also, comparing the American Civil War to Nazi Germany regarding monuments is ridiculous. Nazi Germany was conquered by external powers which forbid monuments to Nazi hierarchy. Union & CSA troops were ALL Americans that fought against each other. Many were friends.
LTG James Longstreet & Union General Ulysses Grant were very close friends, in fact, it was Grant that restored Longstreet's citizenship. Longstreet helped put down the rebellion by the White League at the Battle of Liberty Place in 1874. He also served as ambassador to Turkey.
Virtually nobody is defending slavery in the 150+ years since the end of the Civil War. However, the ancestors of those that fought and died still believe in the recognition of their ancestors that answered the call of their respective states at that dark period in our history.
