There's a difference here. The books aren't being burned - as in the books that give context and historical accounts. These statues don't say anything. They glorify generals of the confederacy. They also aren't typically being destroyed. The intent is to put them in museums where they can be given context.
These statues were divisive from the get go. They divided white and black Americans, and were put up for that very purpose. Taking them down rights that wrong. Given the timing, you may still be right about them being strategically removed to increase tensions, but leaving them up would ensure that racial tensions were never mended.
When they try to destroy something that gives actual context to the civil war then you should be worried. As it stands these statues don't teach anything except that the US is still willing to glorify the racist bastards that fought for the confederacy. That is a current problem that needs to be rectified.