View Comments
The bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a controversial fixture in the Tennessee state Capitol since the late 1970s, is coming down.
The State Building Commission on Thursday gave approval for the relocation of the Forrest bust to the Tennessee State Museum, a final step in a process that has taken more than a year since Gov. Bill Lee first said it was time for the statue to be moved. It s been a year long journey, and this is an appropriate step in that process, Lee said prior to the Building Commission meeting Thursday morning. It s most important to me that we followed the process. We talked about that from the very beginning.
The bust of the Confederate general and KKK founder has been in the state capitol since 1978 Author: Caitlin McCarthy Updated: 10:18 PM CDT July 22, 2021
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Lawmakers who are members of the Black caucus describe Thursday s removal of the Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan founder s bust in the Tennessee capitol as a small victory.
Rep. Antonio Parkinson, (D) Memphis, wants people to know the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust was put in the most prominent place it could be at the capitol. That floor of the Tennessee State Capitol, in particular, is the most powerful piece of real estate in the entire state, Parkinson said. That’s where the rules are made.
Nashville Tennessean
The bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a controversial fixture in the Tennessee state Capitol since the late 1970s, is coming down.
The State Building Commission on Thursday gave approval for the relocation of the Forrest bust to the Tennessee State Museum, a final step in a process that has taken more than a year since Gov. Bill Lee first said it was time for the statue to be moved. It s been a year long journey, and this is an appropriate step in that process, Lee said prior to the Building Commission meeting Thursday morning. It s most important to me that we followed the process. We talked about that from the very beginning.
State representative calls removal of Nathan Bedford Forrest bust ‘large win’ Jonathan Marshall
State representative London Lamar said Thursday was a victory for many.
This, after a vote to remove the bust of Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest from the state Capitol.
RELATED:
The busts of two other military leaders will be removed as well.
“It’s a large win for many of those who, almost last fifty years, have been fighting to get this bust removed from the state Capitol and it finally got removed,” London said.
Governor Bill Lee voted yes while Lt. Governor Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton voted no.
Tennessee to remove bust of Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest from state Capitol ktvz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ktvz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.