Nathan Bedford Forrest: Tennessee to remove bust of Ku Klux Klan leader from State Capitol

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“After more than a year of preparation, this process has finally come to an end,” said Republican Gov. of Tennessee Bill Lee, who voted in favor of the removal.

“I thank the members of the Capitol Commission, the Historical Commission and the State Building Commission for their thoughtful contribution and confidence in the process. The State Museum provides the full historical background of these figures then. that we remember the rich and complex past of our state. ”

The vote was 5-2 in favor of the decision – which also includes plans to remove the busts of Admiral David Farragut and Admiral Albert Gleaves – and followed recommendations from the State Capitol Commission and the Historical Commission.

The remains of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife are removed from a Memphis park
Forrest was a Confederate general, slave trader, and first leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

“Museums preserve historic objects to establish links with the past and provide public spaces for reflection. We are prepared to place these artifacts in this framework, ”said Ashley Howell, director of the Tennessee State Museum.

The museum said the move would begin on Friday.

The two officials who voted against the removal of the busts were Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton.

“Trying to judge the actions of past generations on the basis of today’s values ​​and the evolution of societies is not an exercise that I am ready to do because I think it is counterproductive”, Sexton said in a statement. “It is much more productive to learn from our past and not repeat the imperfections of the past. Any attempt to erase the past only aligns society with the teaching of communism, which believes that the present dominates the past. pass.”
McNally said in a tweet this context was necessary, no deletion. “No one is saying Forrest is not a problematic character. He is. But there is more to his story,” McNally said.
Last month, crews removed the remains of Forrest and his wife from a Memphis park where a monument to him once stood.



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