Gov. Lee, to meet on Forrest bust removal from Capitol
Nashville, TN (July 7, 2020) – Gov. Lee is convening a meeting of the State Capitol Commission on Thurs, July 9th to discuss removal of the bust. The commission’s decision will then be forwarded to the Historical Commission. If the latter agrees, the bust may be removed. To share your opinion contact Gov. Lee at: email = https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html; phone= 615-741-2001; US mail 1st Floor, State Capitol, 600 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Nashville TN 37243.
From its conception in 1970, the thought of a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest was controversial. History records Forrest as a slave trader, harsh slave-master, a Confederate General in the civil war, a founding member and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
Despite a history of rebellion and terrorism, the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest was prominently installed in the State Capitol building in 1978. Among the first proclamations signed by current Gov. Bill Lee was to recognize July 13, 2019, as “Nathan Bedford Forrest Day” which only revived flames of controversy. On June 9, 2020, a bill to remove the bust was defeated. The rejecting vote was 11-5 with all nay votes from Republicans and the supporting votes from four Democrats and one Republican.
The League of Women Voters of Tennessee issued this statement; “We urge the State Capitol Commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission to remove the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Capitol. The Capitol is the peoples’ building and should be a welcoming place for all Tennesseans. Nathan Bedford Forrest is a divisive figure and honoring him is not representative of the values of respect and inclusivity to which the state aspires… To accomplish this goal, the Forrest bust must be removed.
Historical Commission members:
- Butch Eley, chairman = butch.eley@tn.gov
- Christi Branscom = christi.branscom@tn.gov
- David Salyers = david.salyers@tn.gov
- Tre Hargett = tre.hargett@tn.gov
- David Lillard = david.lillard@tn.gov
- Justin Wilson = justin.wilson@cot.tn.gov
- Jack Johnson = sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
- Matthew Hill = rep.matthew.hill@capitol.tn.gov
- Howard Gentry = howard.gentry@nashville.gov
- Hallerin Hill = hallerinhillscc@gmail.com
- Dr. Logan Hampton = lhampton@lanecollege.edu
