Commission votes to move Forrest bust to museum but Lt. Governor wants an opinion from Attorney General

The bust of Confederate hero, slave trader, and early KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest was ordered to be removed from the halls of the state capitol to the Tennessee State Museum on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Historical Commission voted 25 to 1 following a marathon zoom session online that included more than 30 people from the public who spoke on the move—the majority asking for the statute installed in 1978 to be shipped out.

Governor Bill Lee and his predecessor Bill Haslam both called for the exit of Forrest but Lt. Gov. Randy McNally says the move might be put on hold.

McNally, who says the Forrest controversy is part of the ‘cancel culture movement,’ argues the commission’s vote should not be allowed and has asked Attorney General Herb Slatery for an opinion on the matter.

(IMAGE: ST 929 Archives)