BREAKING: Commission recommends moving bust of KKK wizard Forrest from capitol to state museum
History is being moved out of the state capitol.
The State Capitol Commission voted 9-2 to send a petition of waiver to the Tennessee Historical Commission who will likely decide to move the bust of Confederate General and KKK grand wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest from the second floor of the capitol building to the Tennessee State Museum.
Local state Rep. Matthew Hill voted against moving the bust along with Senator Jack Johnson.
The commissions are following through with the recommendation of Governor Bill Lee who reiterated his recommendation to move the bust prior to the vote on Thursday afternoon in Nashville.
Commission member and Commissioner of General Services Christi Branscom said while Forrest’s renown for his military tactics earned recognition the actions in his personal and professional life as a slave trader and early leader of the racist hate group “deserves censure, not commendation.”
An amendment passed that will also have the statues of Admirals David Farragut and Albert Gleaves moved to the museum from their capitol post.