Forrest Bust Removal Question To Go To State Building Commission

By Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout

July 19, 2021

The State Capitol Commission is set to request Thursday that the State Building Commission concur with its decision to relocate three busts, including one of Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, to the State Museum from the State Capitol.

Gov. Bill Lee, who last year sought removal of the Forrest bust from the State Capitol, has scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning, shortly before the State Building Commission is to meet. The topic has not been revealed.

The move marks a departure of sorts from the Capitol Commission’s decision to take the matter straight to the Tennessee Historical Commission in fall of 2020 instead of going first through the State Building Commission at the time.

At that point, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton insisted state law required the matter to go through the State Building Commission, on which they serve, before it could go to the Historical Commission. The Capitol Commission skipped that step, leading to questions about whether their move was legal.

McNally has opposed removal of the Forrest bust, preferring that context for the Confederate general’s life be added. Critics of the bust’s inclusion in the Capitol say it sends a message that white supremacy continues there, celebrating Forrest’s life as a slave trader, Confederate general, leader during the Fort Pillow Massacre and then grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

The vote by the Capitol Commission and subsequent action by the Historical Commission relocated busts of Forrest and U.S. Admirals David Farragut and Albert Gleaves to a Hall of Heroes exhibit to be set up by the State Museum.

Sexton has said he believes the state should make sure it handles the relocation legally. But the Republican-controlled House is largely opposed to removal.

Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued an opinion leaving the question open by saying both sides could be correct, depending on the interpretation of their action.

Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration has been mum on how it would handle the matter since the Historical Commission’s order took effect July 9.

Taking the matter before the State Building Commission could be considered a setback. But the Lee Administration might still have enough votes to approve the relocation.

Even if McNally and Sexton were to vote against the relocation, they could be outnumbered on the Building Commission by Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Comptroller Jason Mumpower, Treasurer David Lillard, Finance & Administration Commissioner Butch Eley and even Gov. Lee.

Mumpower has not voted on the matter, but his predecessor, Justin Wilson, called for the vote to move all three busts for creation of a Hall of Heroes. Hargett, Lillard and Eley have all voted for the relocation as members of the Capitol Commission.

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