GOP Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (Texas) is denouncing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) for signing a proclamation honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader.

"This is WRONG," Cruz said on Twitter on Friday.

"Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general & a delegate to the 1868 Democratic Convention. He was also a slave trader & the 1st Grand Wizard of the KKK." he added. "Tennessee should not have an official day (tomorrow) honoring him. Change the law."

This is WRONG. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general & a delegate to the 1868 Democratic Convention. He was also a slave trader & the 1st Grand Wizard of the KKK. Tennessee should not have an official day (tomorrow) honoring him. Change the law. https://t.co/XBgoRCBoI0 — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 12, 2019

The Tennessee governor is facing increasing scrutiny over a state law that marks a day to honor Forrest.

Lee last week signed a proclamation for July 13 to be observed as "Nathan Bedford Forrest Day." The proclamation was in accordance with previously signed state law, according to Fox 17 Nashville.

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Tennessee state legislative librarian Eddie Weeks noted to The Tennessean that Forrest Day has been a holiday in the state since 1921. The same law that enshrines Saturday as "Nathan Bedford Forrest Day" also calls for observing January 19 as "Robert E. Lee Day" and June 3 as "Confederate Decoration Day," according to reports.

"To meet our legal obligation, Gov. Lee signed the same proclamation that has been signed in years past," an aide to the governor told Fox 17 last week. "To be clear, a new law has not been signed – it’s a proclamation in accordance with the existing law that the governor must follow."