Second member of House GOP leadership calls for Confederate bust removal

Natalie Allison | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption Nathan Bedford Forrest's Tennessee ties As the debate rages on over the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Tennessee Capitol, here's a quick look at the controversial figure.

As a second member of House Republican leadership calls for the removal of a controversial Confederate memorial from the Capitol, the state commission with partial authority to authorize such a change will not take up the matter during a scheduled meeting next week.

The State Capitol Commission is now scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss use of an outdoor portion of the Capitol for a downtown New Year's Eve fireworks show. But it will not discuss any possible removal of the bust of Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, Gov. Bill Lee's office confirmed Thursday.

Lee's communications director Chris Walker said the meeting would not stray from its agenda to the topic of Forrest.

In recent days, House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, called for the bust to be moved to the Tennessee State Museum. Faison told The Tennessean he had experienced a change of heart over the last two years after studying Forrest's life and speaking with his black colleagues about the issue.

Additionally, Rep. Brandon Ogles, also member of House GOP leadership as caucus vice chairman, now says the bust should be removed. Ogles, R-Franklin, also said he thinks it's important to understand that many black legislators and visitors to the Capitol find the bust of Forrest, who was a slave trader, to be offensive.

"I've never walked a day in their shoes," Ogles said of people of color entering the Capitol. "I've never been harassed. I've never been looked at differently, so I don't know what it's like to be a minority. I can only say those people are my friends and colleagues, and if they're offended, that gives me pause."

Governor has yet to call for commission to take up Forrest bust issue

Lola Potter, spokesperson for the department of Finance and Administration, said department Commissioner Stuart McWhorter called for the "routine meeting" next week to discuss use of the public property for the holiday event.

"Anything more deliberative would be for another time," Potter said in response to whether the commission might also add a conversation about the bust removal to the agenda.

After appointing two African-American members to the commission, Lee earlier this fall said he would be calling the Capitol Commission to a meeting to discuss taking action on the bust though the governor has yet to do so. Walker on Thursday said he was unsure when the governor would call for the commission to take up the topic.

Under the state's Heritage Protection Act, the Tennessee Historical Commission must also give the OK for the monument to be removed.

In an interview Thursday, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, echoed his previously stated position: he believes the decision should be made by the Historical and Capitol commissions, but that he is in favor of keeping the bust where it is and adding context next to it.

"My preference would be that they put some comments about his life there that reflect the good and the bad," McNally said.

He suggested noting that Forrest was "fairly distinguished as a military leader."

"Of course he did fight for the South, which lost the war, and it was a rebellion against the government, so that was a bad thing," McNally said.

The lieutenant governor also noted that Forrest renounced the Klan late in life.

Forrest notably led troops in the Fort Pillow massacre in West Tennessee, where the Confederate army killed hundreds of surrendered Union soldiers, most of whom were black, in what became known as one of the most infamous events of the Civil War.

As for whether black legislators' and Capitol visitors' feelings over the bust should play a factor in determining what becomes of it, McNally maintained cited the need to preserve history.

"I think they have a point, and certainly we’ll consider it," McNally said. "You can’t really rewrite history, and one should respect he history that we have. The good and the not-so-good in history."

In response to questions about what should be done with the bust and whether he too had concerns about it causing pain for some African-American members and others, House Speaker Cameron said in a statement that he has heard from people both for and against the Forrest bust and trusted the Capitol Commission to take their opinions into consideration. He did not specifically address black lawmakers' concerns.

"All Tennesseans should be heard," Sexton said. "We have received feedback from citizens on both sides of this issue. I am sure the State Capitol Commission being an independent body compromised of citizen and state government appointees will listen to all Tennesseans if the commission determines to meet on this issue.

"Obviously, the commission sets its own agenda, and they have the authority to proceed on this issue and other related matters without legislative approval.”

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest politics news, podcasts like Grand Divisions, plus newsletters, a personalized mobile experience and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's 109 local sites.