NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Despite numerous requests for clarification, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee would not take a stance on the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest.
The controversial Tennessee fixture in the state capitol has been the center of protest for many years.
And following weeks of protest in the state and across America, the governor addressed the issue of the bust.
Forrest is controversial for the role he played as a Confederate general, as a slave trader and one of the first leaders of the KKK.
Lee has called the statue inside the capitol a piece of history in the past. However, he won't say that he wants it removed from the Capitol.
He did acknowledge the hurt that Forrest's legacy has on the black citizens of the state.
"That particular individual and his role in history is particularly painful to African Americans," said Lee.
Lee said he wanted to be more informed about the issue and looked forward to talking with black leaders about the bust.
On Tuesday, a resolution to remove the bust failed in the Naming, Designating, & Private Acts Committee.
Lee said the capitol commission has the final say in the matter. However, in the past state leaders said the historical commission would also have to rule on the placement of the statue.
Lee said he wasn't going to recommend the capitol commission remove the bust as former governor Bill Haslam did in 2017.
He said he would be in favor of some historical context, such as a plaque underneath the bust.
