Forrest Bust At TN Capitol Stirs Debate

Rep. Ryan Williams said he didn’t have an opinion on a Nathan Bedford Forrest bust at the state capitol.

Protestors gathered at the capitol in Nashville Monday to protest the bust.

“I’m always fearful when any culture starts removing cultural artifacts from history,” Williams said.

Gov. Bill Haslam issued a statement Monday saying he doesn’t think the bust should be there and encouraging protesters to go through official channels to get the bust removed.

“I look at history as a mark, history defines the direction of how we got to where we are today,” Williams said.

Williams said either the state Capitol Commission or the legislature could vote to remove the bust. The legislature isn’t in session and doesn’t reconvene until January.

Media reports indicate protests over the bust also took place after the racially-motivated shooting at an African American church in South Carolina several years ago.