NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam says he supports removing the bust of Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest from the state Capitol.
The Republican governor told reporters on Tuesday that if he’s picking which Tennesseans to honor, “that would not be one of the Tennesseans I would honor.”
Haslam says he also supports removing the Confederate flag from license plates and specialty plates in Tennessee.
Haslam’s comments follow media reports that a couple of Metro Nashville Council members are seeking to cover up a private statue of Forrest that sits along the Interstate 65 corridor.
The moves from state and local lawmakers come days after nine people were gunned down in a historic black church in South Carolina, prompting a debate over Confederate symbols.
RELATED CONTENT:
Lawmakers question bust of Klan leader in Tennessee capitol
Big retailers feel pressure on Confederate flag merchandise