In a day and age of removing all-things-Confederate, the state of Tennessee has taken a stand and told a Nashville Metro Council “no,” lawmakers will not allow a statue of a famous rebel general to be concealed by bushes and trees.
The Tennessean reported the council wanted the statue of notable Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, which is situated on private property next to Interstate 65, to be hidden from passing drivers because it could be considered offensive.
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commission John Schroer said in a written response to the Metro Council, the Associated Press reported: “TDOT does not plant foliage on its right-of-way with the sole intention of blocking items on private property based on what might be offensive to some and not to others.”
The statue shows Forrest on horseback and surrounded by Confederate flags. It’s stood at its present spot since 1998.
The request comes amid a flurry of activity around the nation to remove the Confederate flag from the public venue. As reported by WND, South Carolina just voted to take down the rebel flag from Capitol grounds; NASCAR has pressed for fans to stop bringing the banner to events; Amazon and Walmart have announced plans to stop selling the flag.
