NASHVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE 3/9/2021 - A Tennessee panel has agreed to remove the state Capitol's bust of a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader.
The Tennessee Historical Commission voted 25-1 on Tuesday to move the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust to the Tennessee State Museum.
The committee said that facility is better equipped to provide the appropriate context for the bust.
The committee also stated that the interest of commemorating a long-dead historical figure was outweighed by the interest of thousands of citizens who find the commemoration hurtful.
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2/17/2021 - Amid winter storms, a Tennessee panel won't vote until March on whether to remove the Capitol's bust of a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader.
Tennessee Historical Commission spokesperson Susan McClamroch says consideration of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust is rescheduled from this week until March 9 until key people can be physically present for the virtual meeting.
Another panel in July approved the proposal to move Capitol busts of Forrest and two other military figures to the state museum.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee supports moving Forrest's bust and has made six recent commission appointments.
Top GOP legislative leaders are asking the attorney general if the change requires a third panel's approval.