Haslam Says He Opposes Confederate Symbols But Can’t Remove Them On His Own

Gov. Bill Haslam says he favors removing a bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest from the Tennessee Capitol.

But he says he doesn’t have the authority to do it on his own.

The Republican governor joined the growing list of Southern leaders condemning the use of the battle flag and other symbols of the Confederacy. 
Those images have been up for debate since last week’s mass shooting at a South Carolina church.

Haslam
told reporters he personally believes it’s inappropriate to honor Forrest, a Civil War cavalry commander who went on to be chosen Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

“You know, if I’m choosing the Tennesseans that we’re going to honor — we’re only going to honor a few in the state Capitol — I don’t think I’d pick Nathan Bedford Forrest.”

But Haslam
 says the decision isn’t his alone. In 2013, the state legislature passed a law making it harder to change Civil War memorials. That means the final say rests with the State Capitol Commission and the Historic Commission, of which he’s just one member.

Haslam
struck similar stances toward two other Confederate images.

He said he also dislikes the privately owned statue of Forrest that stands next to Interstate 65. But he doubted the administration could unilaterally obscure the monument by planting trees.

Similarly, Haslam said it would take an act of the legislature to remove
 the battle flag from specialty license plates that honor the Sons of the Confederacy.