Posts

The Struggle Against the Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust with Justin Jones

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

Organizer Justin Jones joins to talk with Representative Johnson about his years-long struggle in leading the charge to remove the bust of former KKK Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest from the State Capitol. Jones puts it best in his reason for focusing so heavily on the bust: if we can’t remove such a blatant symbol of racism from our Capitol, how will we ever be able to find the strength to build a true, multi-racial democracy?

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

FLOODS OF JUSTICE PODCAST

/in , , , , /by

A new episode of FLOODS OF JUSTICE with Reverend Kevin Riggs and Co-Host Kevin Sage on The Tennessee Holler Podcast Network is LIVE!

Riggs and Sage discuss the symbols of the Confederacy that still haunt our community, police brutality, and our local government’s choice to reopen schools during COVID19.

FULL PODCAST available on Apple Podcasts, and wherever else you like to listen.

REP MIKE SPARKS can’t say whether the CIVIL WAR was fought over SLAVERY or not!

/in , , , , /by

Representative Mike Sparks of Smyrna can’t answer whether the Civil War was fought over slavery. This coming right on the heels of Sparks pleading with the Capitol Commission to keep the bust of the first Grand Wizard of the KKK in the Tennessee State Capitol.

Peak white supremacy.

Brandon Thomas is running against Sparks.

SENATOR BRENDA GILMORE on the Removal of the FIRST GRAND WIZARD OF THE KKK from the State Capitol

/in , , /by

Senator Gilmore speaks to the State Capitol Commission about why they should do the right thing and remove the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from the State Capitol. Forrest was a Confederate General and the first Grand Wizard of the KKK. His bust has been in the Tennessee State Capitol since 1978, with protesters advocating for its removal for years.

The Commission voted 9-2 in favor of removal, with State Representative Matthew Hill and Senator Jack Johnson being the only dissenters.

The Historical Commission will have the final say on its removal.

VIDEO: Students to Gov. Lee – “Remove KKK Grand Wizard Bust From Capital!”

/in , , /by

Yesterday a group of students gathered at the capital to ask Governor Lee to remove the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a confederate general who also has the distinction of being the first ever KKK Grand Wizard.

Watch and Share the Video Here:

“We come in peace and love… we’re tired of being tired.” – Jeneisha Harris, TSU

The bust is featured prominently in the lobby outside the state legislature. The students are not the first to protest it, and they won’t be the last.

The young Tennesseans came from all over the state to make their voices heard, leaving letters expressing their feelings on the floor outside the Governor’s office and stopping to pray in front of the state troopers who stood guard outside the governor’s office

As Justin Jones of Vanderbilt Divinity School says, history isn’t just something we read about in history books, history is going on every day. If you agree with these brave kids and what they’re doing, HOLLER at Governor Lee HERE.

And please watch and share the video above, footage courtesy of WZTV.