TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 11, 2020

Under new legislation passed by the state Senate yesterday, Gov. Bill Lee is no longer required to sign a proclamation for Nathan Bedford Forrest Day on July 13, but it will still remain a day of observance, the Daily Memphian reports. In its original form, SB2199 sought to eliminate the day entirely, but was amended with language simply allowing the governor to avoid proclaiming the day in honor of Forrest or any other day of recognition. The Senate passed the amended bill 22-6, despite pleas from Sen. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, and Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, to drop the day. “We’ve moved past Jim Crow. But I think the last couple of weeks show systemic racism still exists,” Akbari said, referring to nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. “You can still remember and know what Nathan Bedford Forrest did without recognizing that day,” Akbari said.