The slave trader and a former grand wizard of the early Ku Klux Klan has his holiday: "This is WRONG"
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) criticized Tennessee Governor Bill Lee for his proclamations. By law of the state of Tennessee, the governor must issue proclamations for three days of which are connected to the Confederacy.
This is WRONG. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general & a delegate to the 1868 Democratic Convention. He was also a slave trader & the 1st Grand Wizard of the KKK. Tennessee should not have an official day (tomorrow) honoring him. Change the law. https://t.co/XBgoRCBoI0
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 12, 2019
In the words of Bill Lee himself, he signed the bill "blindly." He also said that he acted because it was “necessary” and refused to comment on the correctness of this bill.
"Each year it is the duty of the governor of this state to proclaim the following as days of special observance: January 19, "Robert E. Lee Day"; February 12, "Abraham Lincoln Day"; March 15, "Andrew Jackson Day"; June 3, "Memorial Day" or "Confederate Decoration Day"; July 13, "Nathan Bedford Forrest Day"; and November 11, "Veterans' Day." The governor shall invite the people of this state to observe the days in schools, churches, and other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies expressive of the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of such dates."
"I haven’t even looked at that law, other than knowing I needed to comply with it, so that’s what I did," Lee said. "When we look at the law, then we’ll see."
