There were cheers and jubilation when the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate army general and leader of the Ku Klux Klan, was removed on Thursday from Health Sciences Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
This adds to the number of Confederate statues removed in the United States after series of protests sparked by racially motivated attacks in South Carolina, and an upsurge in white supremacy rallies.
The protesters say the statues are a representation of racism and do not have a place in their communities.
The city tirelessly sought ways to remove the statue since they were not allowed by law to do so. They found a loophole which is to sell the parks to a third party who has legal rights to remove the statue.
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The city sold two parks with confederate statues to Greenspace Inc. for $1,000 each so that they can remove the statues and relocate the remains of Forrest buried under the monument, reports The Commercial Appeal.
Below is a video showing how the statue of the slave trader, Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader who became influential in the city after the Civil War, was removed.
WATCH: Statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate Army general and early leader of the Ku Klux Klan, removed from Health Sciences Park in Memphis, Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/QpeZ2KoGX5
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 21, 2017
Below are reactions from supporters of the removal of the statue.
Hmmm…once it was stated that he was an early leader of the KKK, my first question is why was the statue up and took this long to come down. Confederate statue is one thing (which I think should be in museums, cemeteries & on battlefields) but KKK leader…just wrong. No excuse.
— Bob (@ranrtt) December 21, 2017
These monuments were largely erected as a fuck you to the federal government for desegregation and civil rights. Our flag in ga had the confederate battle flag added for that reason. They all need to go.
— bubba D (@bubbaDick) December 21, 2017
Now melt it.
— RolandiXor (Roland L. Taylor) (@rolandixor) December 21, 2017
Good. Should be in a museum not out on display, this isn’t North Korea.
— Paul The Book Guy (@PaulTheBookGuy) December 21, 2017
I agree this isn’t North Korea but seeing all the republican senators, especially pence praise trump today made sure made it seem like it
— kg (@kevingrabarek) December 21, 2017
It’s about time….
— Melissa? (@melissacarole33) December 21, 2017
Where are they taking it? To @realDonaldTrump‘s backyard?
— Jessica Swisher (@swishersgoddess) December 21, 2017
