On June 20, 2017, we will hold a public meeting for the people of Memphis to discuss our collective action to have the statues of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and Jefferson Davis removed from our public parks. There is no justification for these statues to continue to stand. Removing statues does not erase history. Their names will still live in history books, museums, and the memory of their modern-day followers. Built decades after the Civil War ended, these statues were not raised to remember history but to reestablish the prominence of the Confederate South. If we want a Memphis that is inclusive and equitable for all, one major step we must take is to bring down these statues.

The City of Memphis has requested permission from the Tennessee Historical Commission to remove the Nathan Bedford Forrest Statue. This request/waiver was originally denied but is scheduled to receive a second review. Signing this petition will show the TN Historical Commission that the people of Memphis want these statues removed.

Read more about the fight for Confederate Statue Removal in Memphis here.