Tennessee State Rep. Jerry Sexton (R) is facing widespread backlash over his comments about slavery during a discussion on a resolution to remove a statue of a Confederate general and early leader of the KKK that stands inside the state capitol.
The Republican-led Tennessee House Committee voted down the resolution on Tuesday to replace the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest with a less controversial figure, according to News 4 Nashville.
During the lead up the vote, Sexton, who argued against the resolution, said that memorials to Confederate figures should get a pass because slavery was once the norm and people simply didn’t know any better.
“It was not against the law to own slaves back then,” Sexton said. “Who knows, maybe some of us will be slaves one of these days. Laws change,” he added.
Sexton also argued that the people he represents will be “offended” by the removal of the racist memorials.
Unsurprisingly, Sexton was met with considerable pushback from his colleagues.
“I think everybody was just astonished because it just was totally at odds with the very poignant testimony by the sponsor of the bill about how burdensome the legacy of slavery is,” Rep. Mike Stewart (D) said. “The remark is more broadly reflective of the attitude that has left that bust in place.”
“African-American people and minorities always know that it’s dormant,” Rep. Joe Towns Jr. (D) said. “So it’s been here and now people are emboldened.”
Watch:
🚨MUST-WATCH: “Maybe some of us will be slaves one of these days— what about the people I represent that will be offended if we move this?”
TN GOP Rep. Jerry Sexton’s WILDLY BIZARRE 🤪defense of keeping the KKK GRAND WIZARD BUST in the Capitol… equating it with Abortion. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/EHvnYtnIzx
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) June 9, 2020
Just wow.
