Speaking to The Tennessean last week, Tennessee GOP Rep. Jeremy Faison fired off a novel idea for replacing symbols of the Confederacy throughout the state: Why not replace them with a more universally-loved symbol?
“What’s wrong with someone like Dolly Parton being put in that alcove?” Faison asked, referring to a statue of Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest that currently stands at the state’s capitol.
Faison previously supporting keeping the statue, but has since changed his mind.
“I fundamentally reject any notion by someone saying that moving him to the museum is trying to whitewash history,” Faison told The Tennessean. “If we want to preserve history, then let’s tell it the right way. Right now there are eight alcoves [in the Capitol]. Seven are filled with white men.”
“How about getting a lady in there?” he continued. “My daughter is 16, and I would love for her to come into the Capitol and see a lady up there. What’s wrong with [suffragette] Anne Dallas Dudley getting in that alcove?”
Faison did not commit to putting forward any kind of legislation, however.
Featured image via screen grab
