A protest over the Confederate statue in Franklin’s downtown public square has attracted supporters and detractors, with both sides arguing in person and on social media.
Protestors want the statue, which some people call “Chip,” removed from the premises. According to the City of Franklin’s website, the statue has overlooked downtown Franklin since 1899.
Fairview resident Brent Buttrey felt strongly enough about preserving the statue that he wrote about it in a public Facebook post Friday.
“Like it or not;I will defend the statue in Franklin ;Tn. .a confederate soldier. That statue is a symbol of the past and the war that was fought on that land,” Buttrey wrote.
“If you stand back and look at what’s going on in our country right now;it’s history constantly repeating itself;or at least every four years! If you can’t stand for something;you will fall for anything!!”
The Nashville-based FOX 17 livestreamed protesters standing in front of the statue and chanting “Black Lives Matter” over and over. Protestors held signs saying “RIP Chip.” An unidentified man preached that the statue reminded certain people that they “were subhuman.”
As the Nashville-based News Channel 5 reported, the group of teens, Students for Black Empowerment, protested Friday.
“The monument has been the topic of discussion as the city tries to answer the question: who owns Public Square? On July 14, Franklin city officials agreed to settle with the Daughters of the Confederacy, giving them ownership of the statue,” the station reported.
“The group’s attorney, Douglas Jones, says they’ve had it all along, saying they paid for ‘Chip’ so the monument belongs to them. Meaning the rest of the square is owned by the city, but the statue is owned by the Daughters of the Confederacy.”
Visitfranklin.com said that last year people added more markers around the public square to share the fuller story of Franklin and to share African-American history.
“The markers on the public square share the story of the market house that sold slaves and explain the Battle of Franklin. (The public square markers coincide with markers nearby at the historic courthouse talking about reconstruction, U.S. Colored Troops, and the Franklin riot of 1867),” the website said.
“Although Franklin cannot change its rather ugly history, this community has always shown itself to be a welcoming, accepting, supportive community…a place that does not wash over events of the past, but learns from them, changes, and moves forward.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Protesters” by Fox 17.
Thanks TJ & glad you escaped the socialist “utopia” of California, a once-great state! You are more than welcome here in Tennessee. Nashville & Memphis are kinda crazy because they’re democrat controlled, but thankfully Nashville has not become San Francisco yet!
There is no way to appease these anarchists. You take down a Confederate statue one week, & next week they’re after Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, etc. etc. Locally, BLM thugs sprayed graffiti on the famous Battle of Nashville “Peace” monument on Granny White Pike in South Nashville. Ironically, it was built after WW1 to honor WW1 veterans & to celebrate the reunification of both North & South. If you really are gullible to think this is about race, just look at the multiple statues of abolitionists throughout the country that have been vandalized & torn down. One monument vandalized honored an African American regiment that fought for the Union! These people have no credibility, it’s all about wiping out the ENTIRE history & culture of the U.S. & replacing it with radical socialism/marxism.
100% agree Dave! As someone who just became a resident of Tennessee moving from Los Angeles I will defend statues of history against the indoctrinated self-righteous of our society. I will use everything in my power to prevent TN becoming CA. I have lived the Socialist/Marxist plan for America and you do Not want it coming to your door!