Memphis to Jefferson Davis: 'Na na na na, hey, hey, goodbye'

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Memphis to Jefferson Davis: ‘Na na na na, hey, hey, goodbye’

By Fred Barbash December 21 at 5:00 AM

Link to tweet

The city of Memphis got rid of two Confederate statues Wednesday night, after a Tennessee two-step around a state law designed to prevent just that. It was a surprise maneuver that left the Sons of Confederate Veterans sputtering in anger and proclaiming to all who would listen: “Memphis stabbed you all in the back.”

But James G. Patterson, commander of the Tennessee Division of the Sons, advised his compatriots to “stay away” from the city for the night. “I would say that the Memphis police will not tolerate any action around these statues.”

Indeed, the flashing lights cutting through the dark from scores of police vehicles provided theatrical lighting for the cranes that showed up for the formal banishment of two Confederate heroes in the city where Martin Luther King was assassinated almost 50 years ago, on April 4, 1968.

The first to go was the equestrian statue of Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, especially loathed by many today because he was also a slave trader and a founder and “Grand Wizard” of the Ku Klux Klan. The statue was placed in a city-owned park in 1904 during the Jim Crow era of segregation.

-snip-

A cheering crowd sang as Davis was placed in the back of a truck at 10:45 p.m. and driven away. Among the songs, according to the Commercial Appeal, was that old standby: “na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, goodbye.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/21/memphis-to-jefferson-davis-na-na-na-na-hey-hey-goodbye/

[Docreed2003]

1. Havent had a chance to read the article yet, but question

Did they move the grave of Forrest and his wife as well? Because that statue stands over their graves, or, I should say their graves were moved to that site when the statue was erected. I walked passed that statue nearly every day in Med School. I’m actually pleasantly shocked they finally took it down!

[Eugene]

2. The WaPo doesn't mention the graves.

The Commercial Appeal says the statue on top the graves was removed. The city hopes to move the graves back to their original plot in Elmwood at some later date.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/government/city/2017/12/20/memphis-council-votes-immediately-remove-confederate-statues/960707001/

[Docreed2003]

9. I think thats the best all the way around.

[volstork]

3. As did I.

We used to study and picnic in Forrest Park under that statue. So glad to see it gone; a rare step in the right direction for my hometown.

[Docreed2003]

8. We did the same! Especially in the spring/fall

What school did you attend at UTHSC?

[volstork]

10. Med

Graduated in '93

[Docreed2003]

11. You were a few years ahead of me...

Passed through there a few months ago and stopped by the campus. I couldn’t believe how much had changed.

[crowman2016]

4. Well since the sons of traitors left Memphis in the white flight, they have no..

...say in the matter.

[BlueWI]

5. Monuments to sedition and white supremacists

were always a poor way to represent the history of a city or region. The new directions are overdue but welcome.

[The Wizard]

6. Note to the slave states

Lee surrendered in 1865. You lost, we won. Slavery is immoral, and you know it. You can worship statues until the cows come home but you're not getting your slaves back.

[dalton99a]

7. Throw that trash in the garbage