Removing Confederate monuments have been controversial, but for one city it is having a quite effect. According to The Commercial Appeal, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives approved a last-minute amendment to cut Memphis' allocated budget by $250,000 following that city's decision to take down its CSA mounuments. The measure was approved via a 56-31 vote.
The amendment passed with a $37.5 million budget.
In December, the city of Memphis sold two public parks to a nonprofit organization, which removed statues of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
"What this amendment does is it removes $250,000 from the budget that is designated to go to the city of Memphis for their bicentennial celebration," said Representative Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads), on the House floor. "If you recall, back in December, Memphis did something that removed historical markers in the city. It was the city of Memphis that did this, and it was full knowing it was not the will of the legislature."Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden) noted that "bad actions" have "bad consequences."
Not every House member is here for the budget cut decision.
"This amendment and the explanation is hateful, it is unkind, it is un-Christian and it is unfair," said Representative Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis). "Memphis is a city in this state, and I am sick of people in this House acting like it’s not."
Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) called out his fellow lawmakers, denouncing the amendment vile and racist, as he was booed by other members, according to the Associated Press.
“You can boo all you want, but let’s call it for what it is,” said Parkinson.
Parkinson went on to express how fed up he was regarding how much lawmakers revered General Forrest, a slave owner, slave trader and first leader of the Ku Klux Klan, “as if he was God, as if he was an idol.”
“You remove money from a city because we removed your God from our grounds,” Parkinson said.
