Jefferson Davis statue
After three Confederate monuments came down here in December, city officials say they expected a decision like the one made by a Davidson County chancellor Monday.
Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle’s ruled that Memphis Greenspace Inc, the group that purchased the two Downtown parks and removed the statues, cannot transfer or sell the monuments.
On Tuesday, the court followed up by requiring that the city and the challenging group, Sons of Confederate Veterans set a mediation to take place before March 16 to decide on the future homes for the monuments.
The city’s chief legal officer Bruce McMullen said the administration anticipated facing legal challenges like these, but feels the city’s legal standing is solid.
“We are confident that our actions will withstand that scrutiny and those challenges,” he said in a statement Monday.
Sons of the Confederate Veterans requested to inspect the statues of Nathan Bedford Forrest, Jefferson Davis, and Capt. Harvey Mathes for damage, but the court denied permission.
Still, the Memphis Brigade of the Sons of Confederate Veterans count Monday’s ruling as a win.
“The Sons of Confederate Veterans are victorious,” the group posted to its Facebook page. “We were successful in procuring a restraining order and injunction today…The judicial, legislative, and executive branches of Tennessee have been turning a blind eye. But not this time! A judge ruled in our favor!”
Though president of Greenspace, Van Turner has received offers to take the statues, he said the group is “continuing to do exactly as the court ordered today.”
“We promise to fulfill our mission by preserving the statues, ensuring the safety of our parks, and activating our plan through collaborative programming and community engagement,” he said.