FRANKFORT, Ky. — In the Capitol rotunda Thursday morning, Republican State Senator Christian McDaniel proposed a plan to remove and replace the statue of lone Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
This proposal comes a week after Gov. Andy Beshear said, "I don't think it should be in the Capitol rotunda." He said the statue was a symbol that divides us.
McDaniel's proposal is to replace it with a statue of Master chief petty officer Carl Brashear. The highly decorated United States Navy sailor was the first African-American Master diver in United States history.
Brashear, who hailed from Tonieville, was the inspiration behind the 2000 movie Men of Honor.
Sen. McDaniel called upon his colleagues and Gov. Beshear to join him in removing the statue and replace it with "a true man of honor."
"Carl Brashear led in exemplary life, he led a life that all of us can be proud of and be proud to tell our children about when we bring them through these hallowed halls," McDaniel said.
Brasher's son was presented at the announcement handing out a letter in support of the proposal detailing the Navy sailor's life and the "five hurdles" he had to overcome.
Sen. McDaniels was accompanied by the Anti-Racism Kentucky coalition co-founders Dr. OJ Oleka and Terrance Sullivan. Both founders of the coalition spoke in support of the proposal.
"We live in an era where symbols and messages matter and this statue of Jefferson Davis is a symbol of a time when the message was clear that black life has less value," Dr. Oleka said.
McDaniel's proposal would move the statue to the Kentucky Historical Society or the Jefferson Davis State Historical Site in Fairview.
Kentucky’s Historic Properties Advisory Commission has called a special meeting for Friday.
More from WHAS11:
- Protesters topple Jefferson Davis statue in Virginia
- John B. Castleman statue removed from Cherokee Triangle
- Removing the statue of Jefferson Davis from Kentucky's Capitol is not as simple as it sounds
- 'A long time coming': Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia to be removed
- Jefferson Davis statue shouldn't be at Kentucky Capitol, Beshear says
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.