FRANKFORT, Ky. — The days seem to be numbered for the Jefferson Davis statue sitting in the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda. 

What You Need To Know


  • State Sen. Chris McDaniel pre-files bill to remove Davis statue, fund statue of Carl Brashear

  • Brashear was first African-American master diver in U.S. Navy, from Kentucky

  • Gov. Beshear supports removal of Davis statue

State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill) has pre-filed a bill that would remove the Davis statue and allocate money to replace it with a statue of Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, the first African-American master diver in the United States Navy. 

“It’s time to have someone that better represents the values of Kentuckians, the values that we want people to look up to, and it’s very clear that Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear is that someone,” McDaniel said. “We need to make plans to move Jefferson Davis out and erect a statue of Chief Brashear in his place.” 

The Beshear administration is pushing for the removal of the statue as well. McDaniel says if the statue is removed before lawmakers reconvene the session, the bill could be modified just to include the $500,000 appropriation to erect the statue of Brashear. 

“Clearly the statue doesn’t belong here, and, two, we need something here to fill its space,” McDaniel said. “I’ve long believed it's far easier to say this is what’s wrong than this is what’s right and we need to define both of those and that’s what this bill does.”

There have been several efforts to remove the statue from the rotunda in the past, and McDaniel says it’s time to get it done. 

“Politicians of both parties have hidden behind the Historic Perseveration Commission and it’s a job that hasn’t gotten done and there comes a time where it’s time as leaders to direct them to get it done and that’s what we are going to do,” he said. 

Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said there could be several things done with the void of the statute including alternating statutes and creating a more open space in the rotunda but agreed that Brashear is a worthy Kentuckian to replace the confederate president. 

Brashear was a native of LaRue County before moving to Hardin County, and his life was the basis of the movie "Men of Honor." His family supports the move. 

“It’s with great pride and humility that I lend my full support of your legislative effort to honor my father,” Phillip Brashear, son of Carl Brashear, wrote in a letter to McDaniel. 

The Historic Property Advisory Committee will be meeting Friday to discuss removing the statue from the rotunda. 

Confederate Statues