TN votes to express regret for slavery, but not apologize

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

photo The Tennessee Capitol is seen in this file photo.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The state House has voted to express "profound regret" for slavery and segregation in Tennessee, but stopped short of an outright apology.

The chamber voted 97-0 in favor of the resolution sponsored by Democratic Rep. Mike Turner of Nashville.

The measure decries what it calls the "fundamental injustice, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and the discrimination that was slavery's legacy."

The Republican-controlled chamber removed language from the original resolution that sought to offer "profound apologies" for slavery.

The slavery measure followed the unanimous approval earlier in the session of a resolution expressing regret for the forced removal of more than 15,000 Native Americans in the 1830s.

The Trail of Tears resolution was later approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Bill Haslam on Tuesday.