Keep The Name

Preserve our tradition and history

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KeepTheName.org

Once again forces outside of the "organic" element of the N.B. Forrest High School community have raised the issue of changing our school's name.

Using mostly unproven and inaccurate "historical" information these inorganic entities seek to erase part of OUR  heritage because of claims that are easily debunked and discredited.

While Nathan Bedford Forrest may have been (secret society - no real records) a founding member and possibly Grand Master of the original KKK, their mission and purpose had nothing to do racism, slavery or supremacy. Their intention was to attack and drive away invading and abusive "Yankees".  There is evidence to support that when the original intention of the organization became corrupt, he wanted it disbanded. He was exonerated by General Sherman (who burned Atlanta) and the U.S Congress of any war crimes or misconduct. There is historical evidence to support that General Forrest did not support the radical racist activities of the Klan and was in fact a civil rights advocate in his later days.

Why is Forrest's involvement still an issue when as recently as 2010 we had at least one former Klan member (a member when there was NO doubt about the Klan's agenda, methods, or purpose; when it WAS a feared, hated, racist, terrorist organization in the 1940's to 1960's) serving as an elected official in Congress.

Senator Robert Byrd joined the Ku Klux Klan when he was twenty four in 1942. His local chapter unanimously elected him Exalted Cyclops. Why should he be given a pass and be allowed to serve with honor while N.B. Forrest, who arguably never committed any "Hate Crimes"; who in his later years addressed the Jubilee of Pole Bearers, an African-American political and social group about their equality and living in peace and unity; who was admired, respected, and loved by many of his former enemies and former slaves be demonized and have his many accomplishments erased from OUR history. He filibustered against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and supported the Vietnam War, but later backed civil rights measures and criticized the Iraq War. He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, serving as a recruiter and leader for his chapter, but later left the group and denounced racial intolerance. How many schools, streets and government buildings are named for this admitted former KKK member and civil rights violator?

Here's a short list from Wikipedia:

  1. The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia.
  2. Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  3. Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center, Marshall University Graduate College in South Charleston, West Virginia[9][10]
  4. Robert C. Byrd Auditorium, National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia[9][10][11]
  5. Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia[6][9][10][12][13]
  6. Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Laboratory, West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  7. Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia[9][10][14]
  8. Robert C. Byrd Center for Pharmacy Education, University of Charleston in Charleston, West Virginia[9][10]
  9. Robert C. Byrd Center for Rural Health, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia[6][9]
  10. Robert C. Byrd Clinical Teaching Center, Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia[9][10]
  11. Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, Green Bank, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  12. Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, Princeton, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  13. Robert C. Byrd Health and Wellness Center, Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia[9][10]
  14. Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  15. Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Charleston Division, Charleston, West Virginia[9]
  16. Robert C. Byrd High School, Clarksburg, West Virginia[6][9][15]
  17. Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI) Bridgeport Manufacturing Technology Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia[9][10][16]
  18. RCBI Charleston Manufacturing Technology Center, South Charleston, West Virginia[6][9][10][16]
  19. RCBI Huntington Manufacturing Technology Center, Huntington, West Virginia[9][10][16]
  20. RCBI Rocket Center Manufacturing Technology Center, Rocket Center, West Virginia[9][10][16][17]
  21. Robert C. Byrd Institute for Composites Technology and Training Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia[9]
  22. Robert C. Byrd Library, Wheeling, West Virginia[9]
  23. Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center, University of Charleston in Beckley[6][9][10]
  24. Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Moorefield, West Virginia[9]
  25. Robert C. Byrd Life Long Learning Center, West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia[10]
  26. Robert C. Byrd Metals Fabrication Center, Rocket Center, West Virginia[9][10][17]
  27. Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia (affiliated with Fairmont State University)[9][10]
  28. Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia[6][9][18]
  29. Robert C. Byrd Regional Training Institute, Camp Dawson near Kingwood, West Virginia[9]
  30. Robert C. Byrd Science and Technology Center, Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  31. Robert C. Byrd Technology Center, Alderson–Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  32. Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center[6][10]
  33. Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex, Rocket Center, West Virginia[6][9][10][17]
  34. Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Moorefield, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  35. Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  36. Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Sugar Grove, West Virginia[6][10]
  37. Robert C. Byrd Rooms, Office of the West Virginia Senate Minority Leader, West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia[9]
  38. Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse and Federal Building, Beckley, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  39. Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse and Federal Building, Charleston, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  40. Robert C. Byrd Federal Correctional Institution, Hazelton, West Virginia[6][10]
  41. Robert C. Byrd Clinic, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  42. Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to Veteran's Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  43. Robert C. Byrd Addition to the Lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  44. Robert C. Byrd Conference Center (also known as the Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism), Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  45. Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  46. The Robert C. Byrd Bridge crossing the Ohio River between Huntington, West Virginia and Chesapeake, Ohio.Robert C. Byrd Appalachian Highway System, Appalachian Development Highway System in West Virginia[9][10][19]
  47. Robert C. Byrd Bridge, crosses the Ohio River between Huntington, West Virginia and Chesapeake, Ohio[6][9][10][19]
  48. Robert C. Byrd Bridge, Ohio County, West Virginia[19]
  49. Robert C. Byrd Drive, West Virginia Routes 16 and 97 between Beckley and Sophia, West Virginia[6][10]
  50. Robert C. Byrd Expressway, United States Route 22 near Weirton, West Virginia[6][9][10]
  51. Robert C. Byrd Freeway, United States Route 119 between Williamson and Charleston, West Virginia (also known as Corridor L)[6][9]
  52. Robert C. Byrd Highway, United States Route 48 between Weston, West Virginia and the Virginia state line near Wardensville, West Virginia (also known as Corridor H)[6][19]
  53. Robert C. Byrd Interchange on Interstate 77[9]
  54. Robert C. Byrd Interchange on United States Route 19, Birch River, West Virginia[9][19]
  55. Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center, Wheeling, West Virginia[9][10]
  56. Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam, Ohio River in Gallipolis Ferry, West Virginia[6][9][10]

We're just asking that you leave one school's existing name alone to preserve the legacy and history of our immediate past.