Two statues at the center of much controversy have been removed from two parks in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Nathan Bedford Forrest statue was officially taken down Wednesday at 9:01 p.m., and the Jefferson Davis statue was removed at 10:44 p.m. The action comes after the City of Memphis sold Health Sciences Park and Memphis Park to Memphis Greenspace, Inc., a nonprofit.
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Wednesday evening, the city council voted to immediately remove the statues.
The City of Memphis issued a traffic alert following the vote, and heavy equipment was seen entering one of the parks.
Memphis mayor Jim Strickland later confirmed that both Health Sciences Park and Memphis Park were sold. The properties, which were publicly owned, are now privately owned by a non-profit organization called Memphis Greenspace, Inc.
More than 30 police cars were seen at Tiger Lane, an area not too far from the Health Sciences Park where the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue was located. The police cars later surrounded the park completely, after the council vote was finalized.
>> RELATED: City of Memphis to sue Tenn. to get Confederate statues removed
WHBQ was told crews worked quickly removed the statues in fear of a temporary injunction. It is unknown at this time where the statues will now call home.
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