A privately funded granite memorial for unborn children is slated for installation at the Tennessee Capitol on June 24, the anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade. Supporters, led by State Sen. Janice Bowling, call the marker a place for reflection and closure. Opponents, including Reps. John Ray Clemmons and Heidi Campbell, say the monument could stigmatize women and appear to signal state endorsement of a political position. The project resumed after a $4,000 private donation was approved last August, and further fundraising is planned.
Tennessee Capitol to Install Memorial for Unborn Children on June 24, Igniting Debate
The grounds of the Tennessee Capitol will soon feature a memorial honoring unborn children.
A privately funded granite memorial honoring unborn children is scheduled to be installed on the grounds of the Tennessee Capitol on June 24 — the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that ended Roe v. Wade. Lawmakers approved the project more than seven years ago, and organizers say the first phase is now moving forward.
What Supporters Say
State Sen. Janice Bowling (R), a lead supporter of the effort, said the memorial is intended as a respectful place for reflection. "We just want to honor the fact they were created in the image of God, they were human beings, and we need to show some reverence for humans and our fellow man," she told reporters.
Activists for and against abortion demonstrate before the Supreme Court in 2022.
Bowling: "The finished piece will be larger than a standard cemetery marker and the site is intended for reflection, remembrance and closure for some people."
Critics' Concerns
Democratic lawmakers and other critics argue that placing such a monument on Capitol grounds could be perceived as the state endorsing a particular view on abortion and could deepen divisions over reproductive rights. Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said the monument risks stigmatizing women who faced difficult medical or personal decisions, and Rep. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) called the project divisive.
Campbell: "This is a very divisive issue, and just for that reason alone, it should not be something we're memorializing up at the Capitol. While the stated intent may be compassion, critics say it can read as erasing women's agency and reducing complex medical realities to political symbolism."
Funding And Next Steps
Tennessee law requires that the memorial be funded entirely with private donations, a requirement that delayed progress for years. Momentum resumed after a $4,000 private donation was approved by the State Building Commission last August. Organizers say fundraising will continue and that some funds will be used to purchase flowers to place at the marker.
Fox News Digital contacted the Tennessee Secretary of State's communications office for comment. The installation is currently planned for June 24, and organizers say the first phase will resemble a granite cemetery-style marker bearing language that expresses grief and remembrance.
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