A 12-foot-tall bronze statue of civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis was installed in Decatur, Georgia, replacing a Confederate monument that stood in the town square for over 110 years before it was dismantled in 2020. The internationally acclaimed sculptor, Basil Watson, oversaw the installation of the statue, which pays tribute to Lewis’ role in the Civil Rights Movement and his call to get into “good trouble” for important causes. The removal of the Confederate monument was prompted by protests from groups like the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights and Hate Free Decatur, who had been pushing for its removal since the deadly 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville. The monument became a symbol of racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, prompting the city of Decatur to seek a court order for its removal due to safety concerns caused by vandalism and graffiti. The statue of John Lewis is set to be officially unveiled on August 24, marking a significant moment in the town’s history and honoring Lewis’ legacy as a champion for civil rights and social justice.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com