John Lewis Statue Unveiled in Atlanta

A statue honoring civil rights leader and former US Congressman John Lewis was unveiled on Saturday in Decatur Square, Atlanta, replacing a Confederate monument that had stood for over a century. The statue, created by renowned Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson, was installed on August 16 in front of the Historic Decatur Courthouse. Lewis, a lifelong Democrat and a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, was instrumental in advocating for social justice and equality throughout his life. John Lewis was a prominent leader who served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was one of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders who organized the historic March on Washington. He faced brutal violence during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, known as “Bloody Sunday,” where he was beaten by police while advocating for voting rights. Lewis represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District from 1987 until his passing in 2020 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by President Barack Obama. The new statue replaces a 30-foot Confederate obelisk erected in 1908, which had become a focal point of controversy during the 2020 racial reckoning following George Floyd's murder. The obelisk was criticized as a symbol of division and was removed amid public outcry. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond expressed pride in the removal, stating that the new monument represents love and unity, contrasting sharply with the ideals of the Confederate monument.