In a symbolic gesture of progress and change, a towering bronze statue of the late civil rights leader and Georgia congressman John Lewis has been erected in the town square of Decatur, Georgia.
This statue now stands where a controversial Confederate monument once loomed for over a century, before its removal in 2020.
According to Fox News, the 12-foot-tall statue was delicately positioned by work crews under the watchful eye of renowned sculptor, Basil Watson. "Its exciting to see it going up and exciting for the city because of what he represents and what its replacing," Watson stated, expressing his enthusiasm for the project and the significance of the statue's placement.
John Lewis, a stalwart of the civil rights movement, was renowned for his advocacy of "good trouble" - a call to action for causes he deemed essential. His legacy resonates in DeKalb County, where the Confederate monument previously stood. Protesters there have echoed Lewis's call for "good trouble" in their demands for the swift removal of the obelisk.
In 2020, amid chants of "Just drop it!" from spectators, the stone obelisk was hoisted from its base and removed. Erected in 1908 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the monument had become a contentious symbol in the community of Decatur.
Organizations such as the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights and Hate Free Decatur had been advocating for the monument's removal since the fatal white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. The monument, like many others across the nation, became a focal point for protests against police brutality and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The city of Decatur subsequently petitioned a Georgia judge to order the removal of the monument, citing its frequent vandalism and the threat it posed to public safety.
The unveiling of the John Lewis statue, scheduled for August 24, marks a significant shift in the town square's narrative. It replaces a symbol of division with one of unity and progress, embodying the spirit of "good trouble" that Lewis championed. This change is not just a physical transformation of the town square, but also a testament to the enduring power of Lewis's legacy and the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
Login