A statue of the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis has been unveiled in Decatur Square, just outside Atlanta, Georgia. This new 12-foot-tall bronze statue stands in the district that Lewis represented in Congress for over 30 years. The statue’s location is particularly significant as it replaces a Confederate obelisk that had been erected in 1908. The obelisk was removed in 2020 during the wave of Black Lives Matter protests that called for the dismantling of symbols associated with racism and oppression.
John Lewis was a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement, known for his participation in pivotal events like the Selma marches of 1965, where he and other protesters were brutally beaten by police while advocating for voting rights. His activism did not stop there; Lewis continued to fight for justice throughout his career in Congress from 1987 until his death in 2020. His contributions to the fight for equality were recognized in 2011 when President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, praising Lewis for his courage and dedication to civil rights.
The replacement of the Confederate monument with a statue of John Lewis marks a symbolic shift in acknowledging the nation’s history of racial inequality while honoring those who have fought for change. This change is part of a broader movement to replace symbols of hate with those that inspire hope and progress. For many, the statue serves as a reminder of Lewis’s lasting impact on American society and his unwavering commitment to justice.
Local leaders and community members gathered for the statue’s unveiling, reflecting on Lewis’s legacy and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States. The statue not only commemorates Lewis’s contributions but also serves as an enduring inspiration to continue the fight against injustice. Through this public tribute, John Lewis’s spirit of resilience and dedication to civil rights remains alive, encouraging future generations to stand up for what is right.
