On Saturday, August 24, Georgia marked a historic milestone with the unveiling of a statue honoring civil rights icon and US Congressman John Lewis. This new monument, towering at 12 feet on a granite pedestal, now stands where a Confederate statue once looked over the Atlanta landscape for more than a century.
Designed by Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson, the statue captures John Lewis in a heartfelt pose, with his hands placed over his heart a gesture he often used to express love and compassion. Named the John Lewis Memorial, the statue went up on August 16 in Decatur Square, directly in front of the Historic Decatur Courthouse.
John Lewis was more than a political leader; he embodied hope and was a driving force in the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout his life, he fought for social justice and equality, passionately advocating for the rights of underrepresented communities.
Lewis first captured the nation’s attention as one of the original Freedom Riders, courageously challenging segregation by riding buses throughout the South in the 1960s. His leadership continued as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and as one of the “Big Six” civil rights leaders who helped orchestrate the historic March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
In 1967, Lewis graduated from Fisk University with a degree in religion and philosophy. His alma mater later honored his lifelong commitment to civil rights by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in May 1990, recognizing his activism and dedicated career in public service.
In June 2020, a Georgia judge ruled the Confederate monument that once stood in Decatur Square a public nuisance, and crews removed it after it had become a focal point for protests and vandalism. Crowds cheered as the construction crew dismantled the statue later that month.
Reflecting on the removal of the Confederate monument, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond remarked, “A monument that represented bigotry, division, and hatred will be replaced by a monument to a man who loved, who cherished this nation, and brought all people of all colors together.” He described the removal as “one of the proudest moments” of his term.
Today, the John Lewis statue stands as a powerful symbol of peace, progress, and the lasting legacy of a man who dedicated his life to uniting people and championing justice for all.
