Good Trouble: John Lewis Statue Unveiled In Georgia Area Replacing Confederate Monument

Source: Elijah Nouvelage / Getty

L ast month, a high school in Virginia that had previously been named for a Confederate traitor was renamed to honor Civil Rights icon and Congressman John Lewis . On Friday, the trend was continued in Georgia, where a statue of Lewis was unveiled in a spot where another Confederate ode to slavery once stood.

From the Associated Press :

A crowd was on hand at a city park in Georgia Saturday to witness the unveiling of a large bronze statue of the late civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis that stands in the same spot as a contentious Confederate monument that was dismantled four years ago.

The crowd that included neighbors, politicians and civil rights leaders applauded when a black veil was pulled down to reveal the the 12-foot-tall (3.7-meter-tall) statue of Lewis at Decatur’s historic square, Atlanta television station WSB-TV reported .

Lewis was known for his role at the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement and was a Democratic congressman from Georgia. He died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer.

Four years ago, an obelisk that was erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908 stood in Decatur Square, where Lewis’ statue now stands. The monument honoring soldiers who fought to keep Black people in bondage was removed in 2020, amid nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd. After the statue was removed, Dekalb County Commissioner Davis Johnson and Decatur Mayor Patti Garret reportedly began planning to replace it with one honoring Lewis.

It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that Decatur, Georgia, and Dekalb County, where the obelisk stood for well over a century, is a largely Black area, so the removal of the statue had been long overdue. For far too long, Black people in the area were forced to look at the eyesore that was erected to celebrate the part of America that decided we weren’t human. Of course, it’s fitting that the statue was replaced with one commemorating a man who spent his life fighting for equality and Black liberation.

“I don’t think there’s anything like this anywhere in this nation,” Dekalb County CEO Mike Thurmond said of Lewis’ statue during the unveiling. “There have been, obviously, many attempts to remove one set of monuments, but not to go full circle and establish something that would be lasting, inspiring and something that will bring us together.”

Others who were there when the statue was unveiled echoed similar sentiments.

From WSB-TV:

Corinne Milien was in the crowd of people who came from across metro Atlanta to witness the moment meant to preserve the civil rights legend’s legacy.

“I do hope the young people here are going to walk by, going to school every day, and understand his legacy and find a way to make good trouble,” she said.

“I’m 82 years old. So, I have seen a lot, and this is really good for us. We’re going to enjoy it,” said Margaret Fisher.

The unveiling of Lewis’ statue was also attended by Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Civil Rights leader Xernona Clayton and Ambassador Andrew Young.

See how social media is saluting the move below.

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