On Saturday, authorities in Decatur, Georgia unveiled a statue dedicated to the civil rights leader John Lewis, which will now stand in a square that was once home to an old Confederate obelisk.
Previously, the Confederate monument was removed in 2020 during protests against the police that erupted across the country during the summer of that year.
Statue Unveiled
Working crews moved to begin the installation of the 12-foot-tall Lewis statue, as the statue’s sculptor Basil Watson looked on with excitement.
“It’s exciting to see it going up and exciting for the city because of what he represents and what it’s replacing,” Watson said.
Who Was John Lewis?
John Lewis, also known by the nickname “the Conscience of the Congress” was a US politician and civil rights leader who challenged segregation in the South.
He helped lead the famous 1965 march in Selma, Alabama that came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.”
Lewis’ Legacy
Lewis was known for advocating that activists in the civil rights movement get into “good trouble” to defy unjust rules and laws.
He received various medals and honors over his lifetime, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize in 1975.
Confederate Monument
The statue honoring Lewis replaced a 30-foot-tall obelisk erected by a group called the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908.
“Erected by the men and women and children of Dekalb County, to the memory of the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy, of whose virtues in peace and in war we are witnesses, to the end that justice may be done and that the truth perishes not,” the obelisk said on its South Face. The Confederate monument had text written on all four faces.
Calls for Removal
The Confederate obelisk became controversial and calls to remove it increased following the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia where protesting the removal of Confederate statues was thrust into the mainstream spotlight.
In 2018, the Dekalb County Commission voted to move the Confederate monument from Downtown Decatur, though questions arose about what to do with the old monument as officials couldn’t find anyone to accept it.
Removing the Monument
In June 2020, a wave of protests overtook the country, and the monument was ordered to be removed by Georgia Supreme Court Justice Clarence Seeliger on the grounds that it was a “public nuisance.”
“The people united can never be divided,” a crowd cheered as the statue was taken down.
Symbol of Hate
Decatur Mayor Patti Garret in 2020 expressed thanks at the attempt to relocate the monument, calling it a symbol of hate.
“We appreciate DeKalb County’s efforts in recent years to attempt to relocate the monument and we share the county’s frustration that no one was willing to accept the monument. We are at a point now where we cannot delay. This symbol of hate and oppression has created a real and present danger to our community and it must be moved for the protection of the public,” Garrett said.
Reacting to the Statue
There were many positive reactions online to the erection of the new statue in the place where the old Confederate monument once stood.
“A powerful tribute to John Lewis and a significant step toward honoring civil rights history,” wrote X user Tomer Rozenberg.
Did It Have to Be Here?
Some questioned the move to put the statue in the same spot as the old Confederate monument, thinking there could have been another place that was more suitable.
“I don’t want to be the owner of the truth. But wasn’t there another place, just as good, to put the statue?” wrote one X user.
Destroying American Culture
Critics of the new statue were not thrilled that a piece of American history was replaced, seeing such moves as threatening American culture.
“There is nothing wrong with new statues as a rule: but the enemies of civilization create lies to destroy American culture. Any new statue will be opposed when American heroes were disrespected,” wrote an X user.
Distracting Symbolism
Some critics were supportive of the statue but felt like its installation was a distraction from current issues.
“Nice that they did this just in time for the elections. But symbolism is just a distraction from tangibles that black America is currently demanding,” wrote X user Kay Cass.
