Bronze statue of John Lewis replaces more than 100-year-old Confederate monument

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News/AP

August 16, 2024, 6:30 PM


DECATUR, Ga. -- A large bronze statue of the late civil rights icon leader and Georgia congressman John Lewis was installed Friday, at the very spot where a contentious monument to the confederacy stood for more than 110 years in the town square before it was dismantled in 2020.

Work crews gently rested the 12-foot-tall (3.7-meter-tall) statue into place as the internationally acclaimed sculptor, Basil Watson, looked on carefully.

“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, as he assisted with the install process.

Lewis was known for his role at the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement and urged others to get in “good trouble” for a cause he saw as vital and necessary. In DeKalb County where the Confederate monument stood for more than a century, protesters have invoked “good trouble” in calling for the swift removal of the obelisk.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bronze-statue-john-lewis-replaces-100-year-confederate-112907211

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A man takes a photo of the new John Lewis statue at Rodney Cook, Sr. Park in Vine City in Atlanta, GA., on Wednesday, June 7, 2021. (Photo/ Jenn Finch for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
(above from here - https://www.ajc.com/news/john-lewis-statue-rises-in-vine-citys-new-park/5WLPYB23YFEY3GT4V2SKS2UEOM/)

[Joinfortmill]

1. Made this old white woman weepy. He was such a good soul

[tavernier]

3. I met him at a convention about 15 years ago.

His sense of humor and joy had us all rolling with laughter and just enjoying being around him.

[TommieMommy]

2. That's wonderful 👍😁❤️

[C0RI0LANUS]

4. It's about time. And students in VA are going back to Stonewall Jackson High School!

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15gzlwz3yzo

[GiqueCee]

11. I think it is an obscenity...

... that people glorify disgraced traitors by putting their names on public buildings, but to restore a traitor's name on a school, of all places, magnifies that obscenity by several orders of magnitude.

[Red Mountain]

18. Bunch of

F@cking losers.

[Old Crank]

5. Good

[HeartsCanHope]

6. Always one of my heroes!

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” —John Lewis from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 1, 2020.

[Mary Mac]

7. I love Decatur.

[AverageOldGuy]

8. Speaking as a "Son of the South" . . .

This is best news I’ve heard in a long time.

Let’s hope some local Neanderthal doesn’t deface the monument, but I’m worried.

[twodogsbarking]

9. This makes my day. Thanks. Shower, breakfast, make salsa with garden tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

Dog walks too.

[Martin Eden]

10. The Edmund Pettis bridge should be renamed for John Lewis

Pettus was goddamn KKK.

[twodogsbarking]

12. I am not much for statues but this one is deserving and won't need to be torn down.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

13. i like it

[Bayard]

14. Excellent!

[wendyb-NC]

15. Yay

He is one of my heroes.

[LeftInTX]

16. Awesome! Makes me happy

[Zoomie1986]

17. The only hero I've ever had

He never let me down, either.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. I am so glad that Congressman John Lewis is being honored

I have been fortunate enough to have heard Congressman Lewis tell his "preaching to chickens" story four times in person. Congressman Lewis deserves this honor

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