Hundreds gathered to witness the unveiling of a 12-foot bronze statue of civil rights icon John Lewis in Georgia. The statue, located in Decatur Square, Dekalb County, now stands where a Confederate obelisk once stood. Sculpted by internationally renowned artist Basil Watson, the statue replaces a monument that had been a symbol of division and hatred for over a century.
“This is one of the most meaningful and memorable moments in my time as mayor,” said Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett. The mayor’s words echoed the sentiments of many in attendance. Even local, state, and federal officials joined to celebrate this momentous occasion.
John Lewis: A Legacy of ‘Good Trouble’
John Lewis, who passed away in July 2020, was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement. He was known for advocating “good trouble.” This was a term he used to describe the necessary and nonviolent acts of protest that challenged injustice. Lewis’s legacy is now permanently honored at a site where the Confederate obelisk once stood.
The Confederate monument, known as “The Lost Cause,” was removed in 2020 after being declared a public nuisance. A judge stated that it had become “a figurative lightning rod for friction among citizens” and needed to be removed. The decision to remove the obelisk came shortly before Lewis’s death, and its replacement with his statue represents a profound shift in the historical narrative of Decatur Square.
The John Lewis Memorial Task Force, led by DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett, and former DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, was instrumental in bringing this vision to life. The task force selected the former site of the Confederate monument as the most fitting location to honor Lewis’s legacy.
Senator Raphael Warnock, United States Representatives Sanford Bishop and Nikema Williams, and Ambassador Andrew Young were among those who delivered remarks at the unveiling.