New Statue Honors John Lewis at Legacy Plaza in Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, AL – The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has unveiled a new statue commemorating the legacy of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis at Legacy Plaza, situated across from the Legacy Museum. The event was attended by over a hundred community members, including family members of Lewis and local elected officials, who gathered to honor the civil rights icon.
Titled “Steadfast Stride Toward Justice,” the statue stands at 8 feet tall and is the third addition to the plaza, following sculptures of Rosa Parks and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The esteemed Atlanta-based sculptor Basil Watson created this latest work, which is part of EJI’s wider effort to celebrate civil rights history in Montgomery.
John Lewis, a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, was a young freedom rider who faced brutal violence in Alabama and became the youngest speaker at the historic 1963 March on Washington. Alongside leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Lewis was instrumental in organizing the Selma to Montgomery march to advocate for voting rights for Black Americans.
Bryan Stevenson, founder of EJI, expressed gratitude for Lewis’s enduring influence on the justice movement, remarking on his humility and commitment to social justice. The ceremony also featured remarks from Jerrick Lewis of the John Lewis Institute and Detria Austin Everson of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation.
Plans for a fourth statue honoring the women of Montgomery who upheld the Montgomery Bus Boycott are in the works. EJI continues to advocate against mass incarceration and racial injustice while providing community support through various programs, including initiatives addressing food insecurity and offering free health care services.
Source
Photo credit alabamanewscenter.com