If you’ve been to Decatur Square recently, you might’ve seen a new statue standing tall in the grassy courtyard! This brand new, 12-foot tall John Lewis statue was erected in the Square in late August, and it is a wonderful sight to behold!
About the John Lewis Statue
John Lewis stands with his eyes closed and his hands over his heart. Since the unveiling, there have been flowers at his feet most days, placed there by Atlantans who come to see his incredible statue.
The statue was created by Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson. The AJC reports, “His goal was to depict Lewis as a man of compassion and empathy.”
The statue now stands where a 30-foot obelisk Confederate moment used to be. The old statue stood for 112 years, before being taken down in the summer of 2020.
About John Lewis
John Lewis was, as most of us know, a huge leader in the Civil Rights movement. Born in Alabama, Lewis grew up during Segregation. During his life, he always fought for the rights of people of color, wanting equality for all people. Lewis served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020 Many knew his as “the conscience of the Congress” (Smithsonian), and he was famous for getting into “good trouble.”
It is a beautiful tribute to him, to have a statue standing compassionately in the very district that he fought for for so many years of his life.
We honor all the work John Lewis did to make our country a better place, and we are endlessly thankful for Lewis’ sacrifices and bravery.
If you want to visit the new John Lewis statue, you can check it out in Decatur Square, standing in front of the Court House (right next to the pavilion in the Square).