EJI Unveils Statue of Civil Rights Champion John Lewis in Legacy Plaza

eji.org A statue of civil rights champion John Lewis was unveiled Tuesday at Legacy Plaza in downtown Montgomery, Alabama—steps from the culmination of the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march that was launched into the national spotlight when police attacked Lewis and other peaceful protestors on what became known as Bloody Sunday. “John Lewis inspired so many of us to do the justice work we do today,” said EJI director Bryan Stevenson. “His humility, dedication, and commitment to fighting for people who are excluded and disfavored is a model and legacy urgently needed today. We are thrilled to honor his life and leadership at Legacy Plaza.” The statue, entitled Steadfast Stride Toward Justice, is the first life-sized sculpture of John Lewis in Alabama, his home state. It is the third sculpture at Montgomery’s Legacy Plaza joining other Civil Rights giants, Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The sculptures were created by acclaimed Atlanta-based Basil Watson, who attended the unveiling along with members of the Lewis family and local officials. Lewis was just 25 when he led 600 people to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on March 7, 1965, two weeks after the tragic murder of civil rights...