Martin Luther King Jr.’s Daughter Supports Capitol Statue Push

  After the ceremony, Dr. Bernice King told WABE she supports placing a statue of her father in front of Georgia’s Capitol.

“I think it’s a great effort. I mean, other states in our nation have statues, some not at the state Capitol, some at their state Capitol…but we always have to remember it’s the work and not the monuments that we have to focus our efforts on.”

This fall, Governor Deal issued an executive order to have the statue of Thomas Watson moved. The order cited Capitol construction as the reason. Last week, Governor Deal was noncommittal when WABE’s Denis O’Hayer asked him about his thoughts on a statue in King’s honor.

“Well that’s a decision I think that members of the general assembly need to make. It’s not one that the governor should impose on them. I feel certain there will be discussions about that probably this year.”

Representative Tyrone Brooks is sponsoring legislation to place a statute of king on Capitol Grounds. Brooks says he’s not insulted that the governor is leaving the decision up to the legislature.

“I’m giving the governor an opportunity take his time to study, he served he served in the Senate, he served in the U.S. Congress and now he’s our chief executive. I know at some point he will take a position, but I believe at some point he will support this movement. I really believe that in my heart.”

Brooks is sponsoring a bill to place a statute of king on Capitol Grounds and a resolution calling on the Capitol Art Standards Commission to allow for its construction.

House Majority Leader Larry O’Neal says he supports placing a statue of King on Capitol grounds.

But O’neal says cost is a factor.

However, he says it would help if private groups raised money for the statue.

O’neal also raised concerns about safety if the statue were placed where a monument to John Watson once stood.

“We’re told that the steps on that side of the Capitol are defective. We’ve been warned there is potential danger there long before any statue moving took place or anything else. It’s been in a long-term plan on the drawing board for reparation.”

Brooks says he would prefer the front of the Capitol…but he says he’s willing to have the statue placed elsewhere on Capitol grounds.

Brooks’ legislation is currently in a House committee, but he’s hoping it will start to gain some traction as early as next week.