John Lewis monument will be unveiled in Decatur Square on Aug. 24

July 25th, 2024

A smaller version of the John Lewis monument that will be on the Decatur Square was on display during an artist's reception on Dec. 29, 2022 at the Maloof Auditorium. (Zoe Seiler/Decaturish)

A statue honoring the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis will be unveiled on Aug. 24.

The John Lewis Commemorative Task Force has selected Atlanta artist Basil Watson to create a statue of the late Rep. John Lewis that will be placed on the Decatur Square. The monument will replace the Confederate obelisk that was removed from the Decatur Square in 2020.

Watson met Lewis about 16 years ago at an art fair. They spoke briefly, but Lewis left an impression on Watson. Watson had always wanted to make a bust of Lewis, and he did so in 2020.

“I thought he was so emotive, so strong, so compassionate. He stirred so many emotions. I heard he was ill, and I decided, you know what, I’m going to do this portrait,” Watson told Decaturish in 2022. “It took me probably two days to do the bust. There was so much energy and excitement to do it.”

He embraced the challenge of creating a larger memorial to honor Lewis and his work on Civil Rights.

“It has fallen in my lap. My impression of John Lewis has always been first and foremost a lot of empathy. He could feel what you’re going through. He went through it. He knows it, you could feel it,” Watson said. “It was obvious that you have compassion for everything that was righteous.”

Watson has been an artist and creating sculptures for over 40 years. He also created the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., that stands near Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s the full announcement from DeKalb County about the monument unveiling:

A memorial honoring the late Congressman John Lewis is scheduled to be unveiled during a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, announced DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and Board of Commissioners’ Presiding Officer Mereda Davis Johnson.

“Congressman John Lewis’ legacy of pursuing ‘good trouble’ will be memorialized and celebrated by this tribute to a great man who dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality for all,” CEO Thurmond said.

Further details about the event will be provided closer to the date.

The memorial, conceptualized by the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force after four years of planning and a global search for an artist, was designed by renowned sculptor Basil Watson.

“John was a giant of a man with a humble heart,” Commissioner Davis Johnson said. “He never met a stranger and was truly our hero. He is so deserving of this honor.”

Established in August 2020 by Commissioner Davis Johnson and Decatur City Mayor Patti Garrett, the John Lewis Commemorative Task Force commissioned Watson to design the memorial to honor Congressman Lewis’s life and legacy.

The task force successfully raised over $700,000 for the project and has transferred the artwork to DeKalb County Government.

For additional information, the public is encouraged to visit www.johnlewistribute.com.

Decaturish assistant editor Zoe Seiler contributed to this story.

This story was provided by WABE content partner Decaturish.