MONTGOMERY, AL — On June 15, 2024, the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) will unveil a new statue honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Legacy Plaza, across from the Legacy Museum. The statue will be the first full-sized sculpture of Dr. King in Montgomery. The statue will join the sculpture of civil rights legend Rosa Parks unveiled in February and a planned sculpture of the extraordinary John Lewis which will be added in coming months.
“Dr. King is one of the greatest leaders this nation has ever known. In Montgomery, we are honored to be a part of his life and legacy and thrilled to now recognize his brilliance and commitment to justice with a statue.” said Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Legacy Plaza is a gathering place for visitors to the Legacy Museum. The Plaza currently hosts a brick sculpture honoring civil rights marchers and a mural created by local artist Kevin King. The Rosa Parks and Dr. King statues were both created by the acclaimed Atlanta-based sculptor Basil Watson.
The unveiling will be attended by Dr. Bernice A. King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter and CEO of The King Center.
About Equal Justice Initiative
The
Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and best-selling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We work with communities that have been marginalized by poverty and discouraged by unequal treatment, and we are committed to changing the narrative about race in America.
EJI is dedicated to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. We provide legal assistance to death row prisoners, confront abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aid children prosecuted as adults. EJI has recently launched new programs aimed at reducing poverty in America, including a massive program to address food insecurity and a health clinic providing free care to vulnerable populations.
EJI also manages the
Legacy Sites, which includes the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. These new national landmark institutions chronicle the legacy of slavery, lynching, and racial segregation, and the connection to mass incarceration and contemporary issues of racial bias.
