Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Statue Unveiled at State Capitol
On Monday, August 28, 2017, Governor Nathan Deal, Mayor Kasim Reed, members of the King family and other Georgia officials gathered on state Capitol grounds for an unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue.
After a three-year wait, the 8-foot-bronze statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was unveiled on what marks the 54th Anniversary of his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Sculptor Martin Dowe, had a main goal of making the statue “look like the man” and sculpted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in mid-stride, signifying the importance of looking towards the future. The statue stands at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; facing the King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Auburn area, where Dr. King was born and engaged in much of his civil-rights activism.
“Dr. King’s legacy is one of hope. He gave, and continues to give, men and women a reason to believe and to dream. He expanded the aspirations of future generations,” stated Governor Deal. “The America we know is a better place because one man followed his conscience. Erecting a monument in his memory, both facing Liberty Plaza and on the grounds of the Capitol of his home state, is a fitting and long overdue honor. Today is an historic occasion, one made possible through the vision, cooperation and collaboration of many.”
The event was open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
