Summary
A statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a civil rights activist, will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol starting Tuesday. The statue replaces one of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and recognizes Johns' role in challenging school segregation in Virginia in 1951.
Key Facts
- Barbara Rose Johns was a teenager when she led a protest against school segregation in 1951.
- Her actions contributed to the Brown v. Board of Education case, which ended segregation in public schools.
- The statue of Johns replaces the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Capitol.
- The unveiling ceremony will include House Speaker Mike Johnson and other political figures.
- Johns' statue shows her holding a book and features quotes emphasizing leadership and change.
- Steven Weitzman, a Maryland artist, sculpted the statue.
- The statue is part of the National Statuary Hall Collection, representing Virginia.
