Virginia Moves Forward with Statue of Civil Rights Icon Barbara Rose Johns for U.S. Capitol

In a significant step toward honoring the legacy of civil rights leader Barbara Rose Johns, the Commission on Historical Statues in the United States Capitol has approved the full-scale clay model of her statue. At the meeting on February 24, 2024, the Commission’s decision initiated the process of gaining approval from the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for the statue’s final creation and display in the National Statuary Hall.

Sculptor Steven Weitzman’s creation of the Johns statue is set to replace the former statue of Robert E. Lee, marking a new era of representation for Virginia in the Capitol. Each state in the nation contributes two statues to the Statuary Hall Collection, with George Washington being the other figure representing Virginia.

Barbara Rose Johns’ legacy as a civil rights pioneer began at just 16 years old when she led a student walkout at the segregated Robert Russa Moton High School in Prince Edward County, Virginia, in 1951. Johns’ protest against the substandard conditions of the African American school laid the groundwork for the Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward case. This case became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, which declared public school segregation unconstitutional.

The Johns family, who have been closely involved with Weitzman in the statue’s development, praised the model for accurately capturing Barbara’s essence. Joan Johns Cobbs, Barbara’s sister, expressed gratitude towards the sculptor for his inclusive approach to the design process.

The casting of the bronze statue will commence in Chester, Pennsylvania, once the AOC grants its approval, with the ultimate goal of placing Barbara Rose Johns among the nation’s most revered figures in the National Statuary Hall.

Please visit the Commission’s website for additional details on the Commission’s work and the Barbara Rose Johns statue.