A statue of the late Congressman John Lewis could soon replace a confederate leader inside the US Capitol building.
Georgia state lawmakers are beginning the process of replacing the statue of Alexander Stephens, the former vice president of the Confederacy, with one of the Civil Rights icon.
A bipartisan resolution is being pushed out to get the ball rolling on making the change. State Rep. Al Williams, a Democrat and House Speaker David Ralston, a Republican, co-sponsored the measure.
Their working together on this effort signifies the tremendous contributions and legacy of John Lewis, and the changing tide of what officially serves as representing the values of Southern states.
In order to make the switch official, Gov. Brian Kemp and the General Assembly would need to approve the measure. Kemp previously supported the idea, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Each state gets to send two statues to represent them within the US Capitol building.
Right now, Georgia has a statue of Stephens and Crawford W. Long, a doctor credited with pioneering surgical practices during the mid-1800s.
Lewis passed away last year after a long battle with cancer. He famously participated in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, founded by activist pioneer Ella Baker.
Lewis was brutalized in the infamous Bloody Sunday March in 1965 when demonstrators attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to demand voting rights.
A documentary on his life, Good Trouble, details his extraordinary life of service.
Photo: Getty Images