Griffith Statement on Barbara Rose Johns Statue Dedication Ceremony in U.S. Capitol

In Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted a statue unveiling and dedication ceremony to honor Virginia's new contribution to National Statuary Hall. The new contribution is civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns of Prince Edward County, who is remembered for her courageous actions to protest racial segregation in Virginia public schools.

Barbara Rose Johns joins George Washington as Virginia's two representatives in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Every U.S. state is granted the opportunity to contribute two statues to the Collection.

In attendance for the ceremony were Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, numerous state and federal elected officials from Virginia and guests from Virginia's Ninth District who were invited by U.S. Congressman Griffith (R-VA).

Following the ceremony, Congressman Griffith issued the following statement:

"Barbara Rose Johns is a historic figure in Virginia and U.S. history. Her leadership during the civil rights movement was featured in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case that would overturn racial segregation and usher in a new era of social change in the United States.

"Barbara Rose Johns' contributions to societal progress earned her the immense honor of being featured as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. I join Virginia communities and the country in celebrating the inspiring legacy of Barbara Rose Johns."

One of Congressman Griffith's guests to the ceremony was Dr. Mickey Hickman of Pulaski, Virginia. Dr. Hickman is President of the Calfee Center's Board of Directors. Dr. Hickman shared his thoughts:

"I am very pleased that Congressman Griffith had the benevolence to include me in this historic occasion. I am a former public schools history teacher. I taught about things that occurred in years past. But this is an era that I lived in and to see this recognition come to an individual a lot braver than me is heartening! It just happens to be that this history being celebrated today has a connective history to the project that I am working with in Pulaski, Virginia, one that the Congressman visited and made acquaintances. I appreciate him remembering me and our project's story."

Video coverage of today's ceremony can be found here.

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