Barbara Rose Johns' Courageous Walkout Honored with U.S. Capitol Statue

A statue of Barbara Rose Johns, a 16-year-old Black teenager who led a walkout of her segregated Virginia high school in 1951, was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, replacing that of a Confederate general. The move is seen as a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to confront and address the nation's complex history. The statue, which depicts Johns standing confidently with her arms crossed, was unveiled in a ceremony attended by lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and members of Johns' family. In a statement, Johns' niece, Barbara Johns, said her aunt's actions had a profound impact on the civil rights movement. "She was a trailblazer, a true leader, and her courage and conviction helped pave the way for future generations," she said. The walkout, which took place on April 23, 1951, was a bold move by Johns to protest the overcrowded and inferior conditions at Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. At the time, the school was serving over 450 students in a facility designed for 180, while the town's white high school had only 68 students. The NAACP took up Johns' cause and eventually filed a lawsuit on her behalf, which became one of the five cases reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education. The landmark 1954 ruling declared school segregation unconstitutional. The decision to replace the Confederate general's statue with Johns' was made as part of a broader effort to reexamine the U.S. Capitol's art and symbols. In 2020, Congress passed a law requiring the Architect of the Capitol to remove or relocate statues that "honored or celebrated the legacy of slavery, white supremacy, or the Confederacy." The law also mandated the addition of statues that "celebrate the history and contributions of women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and other underrepresented groups." The unveiling of Johns' statue was welcomed by civil rights leaders, who saw it as a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to confront and address the nation's complex history. "This is a momentous occasion, one that recognizes the bravery and determination of Barbara Rose Johns and the countless others who fought for equality and justice," said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. "It is a reminder that our work is far from over, but it is also a testament to the power of activism and the importance of remembering our history." The statue is now on display in the National Statuary Hall, where it will join other statues of notable Americans. The unveiling of Johns' statue marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to reexamine the U.S. Capitol's art and symbols, and it is seen as a step forward in the nation's ongoing conversation about its complex history.