MLK Memorial Slated for Georgia’s Stone Mountain
Memorials are constantly being built for historical figures, and a new one is in the process of
being created. This memorial is planned as a tribute for Martin Luther King Jr. Bill Stephens, the chief
executive officer of Stone Mountain, is in charge of the creation of the memorial. It will stand in Georgiawhich was a center of discrimination against blacks-on Stone Mountain, just yards away from where the
Klu Klux Klan burned crosses in protest of all colored people in America. Stone Mountain is home to
Confederate soldier memorials as well. There is enough support behind the project to give it steam, but
some citizens reject the idea heavily. Dan Coleman, spokesman for the Georgia Sons of the Confederate
Veterans, says he does not support the idea because King has nothing to do with the Confederacy.
Governor Nathan Deal has approved the idea, which will include a replica of the Liberty Bell to
give a literal interpretation to the line “let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.”King’s “I Have
A Dream” speech is copyrighted, so the park needs to get permission from King’s heirs to use it. King’s
family is still being consulted with about the creation of the memorial. These discussions are currently
taking place, and the family’s immediate reaction was favorable. The creation of this memorial is to be
funded by the park’s revenue, and will hopefully draw more attention to the park. Stephens thinks that
the creation of this memorial will be a great addition to his park because it will draw more attention
from a different type of crowd.
The creation of this memorial is causing controversy among the public; as everything in the
public eye does. Tim Pilgrim, the head of the Georgia chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said
that the planned memorial is insulting because King has nothing to do with the Confederacy or
Confederate soldiers; which is what Stone Mountain primarily features. However, Reverend Joseph
Loweoy, who worked with King, is in favor of the idea. He believes that it is a good way to introduce an
air of change to the South. The area where the memorial is to be built, Stone Mountain, is home to a
memorial that will contradict the creation of the King memorial. The memorial is dedicated to
Confederate soldiers, who are part of the reason that King had to start his revolution. In July, the Atlanta
chapter of the NAACP demanded that the depictions of Civil War luminaries be removed. Stephens
quickly denied the request, telling a local paper that “we are into additions, not subtractions.”
Bill Stephens has been talking to everyone who would be able to make this dream a reality. He
says he has the right powers behind the project, but he has yet to name any of them. The timeframe for
this memorial has not been announced yet either. The public is speculating that the memorial will be
finished in middle to late 2016. Everyone involved has yet to give any official word on when the
construction will be underway. This memorial has been an idea in the minds of the community for a
while now. Two years ago, a group of DeKalb County residents took a hike to the top of the summit of
Stone Mountain to celebrate the 50th anniversary of King’s speech. This stirred conversation about the
creation of a memorial for King. As this has been a long time in the making, the public has had time to
decide what they think of the idea. Most likely, they will not change their opinions on the matter at this
point. No matter what the public voices say, this memorial is sure to be built. With the right funding and
advertising, Stone Mountain can pull off the creation of this memorial without much of an issue.
Sara Adams
Sara Adams