Statue of Thomas E. Watson

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Coordinates: 33°44′58″N 84°23′22″W / 33.74934°N 84.38955°W / 33.74934; -84.38955
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Thomas E. Watson statue
Thomas E. Watson statue (2020)
LocationTalmadge Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia
DesignerJoseph Klein
Height12 feet (3.7 m)
Dedicated dateDecember 4, 1932
Dedicated toThomas E. Watson

The Thomas E. Watson statue is a public monument located near the

plaza
.

History

U.S. Representative from Georgia.[2] In the 1908 United States presidential election, he ran as a candidate for the People's Party,[2] by which time he had changed his positions and had become an ardent supporter of white supremacy and espoused anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic sentiment.[3] His anti-Semitic writings contributed to public sentiment that lead to the lynching of Leo Frank in 1915.[1][2][4] He was later elected to the United States Senate in 1920,[2] but died shortly into his term on September 26, 1922.[1]

On August 21, 1925, the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the erection of a monument honoring Watson on the grounds of the

civil rights leaders,[9][6] while criticized by the Sons of Confederate Veterans as "an attempt to rewrite or cover up … history."[7] Former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes voiced his support for the removal, saying he wished he had done the same during his governorship, but that "I just never got around to it. I regret I didn't."[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Thomas Edward Watson statue". Public Art Around The World. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Bluestein, Greg (October 22, 2013). "Racist's statue gets kicked off Capitol grounds". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Wirth, Michelle (October 23, 2013). "Historical Experts Weigh in On Moving Controversial Statue". WABE. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Brackman, Harold (July 29, 2020). "Leo Frank's Lynching, Tom Watson's Statue, and White Supremacy in America". Algemeiner Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  5. Atlanta Historical Society: 275 – via Atlanta History Center
    .
  6. ^ a b c Salzer, James (October 31, 2013). "Confederate Vets group wants Watson statue back". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Salzer, James (October 31, 2013). "Confederate Vets' group wants Deal to bring back Watson statue". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Tom Watson statue removed from Georgia's Capitol steps". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. November 30, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Rose, Shelley (October 30, 2013). "Good riddance to Watson statue". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Blinder, Alan (October 22, 2013). "Bid to Move Atlanta Statue Opens Window to Past". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2020.

External links

33°44′58″N 84°23′22″W / 33.74934°N 84.38955°W / 33.74934; -84.38955

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