US Capitol unveils statue of teen civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns, taking Robert E. Lee's spot

The U.S. Capitol on Tuesday began displaying a statue of a teenage Barbara Rose Johns as she protested poor conditions at her segregated Virginia high school, a pointed replacement for a statue of Confederate Gen.

- by Jonathan Mattise

The statue honoring Barbara Rose Johns is unveiled during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on December 16, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Barbara Rose Johns led a strike and protest in 1951 at 16 years old against segregation and poor facilities at her high school in Farmville, Virginia. Her actions and leadership led to Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, which was ultimately consolidated into Brown v. Board of Education, ending racial segregation in public schools in the United States.

(photo by Samuel Corum/Sipa USA/Sipa via AP Images)

Robert E. Lee that was removed several years ago.An unveiling ceremony of the statue representing Virginia in the Capitol took place in Emancipation Hall, featuring Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Virginia's congressional delegation, and Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

Johnson said more than 200 members of Johns' family were on hand, listening as the ceremony included renditions of “How Great Thou Art,” “Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round” and “Total Praise” performed by the Eastern Senior High School choir from Washington.