Proposal would replace statue of Confederate with John Lewis

ATLANTA (AP) — A statue of the late congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis could soon represent Georgia in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol.

A bipartisan resolution introduced Wednesday in the Georgia House seeks to replace a statue of Alexander Stephens, a slave owner and vice president of the Confederacy.

Lewis served as a U.S. Rep. from Georgia for 33 years.

The push comes amid nationwide soul searching over celebrations of the Confederacy.

Dozens of Confederate statues fell during protests for racial justice over the spring and summer.

Prominent Georgia politicians on both sides of the aisle endorsed the idea following Lewis’ death in July, including Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.