Opening date set for the new EJI Freedom Monument Sculpture Park
An opening date has been set for the new Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery
Officials with the Equal Justice Initiative tell Action 8 News that the sculpture park will open on Wednesday, March 27.
First announced in October 2023, the 17-acre site is aimed to combine historical artifacts, contemporary art, original research and first-person narrative, so it can provide an authentic and historically significant space that explores the institution of slavery, the lives of enslaved people, and the legacy of slavery in this country.
EJI says the Sculpture Park seeks to address the lack of education and also seeks to honor the millions of people who endured the brutality of slavery and created a more hopeful future for this country.
“I believe this will become a special place for millions of people who want to reckon with the history of slavery and honor the lives of people who endured tremendous hardship but still found ways to love in the midst of sorrow. Many of us are the heirs to that extraordinary perseverance and hope. There is a lot to learn at this site and we want everyone to experience it,” said Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Freedom Monument Sculpture Park is located on the banks of the Alabama River, bordered by rail lines built by enslaved people. Officials say the River was also home to Indigenous Peoples who occupied these lands for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, a history which is acknowledged at the Sculpture Park.
To learn more about the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, click here.
