Statue of civil rights leader, Fayette native unveiled
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A tangible reminder of the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. James M. Lawson Jr. was unveiled this past weekend in the library at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
The bronze statue, sculpted by New York-based artist Vinnie Bagwell, is a life-size figure of Lawson, standing with his right hand in his pocket and the index finger of his left hand pointing. Sculpted in relief on his jacket are the faces of civil rights activists and others affected by his teachings.
Lawson, a Fayette County native, worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was renowned in his own right for his activism, particularly his philosophy of nonviolent protest.
When he was approached about the statue several years ago, Lawson was ” humble, gracious and very enthusiastic about being honored in this way,” said Penn State Fayette Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Dr. W. Charles Patrick.
Bagwell was put in touch with Lawson, and the civil rights leader recounted his days working with King, who recruited him to the cause, as well as many other dedicated people.
Lawson passed away on June 9, but appeared by video when the project was announced in 2022.
“We have not yet begun to understand the extraordinary gift of life,” he said at the time. “Each of us is endowed with a life signature. If we could tap into those powers of life and love, we could be astonished by what we could create.”