COLUMBIA, TN — An iconic statue of civil rights attorney and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was unveiled Friday in Columbia, commemorating his role in defending those charged in what became known as the 1946 Columbia Race Riot — a prelude to the Civil Rights Movement. The unveiling took place at the roundabout on Main Street and East Eighth Street. The statue is a gift from Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) to the City of Columbia.
“The Thurgood Marshall Roundabout will stand as a powerful symbol of Columbia’s role in the broader struggle for civil rights and we are proud to partner with CPJI to bring greater awareness to our community’s history,” Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said in the days leading up to the event.
CPJI and Columbia leaders worked collaboratively on this project, fittingly located at the entry to the city’s historically Black district. The statue will be complemented by four markers memorializing the racial tensions leading to this fateful day, the names of those brought to trial and those who died in police custody or prior to trial.
“This event turned the tide against violence and segregation both locally and nationally as Columbia’s Black community declared that there would be no more social lynchings,” said CPJI Co-Founder Trent Ogilvie.
Russ Adcox, CPJI Co-Founder, added, “We believe that the Thurgood statue and markers commemorating that fateful uprising will spark visitors’ curiosity, instilling a desire to explore Columbia’s history and role in Civil Rights more completely.”
What sparked the February 1946 event was a confrontation between Gladys Stephenson, her son James, and a store clerk regarding the repair of a radio. As the argument escalated, the store clerk struck James and a fight ensued. Following the arrest of the Stephensons, a white mob formed with rumors of lynching, and two prominent Black businessmen quickly posted bail to save them as residents began to arm themselves preparing for a mob confrontation. Law enforcement arrived, shots were fired, and the confrontation resulted in the arrest of 100 Black men.
As chief counsel for the NAACP, Marshall came to Columbia to defend the 25 individuals who went to trial. Illness sidelined Marshall for most of the trials in Lawrenceburg, but he returned to Columbia in November 1946 to defend the two additional defendants.
Following the successful trial, Marshall got in a car with his fellow lawyers Walter White, Z. Alexander Looby, and reporter from The Daily Worker named Harry Raymond. Marshall was driving as they crossed Duck River bridge on Nashville Highway heading to Nashville when three police cars pulled them over. The cars contained a mixture of uniformed officers and civilians, all with guns. They arrested Marshall for drunk driving and loaded him in a police car. However, the car did not take him to the courthouse. Instead, it turned down a dirt road where even more were gathered.
Ignoring orders to continue to Nashville, Looby jumped in the driver’s seat and followed the police car. When officers realized they were being followed to the banks of the river, they decided to turn around and take Marshall to Magistrate Jim Pogue, who found the accusations to be false and released him. The bravery of Marshall’s colleagues and local African American WWII veterans saved his life that day. What happened in Columbia would always stay with Marshall. He once said in an interview that he had never been more scared for his life than he was in Columbia.
Marshall would go on to build a distinguished career as a civil rights attorney, arguing such cases as Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, ending segregation in public schools. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Marshall as the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. President Johnson’s appointment occurred just months after he himself visited Columbia to dedicate Columbia State Community College. As he was leaving town, President Johnson drove over the same bridge on the Duck River where Marshall was arrested.
“To officially recognize those involved in turning the tide against violence and segregation both locally and nationally with the installation of this statue and historical markers is both an emotional and fulfilling experience,” said CPJI President Demetrius Nelson. “But our work at CPJI is not done. We will continue to honor the legacy of Columbia’s Black community with plans to develop a pocket park on the East Side to memorialize their courageous acts of resistance in the fight for equality.”
Renowned artist David Alan Clark designed the sculpture, inspired by an iconic 1956 Associated Press photo. Marshall will be shown striding uphill from East Eighth Street toward the Maury County Courthouse, a symbol of his battle against racial violence and oppression.
For more information about the events of 1946, including resources ranging from books to a video interview with Thurgood Marshall, visit cpji.org/1946.
Columbia Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJI) exists to explore the legacy of African American history in our community and promote justice in the present day. Our work is guided and informed by four essential pillars: exploring history, promoting justice, expanding understanding and inspiring conversation.
