Brother Bryan statue
The Brother Bryan statue is a white marble statue of Brother Bryan at the corner of 20th Street South and Magnolia Avenue in historic Five Points South. The statue was created in 1934 by the sculptor George Bridges after a federal grant given to the city to design and create the sculpture. It was dedicated later that year with the Senator Hugo Black present at the ceremony. From its initial dedication through 1966, the statue would remain at the Five Points South traffic circle.
In 1966, the statue was moved to Prayer Point at Vulcan Park. Its move was spearheaded by the Women's Committee of 100, which is a charitable group that gives an annual award in Bryans name. It would remain there through 1983 when it was relocated to its current location after petitions circulated calling for its move back to Five Points South.
By 2004 a group headed by local political consultant Tim Baer and Betty Hawkins began a campaign to return the statue back to Prayer Point. Their primary justification for the relocation back to Vulcan Park is that it would provide for greater visibility of both the statue and Bryan's legacy.
References
- Grey, Jeremy. (March 4, 2004) "Will Brother Bryan move again?". Birmingham News.