Harriet and Dred Scott Statue

A statue of Harriet and Dred Scott is standing on the south lawn of the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, MO, at the same place they started their fight for their freedom in April 1846 and changed the history of the country.
 
Dred and Harriet Scott were enslaved people who separately and together sued their freedom in St. Louis circuit court. They won in this court, but after several years of appeals, in 1857, the Supreme court ruled that African Americans are not US citizens and are considered property under the 5th amendment. This decision increased the tension between the southern and northern states, which led to the American Civil War, and the emancipation of all African Americans.
 
It is the first and only statue in the world dedicated to the Scott legacy, to inspire others not to give up and fight against injustice.
 
The statue was commissioned by the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, which was founded in 2006 by Dred and Harriet Scott’s Great-great granddaughter, Lynne M. Jackson, who is also its president. The foundation chose the Missourian sculptor, Harry Weber, who depicted the Scotts hugging and holding hands while looking forward to a future of freedom and hope. The dedication ceremony took place on June 8th, 2012, with the Scotts’ descendants from all over the US.