statue, and he stated that it would be "hypocritical" to have his name included on a statue he had voted against. Benton had previously come under controversy over comments regarding the Ku Klux Klan and the role that slavery played in the origins of the American Civil War. Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Charles Steele Jr. opined that Benton's name should be included if he "believe(d) in freedom and justice". Dedication The monument was unveiled on August 28, 2017, on the 54th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Multiple public officials and several members of King's family were present at the dedication, though King's sons Martin Luther King III and Dexter King were notably absent. Notable attendees and speakers at the event included Governor Deal, Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, First Lady Sandra Deal, Bernice King, and Christine King Farris. The statue was officially unveiled following the tolling of the Liberty Bell replica in nearby Liberty Plaza. The statue marks the second time King has been honored with a physical presence on the Capitol grounds, following the unveiling of an oil portrait of King in the Capitol in 1970. Design The statue is made of bronze and rests atop a granite pedestal with the initials "MLK" engraved on its front in gold. The statue itself stands , with the pedestal adding an additional to the monument. The statue faces east, overlooking Liberty Plaza and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. A Korean War memorial was previously located on this site, but was removed shortly before the creation of the statue. See also 2017 in art Civil rights movement in popular culture Memorials to Martin Luther King Jr. References External links 2017 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) 2017 sculptures Bronze sculptures in Georgia (U.S. state) Coca-Cola buildings and structures Memorials to Martin Luther King Jr. Monuments and memorials in Georgia (U.S. state) Outdoor sculptures in Georgia (U.S. state) Sculptures of Martin Luther King Jr. Statues in Atlanta