FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Moton Museum Marks a Defining Moment Ahead of the 75th Anniversary of the 1951 Student Strike
FARMVILLE, VA — December 15, 2025 — Barbara Rose Johns will soon stand alongside George Washington in the U.S. Capitol as a symbol of courage, conviction, and the transformative power of young people who dared to demand a better future.
On December 16, a bronze statue of the teenager who in 1951 changed the course of history will be installed in the United States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection as one of two figures representing the Commonwealth of Virginia.
At just sixteen years old, Barbara Rose Johns led her classmates in a student-organized strike at Robert Russa Moton High School on April 23, 1951. The walkout challenged the unsafe and unequal conditions imposed on Black students, and the students’ petition for justice became one of the five cases that shaped the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.
Her leadership did not simply confront injustice—it helped move a nation. The Moton strike stands as one of the clearest examples of student-led activism paving the way for broad, structural change in American society.
The installation of her statue comes at a powerful moment for Moton and the community that holds her story. In 2026, the nation will observe the 75th anniversary of the Moton Student Strike and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Moton Museum. As these milestones approach, Barbara’s placement in the Capitol becomes the opening note to a year of remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitment.
Barbara’s story is inseparable from the larger narrative of Prince Edward County, where the fight for equality continued long after the strike. During the era of Massive Resistance, the county closed its public schools for five years rather than integrate. Families, churches, and community leaders stepped in to educate children when the state refused—a painful yet powerful testament to resilience.
Every chapter of that history carries Barbara’s imprint. Her statue honors not only her leadership but the many lives shaped by the walkout and the era that followed.
“Who would have thought a founding father and a significant figure in our history from Mount Vernon would be joined by a teenager from Darlington Heights, Virginia? A phenomenal example of how, through collective action, ordinary students were able to make extraordinary change. It is thrilling and surreal to know that Barbara will be only the second African American featured, one of fourteen women represented, and the only teenager. Her example from Prince Edward County will serve as a beacon of agency and resiliency for future generations.”
– Cainan Townsend
The significance of her installation is heightened as the Moton Museum advances in its consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status. The potential designation would recognize what the community has long understood: that the events sparked at Moton have global meaning, speaking to universal themes of human rights, resilience, and educational equity.
As Virginia prepares for the ceremony in Washington, the Moton Museum is preparing a yearlong slate of programming throughout 2026 to honor both the 75-year journey since the strike and the museum’s 25-year commitment to preserving this history. These initiatives will deepen public understanding of the Moton story and highlight how one act of student-led defiance helped shift the nation’s conscience.
The museum encourages the public to learn, share, and participate. “Barbara’s story is a call to action,” the museum’s statement continues. “It reminds us that the work of justice is ongoing—and that ordinary people, especially young people, hold extraordinary power to change the world.”
About the Robert Russa Moton Museum
The Robert Russa Moton Museum, a National Historic Landmark, stands on the original site of the 1951 student strike for equal education. The museum preserves and interprets the history of the Moton strike, the Brown v. Board of Education case, Massive Resistance, and the five-year closure of Prince Edward County Public Schools. Through education, preservation, and community engagement, Moton advances a deeper public understanding of civil rights history in Virginia and the nation.
Media Contact
Jill Ahmad
Director of Marketing & Community Engagement
Robert Russa Moton Museum
[email protected]
434-315-8775 x4