Rocky Mount Committee Votes To Allow Artist To Create New MLK Statue

A Rocky Mount committee voted Thursday to have an artist to create a new statue of Martin Luther King Jr. after some residents argued that the original one does not look like the civil rights leader.

Erik Blome, the artist who made the sculpture, returned to Rocky Mount from Chicago Thursday to hear concerns from some residents about the statue.

"One of the major criticisms was that there was not enough public input," said Mayor Pro Tem Lamont Wiggins. "There was not enough public exposure in the early stages when we contracted to do our initial work, so this is an effort to address all of those issues and concerns."

The cost for the new statue will be $57,000. The recommendation must still go before the Rocky Mount City Council.