Unhappy With 'Confrontational' Image, U.S. Panel Wants King Statue Reworked

On May 1, members of the National Capital Planning Commission, who must also approve the project, voiced other complaints about the design.

"My image of Dr. King is of him leaning forward in anticipation, holding his chin or raising his arm," rather than standing with his arms folded, Commissioner Michael McGill said.

Commissioner Jose L. Galvez III said he thought the sculpture lacked a sense of King's power. "How do you get that power better portrayed?"

Jackson said the depiction of King with his arms crossed comes from a photograph.

"Deliberately we chose an image of Dr. King when he is standing in front of his desk with his arms folded," Jackson told the planning commission.

"We were hoping to give an image of Dr. King that was thoughtful, that . . . projected an image of someone who is really wanting America to give serious thought to the information and ideas that he wanted to pass on to us in his lifetime."

As for the sense of power, "I assure you the power is there," Jackson said. "It will take your breath away."