It’s a day that Chattanooga will never forget. The dedication and unveiling of the Ed Johnson memorial took place Sunday on Walnut Street bridge.

As hundreds gathered at the event Mayor Tim Kelly took the pulpit to offer a proclamation apology from the city of Chattanooga.

One local pastor says the memorial isn’t closure but a new beginning.

“I Tim Kelly the Mayor of the City of Chattanooga do hereby issue a proclamation apologizing to Mr. Ed Johnson to the miscarriage of justice that occurred on March 19th, 1906," said Mayor Tim Kelly.

An apology from the city of Chattanooga coming 115 years after Ed Johnson was mob-lynched on the Walnut Street Bridge.

“It has nothing to do with being repressive it has something to do with what kind of human being are you," said Keynote Speaker Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr.

The memorial dedication solidified Chattanooga’s commitment to remembering Ed Johnson and his story.

“It’s a continuation of a journey," said Maurice Lewis.

Maurice Lewis is a member of the board of directors at the Bessy Smith Museum and says this dedication will help Chattanooga move forward.

“I think that was reflected in the crowd today you saw a little bit of everybody here. They all applauded and when they applauded it wasn’t a line or somebody said ok clap now," said Lewis.

“This not a closure this is an opening," said Troy Brand.

Pastor Troy Brand says he hopes the monument will help the city move forward by creating conversations that weren’t happening before.

“This person is actually killed because they didn’t like him because they hated him because he was a different color. Now there's a different kind of conversation that can be had with young people," said Brand.

And hopefully some healing too.

“But not just Black people it has to healing for our white brothers and sisters as well," said Brand.

Brand says if Chattanoogans have to continue to honor Ed Johnson beyond today.

“If the significance of what it stands for is lost then we’ve lost," said Brand.

And Ed Johnson's final words ringing true.

“And he said God bless you all I am a innocent man," said speaker Lafrederick Thirkhill.

Ed Johnson’s case was the first criminal case to be taken upon in the Supreme Court. In February of 2000 a Hamilton county judge formally cleared Ed Johnson of any wrong doing.

And he was the first African American awarded a stay of execution by the Supreme Court.

We spoke with the artist Jerome Meadows and if you want know more about memorial click here.