LA Freedom Sculpture To Be Unveiled Tuesday

By Margaret Carrero, KNX 1070

CENTURY CITY (CBSLA.com) – More than one million people funded the creation of a monument considered the "Statue of Liberty" for Los Angeles.

The Freedom Sculpture will be unveiled Tuesday at the inaugural L.A. Freedom Festival in Century City.

Just as Lady Liberty's torch symbolizes the light of hope, so too will the Freedom Sculpture, a stainless steel monument that will glisten in daylight and light up at night. It was designed by world renowned architect Cecil Balmond.

LISTEN BELOW:  Margaret Carrero reports on the Freedom Sculpture: 

"He truly took the symbolism of Cyrus, the way he governed, the openness about it and this notion of the shining light," says Farhad Mohit with the Farhang Foundation, the non-profit Iranian cultural organization spearheading the project.

It is a replica of the Cyrus Cylinder from the Persian Empire of King Cyrus the Great.

"Cyrus Cylinder is the first declaration of human rights, 2,500 years ago they had freedom of religion, equality for people," Mohit said.

Mohit hopes it will inspire all who see it.

"Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness for all of us, for all the different kinds of people in Los Angeles, means life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the whole world," he added.

The Freedom Sculpture will be forever located at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Century Park East.

It will be unveiled during the inaugural L.A. Freedom Festival. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.