MLK Memorial may not be ready for anniversary

The work to refinish part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial may not be complete until after the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

The executive architect of the project told The Associated Press on Monday that a disagreement arose over the past 10 days over how to sandblast and refinish the stone where the much disputed inscription was chiseled away.

The memorial’s “Stone of Hope” will remain unfinished because the main contractor does not have insurance to complete the sandblasting.

There are now color differences where the words were removed, and a yellow stain was left on the stone on Friday. According to some, the memorial looks unfinished.

Sculptor Lei Yixin, who created the memorial, traveled from China to correct the memorial. Lei told AP that sandblasting was a crucial piece of the project, and he was unaware of how it was left out of the National Park Service’s contract.

The project may come to a halt for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, which will take place on Aug. 28. Since the event would draw in big crowds, scaffolding would be taken down around the monument and work would resume later.