After long effort, Capitol will have its first statue honoring a Black leader, Vel Phillips
After years of effort, Saturday will mark history for Wisconsin as the first statue commemorating a Black leader will be unveiled on the Capitol grounds in Madison.
Vel Phillips holds significance in Wisconsin as a trailblazing Black woman who had a lasting impact on the state's legal and political history.
"Vel Phillips was a true treasure and Wisconsin icon who became the first of many before her, inspiring generations and defining the trajectory of our state," Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement. "It is so important to me and to the countless Wisconsinites for whom she paved the way that she receives permanent recognition at the Wisconsin State Capitol."
The unveiling of the Vel Phillips' statue is at 5 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public.
Who was Vel Phillips?
Phillips was born and raised in Milwaukee before she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1951 and later achieving many successes:
First Black woman to graduate from UW Law School.
First woman and first Black member of the Milwaukee Common Council.
First Black woman to become a judge in Wisconsin.
First Black woman elected to statewide office as Wisconsin’s Secretary of State.
An ongoing effort
Elected officials, community leaders and Phillips' family have fought for four years to bring the statue to Capitol grounds.
The project was initiated by the Vel Phillips Task Force in 2020 and raised over $500,000 through the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative. The statue’s installation coincides with what would have been Phillips’ 100th birthday year.
Where can I find the statue of Vel Phillips?
The statue will be on the South Hamilton Street corner of the Capitol grounds in Madison. The statue was sculpted with clay by Chris Hanrahan.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vel Phillips statue to mark history Saturday at Wisconsin Capitol
