Historic sculpture of Vel Phillips unveiled at Wisconsin Capitol Building

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July 27, 2024

By Jerel Ballard, WKOW

Vel Phillips statue in Madison, WI — Madison is the only state capital with a statue featuring a Black woman after this memorial to Vel Phillips was installed

Saturday marked a historic moment at the Wisconsin State Capitol as a new sculpture honoring Vel Phillips was unveiled. This sculpture is now the only outdoor monument of an African American woman at any state capitol across the country.

After four years of fundraising, attendees were moved to tears of joy as their vision came to life.

“I am really proud of our community for coming together and raising the money to make this happen,” Myra Mcnair, an attendee, said.

Vel Phillips was a trailblazer. She was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, the first Black woman to serve on the Milwaukee Common Council, the first Black judge in 1971 and the first Black woman to hold a statewide office in Wisconsin when she became Secretary of State in 1978.

Keep reading to learn how the effort to honor Philips began.

Discover how Phillips encouraged activism in Wisconsin.

More stories like this.

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