Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2024
Contact: [email protected] 
 
Gov. Evers to Celebrate Vel Phillips Statue Unveiling at Wisconsin State Capitol Grounds
Phillips memorial marks first statue of a Black leader on Wisconsin State Capitol building grounds
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today will celebrate the life and legacy of Vel R. Phillips with an unveiling of a sculpture commemorating Phillips on the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds, representing the first statue of a Black leader or any person of color featured on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol building.

“Celebrating Vel Phillips in the year of her 100th birthday with this amazing work of art is a perfect way to honor a true Wisconsin icon,” said Gov. Evers. “I’ve said before that the People’s House—our Wisconsin State Capitol building—must be a reflection of the Wisconsinites we serve, and no one is more deserving of that recognition than Vel Phillips. 

“Vel was a dedicated public servant, a trailblazer, and someone whose legacy is marked by many firsts. Her life and service had a lasting impact on our state, and this statue will honor and memorialize her contributions for future generations to learn about and appreciate,” Gov. Evers continued. “I’m grateful to Vel’s son, Mike Phillips, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, the Department of Administration, and all the many partners involved for their efforts to bring this moment to fruition.”

“Vel Phillips was a Wisconsin giant, but to me and to many other women, she was more than that. She was a beacon of hope,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). “This statue will not only be a permanent reminder of the contributions Vel made to our state and country but also an important physical acknowledgment of the often-overlooked contributions of Black trailblazers in Wisconsin’s history.”

A jurist, politician, and civil rights leader, Vel Phillips made history as the first Black American and woman elected to statewide office in Wisconsin, serving as the 29th secretary of state. She was also the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, the first Black person and woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, and the first Black judge in Wisconsin. Her statue at the South Hamilton corner of the State Capitol joins the statues of Forward, Col. Hans Christian Heg, and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol square.

“It’s an honor to be able to support this collaborative and historic effort in highlighting such a bold woman and exemplary leader, as well as her extraordinary legacy,” said Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us at DOA to be a part of, and we couldn’t be prouder to support this important installation for the people of Wisconsin.”

The late artist Radcliffe Bailey was commissioned to design the statue, and the project received final approval from the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board (SCERB) in April. The Phillips statue is the first new permanent installation on Capitol Square since the Law Enforcement Memorial was installed in 1998 and the Gold Star plaque was added in 2018. In July 2020, Gov. Evers sent a letter urging SCERB to install a statue of Vel Phillips, aiming to broaden the representation of leaders at the Capitol and honor the Black community’s contributions to Wisconsin history. At the direction of Gov. Evers, DOA assisted the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative in navigating the SCERB process and the logistics of installing a historic new statue on Capitol Square. 2024 marks Vel Phillips’ 100th birthday celebration, making the sculpture’s approval and installation a milestone in what the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative Task Force calls “The Year of Vel Phillips.”

Following bipartisan approval of the statue in November 2021, the Vel Phillips Legacy Initiative, started by Michael Johnson, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, with endorsement from Mike Phillips, Vel Phillips’ son, and backed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, raised over $500,000 to commission and donate the sculpture to the state of Wisconsin.

The Vel Phillips sculpture will stand as a lasting tribute to a Wisconsin woman who broke countless barriers and devoted her life to making a difference in the lives of others. Its unveiling will provide all who pass by the opportunity to reflect on the enduring impact of Vel Phillips’ work and the continuing struggle for justice and equity for Black communities in Wisconsin and across the country.
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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