This B&W photo from the 1960s pictures Vel Phillips sitting the shoulders of NAACP Youth Council Members with Father Groppi pictured to the left. Vel Phillips was she was a Wisconsin civil rights pioneer, lawyer, Milwaukee alder, Juvenile Court justice, and Secretary of State. She was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and in 1962, she proposed an ordinance to end housing discrimination. She would be the only alderman to vote for it every year until 1967. In 1967, she joined with Father James Groppi and the NAACP Youth Council in a series of protests to draw attention to housing discrimination. She joined them on the second day of open housing marches and was arrested a few days later for violating Mayor Maier’s 30-day ban on demonstrations. Finally in 1968, after the Federal Civil Rights Act passed, the council voted for open housing. Her efforts did not end there as she would work for a Milwaukee County Children’s Court and be the first African American and women to serve in a statewide office as the Secretary of State. To learn more about Vel Phillips and her impact in Milwaukee search our collections using “Vel Phillips” or “March on Milwaukee.” Call Number: PH Milw Mss 231 —— Post by: Intern V #uwmarchives #uwmspeccoll #velphillips #marchonmilwaukee #naacpyc #milwaukeehistory #milwaukeecivilrightshistory #milwaukeeleaders https://www.instagram.com/p/Coc39qVu9IA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
