March On, Milwaukee

Background

During the 1960s, Milwaukee was an epicenter in the nationwide struggle for civil rights. Activists and community members staged boycotts, led protests, and fought for legal protections against segregation in education and housing. From August 1967 to April 1968, activists marched for 200 consecutive nights to protest segregation in housing in Milwaukee. This movement ultimately led to the passage of the Fair Housing Act on April 11, 1968, which protects people from discrimination when buying or renting a home.

Since 2016, the Wisconsin Historical Society has partnered with March On, Milwaukee, to commemorate the fair housing movement and to promote education of related local history topics in Milwaukee and beyond. This partnership has contributed to the creation and promotion of the fiftieth anniversary commemorative effort, 200 Nights of Freedom; the development of a traveling display, Crossing the Line: The Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches of 1967-1968; the collection of a series of oral histories by past and present activists; and a series of nine historical markers highlighting locations and stories important to the Fair Housing Marches, to be installed in 2024-2025.

Historical Markers

March On, Milwaukee has partnered with the Society to create a series of nine new official state historical markers markers commemorating the city’s 1967-68 Fair Housing Movement, funded by a generous grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. The markers identify sites important to the movement such as St. Boniface Catholic Church, which supplied food, lodging, medical attention, transportation and a place for activists to gather during the marches.

Read more about the February 2024 marker preview event at WPR and the Journal Sentinel.

Partner Resources to Explore