On June 23rd, demonstrators protesting against the arrest of a local Black Lives Matter organizer toppled two prominent statues on the state capitol grounds.
Protesters dragged the Forward statue, in chains, down State Street.
They also beheaded the statue of Hans Christian Heg, an anti-slavery activist who fought for the Union during the Civil War, and threw him into Lake Monona. Protesters said the statues represented a supposedly progressive city and state that still perpetuates racist systems.
Now, a proposed bipartisan bill would make it a felony to destroy any structure, plaque, statue, painting or other monument of historical significance on public property. Those found guilty of the crime could face up to three and a half years in prison and a $10,000-dollar fine
Earlier today, WORT Producer Jonah Chester spoke with one of the bill’s co-authors, Republican State Representative Rob Hutton, of Brookfield, to learn more.
