New Richmond in St. Croix County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Civil Rights Struggle

— John Doar History Trail —

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl, March 30, 2020

1. Civil Rights Struggle Marker

Inscription. During his years in the Civil Rights Division, John was involved in many of the most important challenges of the civil rights struggle. As the lead person in the South for the federal government, he was called the "law-bringer south of the Mason-Dixon Line."

In 1961, he was in Montgomery, Alabama when the Freedom Riders arrived; in 1962, he escorted James Meredith as the first Black to be admitted to the University of Mississippi in 1964, he supervised the enforcement of the newly enacted Civil Rights Act; he represented the federal government in Selma, Alabama in the days leading up to, and during, the historic Selma to Montgomery march.

(Photo inset:) "My name is John Doar- D-O-A-R. I'm from the Justice Department and anybody around here knows I stand for what is right. You're not going to win with bottles and bricks. That's what they want you to do".....Within a short time, the street was clear.
-New York Times, June 16, 1963

(Photo caption:) Doar helps calm angry protesters in Jackson, Mississippi after the funeral of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963.

Erected 2017.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights.

Location.

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45° 7.418′ N, 92° 32.323′ W. Marker is in New Richmond, Wisconsin, in St. Croix County. It can be reached from North Knowles Avenue just north of 1st Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 N Knowles Ave, New Richmond WI 54017, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

and in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Civil Rights Workers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Right to Vote (within shouting distance of this marker); Nixon Impeachment (within shouting distance of this marker); Childhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Medal of Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker); John Doar (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Paperjack Creek (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bell-Tierney Farmhouse (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Richmond.

More about this marker. Located along Mill Pond Walk in Mill Pond Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2020, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 7 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on March 31, 2020, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

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