Lincoln Village in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

March to Kosciuszko Park

Photographed by Devon Polzar, 2025

1. March to Kosciuszko Park Marker

Inscription.
On August 28, 1967, protesters led by the NAACP Youth Council and Commandos crossed the 16th Street Viaduct toward Kosciuszko Park in one of the earliest demonstrations of the 200 consecutive days of Milwaukee’s fair housing marches. As they crossed into the mostly white south side, they were met by 8,000 counterprotesters. The march proceeded to the park, where Father James Groppi planned to speak. Informed by police that their permit did not allow speeches, the marchers disbanded. Undeterred, they returned the next day. That night, they were met by 13,000 hostile white counterprotesters. Police dispersed the crowd with tear gas. After the march, supporters gathered at the Youth Council’s 15th Street Freedom House. These back-to-back marches mirrored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 Edmund Pettus Bridge marches in Montgomery.
Erected 2025
March On, Milwaukee
Funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation

Erected 2025 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 625.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 28, 1967.

Location. 43° 0.193′ N, 87° 55.223′ W. Marker

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is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in Lincoln Village. It is on South 7th Street. The marker is on the southeast corner of Kosciuszko Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2256 S 7th St, Milwaukee WI 53215, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Josaphat Basilica (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bay View’s Immigrants (approx. ¾ mile away); Johanna Brotch: Female Ship Owner (approx. 0.9 miles away); R. D. Whitehead Monument (approx. 1.1 miles away); Joseph Schlitz (approx. 1.1 miles away); Saint Stephen Lutheran Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Orville Cadwell (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jacob Best (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Photographed by Fitzie Heimdahl

2. March to Kosciuszko Park Marker

Kosciuszko Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devon Polzar, 2025

3. Kosciuszko Park

Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2025, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on June 16, 2025, by Fitzie Heimdahl of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.