State-Langdon in Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Vietnam War protesters and police clashed here
The Madison Heritage Series
Inscription.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, many American college campuses smoldered over political issues, especially the draft and the Vietnam War. The University of Wisconsin, however, burst into a full blaze.
Groups demonstrated regularly on campus and State Street. Police sometimes responded with tear gas or even beatings. In 1967, radicals took control of the student movement, and vandalism of campus and State Street businesses became common. Many stores closed, moved or opened new locations to serve patrons afraid to come downtown. During the period of greatest unrest, the National Guard helped state and local police enforce curfews.
Following the deadly campus bombing of Sterling Hall in 1970, students began backing away from aggressive protests. Eventually the United States withdrew from Vietnam. And Madison police developed cooperative approaches to law enforcement, becoming a model for other cities.
Sidebar:
Madison’s movement against the Vietnam War turned violent during a 1967 protest against Dow Chemical Company. Students objected to Dow’s campus recruiting because the company manufactured napalm, an incendiary weapon used by the United States in the war. Madison’s unrest peaked in 1970. Four protesters bombed Sterling Hall, a University of Wisconsin building housing an army research lab, unintentionally killing one person.
Erected 2006 by City of Madison.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Government & Politics • War, Vietnam. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.
Location. 43° 4.515′ N, 89° 23.57′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It is in State-Langdon. Marker is on State Street near West Gilman Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in the Lisa Link Peace Park between State Street and West Gilman Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison WI 53703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Woman's Building (a few steps from this marker); The Temperance Movement Battled Madison''s Breweries (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Braley House (about 400 feet away); Chi Phi Fraternity (about 600 feet away); Wootton - Mead House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Holy Redeemer School Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grimm Book Bindery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Suhr House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.
More about this marker. This marker is part of the The Madison Heritage Series, Sharing Our Legacy, created for Madison’s sesquicentennial. The marker was sponsored by the Madison Community Foundation.
Also see . . . 40 years later, FBI still looking for suspected terrorist Leo Burt. A Wisconsin State Journal article by Ron Seely and Deborah Ziff, published July 21, 2010. (Submitted on July 22, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,190 times since then and 125 times this year. Last updated on October 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on September 25, 2010, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. 6. submitted on October 27, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 7. submitted on July 15, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.