; Whereas as a Member of the Common Council, Velvalea Vel Phillips fought for fair and affordable housing in the city of Milwaukee, and in 1962, introduced Milwaukee’s first fair housing ordinance, a landmark resolution that dared to declare that, It is to be the policy of the City of Milwaukee to assure the equal opportunity to all persons to live in decent housing facilities regardless of race, color or national origin ; Whereas on the first occasion that resolution came to a vote, it received one vote in favor, but not one who is easily deterred, she would bring up the measure repeatedly over the years; Whereas, in August 1967, 200 activists marched across the bridge dividing the city’s South Side and North Side to demand fair and equal housing access as part of civil rights protests in the city; Whereas Vel participated in the protests and became the first known elected official to be arrested while holding office; Whereas as a result of her participation in these protests, she was also subject to threats and violence, such as gunshots fired into her home and hate mail threatening her children’s lives, but undeterred, she persisted; Whereas, in 1968, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Milwaukee Common Council would pass her fair housing ordinance, a victory that reverberated around the country and quickly influenced other municipal housing laws; Whereas, in 1971, Velvalea Vel Phillips became the first woman judge in Milwaukee County, and the first African-American judge in Wisconsin; Whereas, in 1978, Velvalea Vel Phillips reached another milestone with her election as Wisconsin Secretary of State, becoming the first and only African American to ever win statewide office in the State of Wisconsin; Whereas after leaving public office, Velvalea Vel Phillips remained engaged in the community; Whereas in recognition of her many accomplishments, she was invited to serve as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Marquette’s Law School during the 2002–2003 school year