An Eastern Wisconsin Legislator’s bill aimed at preserving public monuments has passed in the Senate.
The Preserve Our Wisconsin Legacy Act, co-authored by Senator Andre Jacque of De Pere, would implement tougher penalties for defacing public monuments.
Sen Jacque and Representative William Penterman of Columbus wrote the bill in response to several monuments being defaced at the state capitol in June of 2020.
Specifically, the Hans Christian Heg statue, which depicts an immigrant and abolitionist leader, the Forward statue which commemorates Wisconsin being the first state to give women the right to vote, and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, which has been vandalized at least a half dozen times and as recently as last month.
Sen Jacque explains that this bill isn’t just about the structures, “It is about protecting the ideals signified by these structures, which are priceless.”
The Preserve Our Wisconsin Legacy Act (Senate Bill 558) now moves to the State Assembly and must be signed by the Governor to become law.
