Milwaukee civil rights leader Vel Phillips dies

 Milwaukee civil rights leader Vel Phillips, 94, has died.

Officials made the announcement and held a moment of silence during Tuesday night's MPS school board meeting.

Phillips was the first African-American, and first woman, ever elected to the Milwaukee Common Council.

She was also the first African-American woman to serve as judge in Wisconsin and the first female judge in Milwaukee.

Phillips again made history when she became the first woman and African-American elected to a constitutional office as Secretary of State for Wisconsin.


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