Milwaukee — A coalition of Milwaukee civil rights and civic organizations will mark the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with a three-day public event — VRA 3 Days of Action 2026 — August 6–8, 2026. The three events are presented by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County and supported by the NAACP-Milwaukee Branch, VOCES de la Frontera, 100 Women on the Move, Souls to the Polls and St. Mark A.M.E., founded by Ezekiel Gillespie.
The 3 Days of Action comes just 99 days after the Court’s 6-3 decision in Callais — the latest and most sweeping in a series of rulings that have dismantled the VRA’s core enforcement mechanisms starting in 2013. Taken together with Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021), the ruling has effectively nullified all three of the Act’s central pillars. In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan called it “the majority’s now-completed demolition of the Voting Rights Act.”
The three-day intergenerational series of events will bring together community members, legal experts, historians, artists, and civic leaders to reflect on the legacy of the Voting Rights Act, to examine its ongoing dismantlement by the U.S. Supreme Court, and to mobilize Milwaukeeans of all ages around voting rights ahead of the 2026 Partisan Primary and midterm elections.
For more information, see the attached flyer and visit the event link: Voting Rights Act (VRA) 3 Days of Action – Events – League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County
>> WisPolitics is now on the State Affairs network. Get custom keyword notifications, bill tracking and all WisPolitics content. Get the app or access via desktop.
.
EVENT SCHEDULE
| DATE | LOCATION | EVENT |
| Thursday, Aug. 6 | St. Mark A.M.E. Church1616 W. Atkinson St. | 61st Anniversary — Keynote Address by Walter Lanier, Esq., Resource Tables | 6:00 PM |
| Friday, Aug. 7 | St. Mark A.M.E. Church1616 W. Atkinson St. | History Lesson & Art Workshop: Building a Wall of Legacy, Resource Tables | 6:00 PM |
| Saturday, Aug. 8 | Ezekiel Gillespie Park2478 N. 14th St. | Community Gathering — Speakers, Cultural Performance, Community Voices, “Why Voting Matters to My Generation?”, March & Rally | 3:00 PM |
THURSDAY KICK-OFF: 61st ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE VRA
The weekend opens Thursday, August 6 at St. Mark AME, located at 1616 W. Atkinson St., with a keynote address by Walter Lanier, Esq., a prominent Wisconsin civil rights activist, Pastor, CEO and community organizer. Attorney Lanier will speak on the history, legal significance, and accelerating erosion of the Voting Rights Act — from its passage in 1965 through the Supreme Court’s decisions in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021), and now Louisiana v. Callais (2026), and what these rulings mean for Wisconsin voters and communities of color nationwide. His remarks will end with a call to action to support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Doors open at 5:30 PM. The program begins at 6:00 PM with a libation and will include remarks from LWVMC leadership, partners recognition, a Q&A, and a reception with light refreshments following the keynote. The event is free and open to the public.
| “As we mark the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, this is not a moment for celebration alone, but a call to action. In light of recent Supreme Court decisions that have weakened key protections, we are focusing this weekend on educating our community about the risks facing our democracy. The League of Women Voters remains steadfast in our mission to empower voters and defend the fundamental right to vote for all.” — Peg Schrader, President, League of Women Voters – Milwaukee County |
FRIDAY HISTORY LESSON & ART WORKSHOP
On Friday, August 7, St. Mark AME located at 1616 W. Atkinson St. will host an evening program opening with drumming by Ajamou Butler and featuring a public History Lesson on the Voting Rights Act — from the events of Selma in 1965, could you pass the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test? The test was often arbitrarily given to Black people – a failing grade meant you couldn’t register to vote. The 1965 Voting Rights Act ended the practice. The Lesson continues through the Reagan-era legislative battles of the 1980s, to the three Supreme Court decisions that have systematically dismantled the law’s enforcement: Shelby County (2013), Brnovich (2021), and Louisiana v. Callais (April 2026). The History Lesson will end on what avenues remain for protecting voters.
Following the History Lesson, participants will be served a catered meal and are invited to take part in an Art Workshop creating a ‘Wall of Legacy” during the workshop. The art created will be displayed at Saturday’s outdoor community gathering at Ezekiel Gillespie Park. Doors open at 5:30 PM. The program begins at 6:00 PM with a libation and will include remarks from LWVMC leadership and the partners will be acknowledged. The Friday program begins at 6:00 PM and is free and open to the public.
| “We must confront systemic racism and continue to fight for our voting rights. We work with our young people through the NAACP Youth Council to connect them with history and give them voice to coalesce around civic action. Art is a perfect medium to engage them as they are the future of this community.”— Clarence Nicholas, President, NAACP-Milwaukee Branch |
SATURDAY COMMUNITY GATHERING & MARCH: EZEKIEL GILLESPIE PARK
The weekend culminates Saturday, August 8, with a free outdoor community gathering at Ezekiel Gillespie Park located at 2478 N. 14th St., — a site of deep historical significance. TR Edwards, Esq, of Law Forward will share remarks about Ezekiel Gillespie, the first African American to fight for voting rights in Wisconsin and won after suing the state in 1866 for the right of Black men to vote, predating the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by four years. TR will also bring the closing charge before the march. The gathering will be moved to St. Mark AME in the event of rain.
Many elected officials and historians are among the invited guests.
The Saturday gathering will feature community speakers, cultural performances, music, and displays of the artwork from Friday’s workshop. Community organizations will host information tables, and a voter information station — including Spanish-language assistance — will be available throughout the 3 days. The program begins at 3:00 PM.
“Voting rights are not a historical footnote — they are the contested ground of our democracy right now,” said Karen Nelson, DEI Committee Co-Chair. “We are bringing this community together at a park named for a man who fought for the right to vote over 150 years ago because that fight is not over. We’re currently living in an era marked by declining federal commitments. Gillespie’s stand highlights the enduring power of grassroots efforts. ‘We the People’ must uphold our civil liberties!”
| “The road between the America of the past and the America of the future has always been the vote. For six decades, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has been the bridge to that future. The VRA served as the backbone of federal protections against racial discrimination in our elections. With the latest Callais ruling, that backbone has been broken. This VRA 3 Days of Action is our community’s response to fight for our rights to be fully restored. That’s what brought me to be a part of this event.” —Walter Lanier, Esq |
BACKGROUND: THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT TODAY
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was the landmark federal law that dismantled systematic barriers to voting for Black Americans and other underrepresented communities. Its three central pillars — Sections 2, 4, and 5 — worked together as an interlocking enforcement system. Section 4 identified which states had histories of discrimination; Section 5 required those states to obtain federal approval before changing any voting law; and Section 2 provided a nationwide prohibition on voting practices that discriminate by race.
All three have now been effectively eliminated by the Supreme Court:
| YEAR | EVENT |
| 1965 | VRA signed into law; Sections 2, 4, and 5 enacted |
| 1970–1982 | Reauthorizations strengthen law; Section 2 “results” test enacted; language minority protections added |
| 2006 | Section 5 reauthorized for 25 years (98–0 in U.S. Senate) |
| 2013 | Shelby County v. Holder — Section 4 coverage formula struck down; Section 5 preclearance rendered inoperative |
| 2021 | Brnovich v. DNC — Section 2 “results” test severely weakened |
| April 29, 2026 | Louisiana v. Callais — Section 2 redistricting protections eliminated; the Supreme Court’s 6-3 majority completes the dismantling of the VRA |
Congress has not passed corrective legislation in response to any of these rulings.
The VRA 3 Days of Action marks the 61st anniversary of the Act’s signing on August 6, 1965, but serves more as an urgent call to action than a commemoration.
“We will keep the community engagement going beyond August 6-8. Our goal is to raise public awareness and inspire action to strengthen voting rights.” said Nelson.
Following the VRA 3 Days of Action August 6-8, 2026, the public is encouraged to visit the Central Library, located 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. as they will be showcasing the Wall of Legacy for patrons of all ages. The display will be up through November 6.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZING PARTNERS
League of Women Voters (LWV) – Milwaukee County
Website URL: lwvmilwaukee.org
NAACP — Milwaukee Branch
Website URL: naacpmke.org
VOCES de la Frontera
Website URL: vdlf.org
100 Women on the Move
Website URL: soulstothepollswi.org/100-women-on-the-move
Souls to the Polls
Website URL: soulstothepollswi.org/
St. Mark A.M.E.
Website URL.:stmarkame.org/
