Photos: Look back at Madison's 'Forward' statue through the years as protesters down Capitol Square replica
From the Pain and protest: Madison responds to the police killing of George Floyd (Summer 2020) series
On June 23, protesters in Madison wrapped chains around “Forward,” the bronze statue of a woman located at the State Street corner of Capitol Square, and pulled it down — while another statue, one of Col. Hans Christian Heg, was torn down from its spot at the top of King Street and dragged into Lake Monona.
The "Forward" statue is a replica of a Jean Pond Miner sculpture cast in 1893 and installed in the Capitol in 1895 that was designed as an allegory for devotion and progress, the embodiment of her home state.
Shaping 'Forward'
Menasha native Jean Pond Miner is shown working on her "Forward" statue in 1893 in the Wisconsin Building at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society.
Standing tall
The "Forward" statue is shown on Nov. 13, 1963, with the Wisconsin State Capitol in the background.
Original location
The original "Forward" statue is shown in March 8, 1990. The statue was moved from this location in 1995 and in 1998 it was installed at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Headquarters building.
Standing with women
The "Forward" statue is shown during a demonstration on May 31, 1995.
Escaping the elements
State workers, including Mike Bath (above), finished renovating "Forward," the venerable statue that once graced the North side of the Capitol Square, and were preparing her and her "clone'' for public display on July 31, 1996. The original copper-clad statue is on display at the State Historical Society on the UW campus, while a bronze copy was placed at the State Street side of the Capitol. Bath said constant exposure to the elements had worn away some of the statue's copper skin, exposing lead joints underneath.
Adding a fresh coat
Tammie Gizicki, of Detroit, Mich., applies hot wax to the "Forward" statue on July 15, 2002. The statues around the Capitol were being cleaned and then waxed to protect them from the elements.
Braving the snow
The "Forward" statue wears a layer of white as she stands over pedestrians braving falling snow as they make their way along State Street on Jan. 26, 2004.
Showing solidarity
Mexican, Cuban and American flags are attached to the "Forward" statue during a rally on immigration rights on April 11, 2006.
Recognizing love
Maria Parker, left, and Kelley Richardt stand in front of the "Forward" statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol on July 31, 2009. The two hoped to register three days later under the then-new state law as domestic partners, giving the same-sex couple the same legal protections as spouses.
Blindfolded in protest
The "Forward" statue is blindfolded with an American flag on Feb. 19, 2011.
Blindfolded in protest
The "Forward" statue is blindfolded with an American flag on Feb. 19, 2011.
Digging in
A man walks by the "Forward" statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Feb. 22, 2011. Opponents to Gov. Scott Walker's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers were in their eighth day of large scale protests.
'For Sale'
The "Forward" statue is covered in protest artifacts as opponents of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill gathered for protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Feb. 26, 2011.
Battle drags on
A protester raises his fingers after putting his mask on the "Forward" statue March 5, 2011. Opponents to Gov. Scott Walker's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers were on their 18th day of demonstrations at the Capitol.
'Recall' Walker
The "Forward" statue displays a "Recall" sign in March 2011, the day after the state Senate passed Gov. Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill.
Starting young
William Whiting, 12, adjusts signs on the "Forward" statue after someone took them down and threw them in the trash. On March 10, 2011, protests continued after the Senate passed governor's controversial budget repair bill, and the Assembly was meeting to consider final passage.
In full bloom
The "Forward" statue, with a carnation placed in its hand, surveys the scene on State Street in the aftermath of a labor rally March 10, 2011.
Setting a strong example
Artists Brenda Baker, left, and Bird Ross sit in front of the "Forward" statue on Oct. 25, 2017. The artists were so inspired by the story behind Jean Pond Miner’s 1893 statue that they created a fund to help future generations of female artists in Madison.
'Votes for Women'
The "Forward" statue outside the Wisconsin State Capitol wears a "Votes for Women" sash during the Women's Suffrage Centennial Celebration in Madison on June 10, 2019.
Covered in paint
Paint covers the "Forward" statue outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on June 2, 2020, after riots the previous night in Madison.
Covered in paint
Paint covers the "Forward" statue outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on June 2, 2020, after riots the previous night in Madison.
Covered in paint
Paint covers the “Forward” statue outside the state Capitol on June 2, 2020, following a third night of protests in Downtown Madison followed by vandalism.
Covered in paint
Paint covers the "Forward" statue outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on June 2, 2020, after demonstrations the previous night in Downtown Madison.
Clean up effort
A Wisconsin state employee paints the sign on the "Forward" statue on June 3, 2020, in an effort to hide the vandalism that occurred to it two nights before.
Bringing it down
Protesters tore down the "Forward" statue Tuesday night on Capitol Square at the top of State Street.
Left in the street
The "Forward" statue was covered with baking soda and left in the street after it was torn down on Tuesday night in Madison.
In this Series
Pain and protest: Madison responds to the police killing of George Floyd (Summer 2020)
-
Updated
Police protests: How Madison answered the police killing of George Floyd, in photos
-
Updated
Photos: Look back at Madison's 'Forward' statue through the years as protesters down Capitol Square replica
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Updated
Restore or replace? Community reckons with what’s next for Capitol’s fallen statues
- 69 updates
Protesters tore down statues of Forward and a Union Civil War colonel, assaulted a state senator and set a small fire in a city building Downtown on Tuesday night after the arrest of a Black activist seen causing a disturbance in a restaurant earlier in the day.
Several State Street business owners said the disturbance at Coopers Tavern was not an isolated incident.
Protesters knocked down two statues Tuesday evening, one that has come to represent women's rights and the other honoring an abolitionist.
Protests erupted across the country, including Madison, to condemn the police-related death of a Minneapolis man May 25. Here's a look at loca…
When completed, the statue of Phillips will join the "Forward" and Col. Hans Christian Heg statues, which were reinstalled in September after being torn down by protesters in June 2020.
Both statues have since been restored and were replaced in September, more than a year after they were torn down.
The Madison protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis ranged from peaceful to destructive since they started th…
The statue of Col. Hans Christian Heg, torn down by protesters at the state Capitol on June 23, honors a Norwegian immigrant from Wisconsin wh…
The Dane County Board on Thursday took a first step toward declaring racism a public health crisis. "First and foremost we have to recognize that there is an issue," Supervisor Shelia Stubbs said.
While much of the meeting was focused on police reform policy, the end turned into an emotional conversation about race and community healing.
The Madison Police and Fire Commission's attorney said two proposed police oversight measures could conflict with the commission's authority.
Day 10 of protests against police violence in Madison featured a grill out and block party, public defenders marching for black lives and "DEF…
Acting Madison Police Chief Vic Wahl said around 15 officers marched alongside protesters Sunday because they are also angry about George Floyd's death.
The crowd of around 100 attorneys took a knee outside of the Dane County Courthouse for 8 minutes and 46 seconds — the amount of time that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck.
Day seven of protests against police violence in Madison was a celebration of Breonna Taylor's life. Organizers hosted a barbecue and party at James Madison Park.
“These kids are the organizers,” said Ebony Anderson-Carter, 29. “This ain’t about me. It’s about them.”
"The police department is hesitant because they don't feel that the City Council and definitely the mayor has their backs," Ald. Paul Skidmore said.
