Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Leads Effort to Go Purple for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
MADISON – Residents, organizations, businesses, and landmarks across Wisconsin are going purple next week as part of a statewide recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which is established annually by the Office for Victims of Crime within the U.S. Department of Justice. This year’s NCVRW is April 23-29.
The purple light effort in the Badger State is organized by Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin.
Participants around the state are lighting businesses, landmarks, and other structures purple to showcase support for victims’ rights as the state recently recognized the three-year anniversary of the ratification vote of Wisconsin’s crime victims’ right constitutional amendment commonly known as Marsy’s Law.
The following landmarks around Wisconsin will join in recognizing NCVRW by participating in the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Go Purple campaign:
-- Downtown Green Bay Bridges, Walnut and Main Street, April 23 (one day only)
-- Hoan Bridge, April 23 (one day only)
-- Milwaukee City Hall, April 23-29
-- Mitchell Park Domes, April 23-29
-- Brown County Courthouse, April 23-29
-- Resch Expo Center, April 23-29
-- Madison Municipal Building, April 23-25
For the full list of landmarks to be lit purple in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, please reach Melinda Koski at [email protected].
This year's 2023 NCVRW theme is Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change. The theme calls upon communities across the country to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where they have the confidence they need to know they will be heard, believed, and supported.
“Three years after Marsy’s Law became a reality in Wisconsin, we are so proud to see the continued momentum,” said Nela Kalpic, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin State Director. “The positive impact this amendment has had on Wisconsin crime victims is immeasurable. I’m grateful to everyone who has joined us in this important observation of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and the continued support for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin.”
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin this month celebrated the third anniversary of the ratification vote of the crime victims’ constitutional amendment, Marsy’s Law. In April 2020, more than 1.1 million Wisconsin residents cast votes in favor of the amendment, the law was approved with a vast margin of more than 700,000 votes.
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About Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin
Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin is a grassroots coalition that championed a unique proposal to give victims of crime equal rights in our state, building on Wisconsin’s laws and history of leading on this issue. The crime victims’ rights state constitutional amendment, also known as Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, was ratified during the April 7, 2020 election with an overwhelming 75 percent of voters in support. Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas has made it his life’s mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights.