An 11-foot wooden statue of a raised fist, originally built in Minneapolis to hold space for mourning following the murder of George Floyd, now anchors a community-led vigil at the intersection of Williamson and South Baldwin streets in Madison, Wisconsin, according to artist and activist jordan jamal powell karis. The installation marks the site of a community gathering demanding accountability from the Madison Police Department following the July 22 killing of Corey Ruiz, a Black man, by police.
Transporting the 11-Foot Raised Fist to Wisconsin
Artist jordan jamal powell karis and a half dozen neighbors packed the sculpture into a vehicle and delivered it to Madison after organizing with the local community group ACAB Underground School, which connected with the Minneapolis creator. According to powell karis, the group started planning the transport on a Thursday morning in July and packed the statue the next day as a show of solidarity. Williamson Street between South Few and South Dickinson streets remains closed to traffic, with city officials working alongside organizers, residents, and businesses to determine next steps for the roadway.
History and Purpose of the Traveling Statues
The Madison installation is one of four wooden fist statues powell karis built in 2021, following the creation of his first sculpture in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd by former police officer Derek Chauvin. According to the artist, the original statue remains in storage at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, while a metal statue stays permanently at the site and the wooden pieces travel. Similar statues have been delivered to Akron, Ohio, following the police killing of 25-year-old Jayland Walker—who was struck by bullets 46 times by eight officers—and to the Black Lives Matter branch in Los Angeles near Leimert Plaza Park.
Did you know? The specific statue now standing in Madison has previously been struck by vehicles intentionally multiple times and has caught bullets at George Floyd Square over the past five years, according to jordan jamal powell karis.
Community Grief and Demands for Accountability
The intersection in Madison has drawn crowds laying flowers and paying tribute to Corey Ruiz while protesting excessive police force directed at Madison’s Black community. ACAB Underground School stated on Instagram that the fist serves as a physical reminder that solidarity requires sacrifice, discomfort, and collective action. According to powell karis, the art functions as an expression of grief and a tool to help hold space, making it harder for the state and city to quickly dismantle sites of mourning and giving residents time to organize, grow food, host workshops, or write demands for police accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the raised fist statue in Madison come from?
According to artist jordan jamal powell karis, the 11-foot wooden statue was built in Minneapolis in 2021 and transported to Madison by the artist and local neighbors in coordination with the ACAB Underground School organizing group.
Why is Williamson Street closed in Madison?
Williamson Street remains closed between South Few and South Dickinson streets as a community vigil gathers around the statue to mourn Corey Ruiz and demand accountability from the Madison Police Department following his July 22 killing.
What are the traveling fist statues made of?
According to jordan jamal powell karis, the traveling sculptures are built from plywood and two-by-fours, designed to support community spaces for grief, rallies, and processing trauma.
To stay updated on local news, community organizing efforts, and cultural coverage across Wisconsin, subscribe to the Cap Times Food & Culture newsletter for exclusive weekly insights.
Worth a look