Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Other Group

Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Founded:

1972
Founder:

Brian Verdin

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression was founded in 1972 by social activist Brian Verdin. 1 The organization today professes to primarily focus on opposition to  police misconduct, “prison profiteering,” and “economic injustice.” 2 The organization has also been active in abortion advocacy. 3

Background

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression is a left-wing group that says it is focused on ending police misconduct and “prison profiteering.” The group claims to fight racist political repression and “economic injustice.” 4

Political organizer Brian Verdin founded the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in 1972 during the anti-Vietnam War movement. 5

Marcelia Nicholson, Omar Flores, and Lauryn Cross have been identified in news accounts as the co-chairs of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. 6 7 8

Police Issues

The organization says it wants to work with the families of victims of police misconduct to get justice. 9 It also advocates for defunding the police. 10

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression advocates for civilian control of the police through alternative boards, such as a Civilian Police Accountability Council, instead of the existing Fire and Police Commission and elected city leaders. 11

The alliance and other groups protested outside an event in February 2021 where President Joe Biden spoke. The protesters demanded an end to federal grants for policing and demanded more money for civilian police accountability councils. The protesters demanded an “end to police crimes and white supremacy,” to “defend indigenous sovereignty and protect the earth,” to “end the wars and no more sanctions,” the legalization for all people in the United States, and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 12

In 2022, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression advocated for the family of Brieon Green, who died in the custody of Milwaukee police. The alliance demanded the public release of the officer’s names who arrested Green, the body camera footage of all seven police officers who interacted with Green during his arrest and inside the county jail, the footage from street cameras that captured Green’s arrest, the footage from the squad car when Green was arrested, and the footage from the cameras inside the county jail to ensure that Green was booked, medically cleared, and alive before being jailed. 13

In 2021, the alliance advocated on behalf of the family of 49-year-old Roberto Zielinski, who was killed by a police officer with the Tactical Enforcement Unit that was responding to reports of a suicidal man firing shots from his front porch. The Metropolitan Police Department released the video footage. 14

Abortion Activism

In 2022, Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee was established as a pro-abortion group under the umbrella of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. 15

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization led a protest on July 4, 2022, against the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion a state-level policy decision. 16

Other Activism

In 2021, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression successfully advocated for having a county park called Lindbergh Park, named after aviator Charles Lindbergh, to Lucille Berrien Park, after a social activist and one of the founding members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. 17

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society teamed with Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and organized a march in November 2021 to protest the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse. 18

References

  1. Staff. “Protests greet Biden outside the Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee.” Fight Back News. February 19, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. http://www.fightbacknews.org/2021/2/19/protests-greet-biden-outside-pabst-theater-downtown-milwaukee
  2. “Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.” Facebook. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeAlliance/
  3.  Nakayama, Yukare. “A number of Wisconsinites spent 4th of July protesting for women’s reproductive rights.” CBS 58. July 4, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.cbs58.com/news/july-4-reproductive-rights-march-through-downtown-milwaukee
  4. “Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.” Facebook. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeAlliance/
  5. [1] Staff. “Protests greet Biden outside the Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee.” Fight Back News. February 19, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. http://www.fightbacknews.org/2021/2/19/protests-greet-biden-outside-pabst-theater-downtown-milwaukee
  6. Press Release. “Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression: Justice for Brieon Green! Release the footage!” August 4, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://sendvalley.com/milwaukee-alliance-against-racist-and-political-repression-justice-for-brieon-green-release-the-footage/
  7. Carson, Sophie. “Activists, relatives of man fatally shot by Milwaukee police call for release of body camera footage.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 6, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2021/06/06/roberto-zielinskis-family-calls-milwaukee-police-release-video/7573266002/
  8. Eilberta, Natalie and Lynch La Risa R. “Targeted shootings cause stress for people of color no matter where you live. And there’s a lack of help in Milwaukee and Green Bay.” Green Bay Press-Gazette. May 18, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2022/05/18/buffalo-shooting-expose-lack-mental-health-black-community/9794250002/
  9. “Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.” Facebook. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeAlliance/
  10. Slowey, Ben. “Milwaukee Common Council revisits and accepts COPS grant.” Liberation News. January 24, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.liberationnews.org/milwaukee-common-council-revisits-and-accepts-cops-grant/
  11. Holmes, Isiah. “Community mourns Milwaukee man killed during mental health crisis.” Wisconsin Examiner. July 21, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/07/21/community-mourns-milwaukee-man-killed-during-mental-health-crisis/
  12.  Staff. “Protests greet Biden outside the Pabst Theater in downtown Milwaukee.” Fight Back News. February 19, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. http://www.fightbacknews.org/2021/2/19/protests-greet-biden-outside-pabst-theater-downtown-milwaukee
  13. Press Release. “Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression: Justice for Brieon Green! Release the footage!” Wis Politics. August 4, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/milwaukee-alliance-against-racist-and-political-repression-justice-for-brieon-green-release-the-footage/
  14. Holmes, Isiah. “Community mourns Milwaukee man killed during mental health crisis.” Wisconsin Examiner. July 21, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/07/21/community-mourns-milwaukee-man-killed-during-mental-health-crisis/
  15.  Press Release. “Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee: Denounces the county board’s vote on abortion access.” Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/reproductive-justice-action-milwaukee-denounces-the-county-boards-vote-on-abortion-access/
  16.  Nakayama, Yukare. “A number of Wisconsinites spent 4th of July protesting for women’s reproductive rights.” CBS 58. July 4, 2022. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.cbs58.com/news/july-4-reproductive-rights-march-through-downtown-milwaukee
  17. [1] Lynch, La Risa R. “A Milwaukee park is renamed for Lucille Berrien, a longtime political and social justice activist.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 24, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2021/10/24/milwaukees-lucille-berrien-park-renamed-after-being-lindbergh-park/6151630001/
  18.  Staff. “Milwaukee Protesters March Peacefully Through Downtown Streets in Response to Rittenhouse Verdict.” Milwaukee Independent. November 21, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/articles/milwaukee-protestors-march-peacefully-downtown-streets-response-rittenhouse-verdict/
  See an error? Let us know!