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Commando Fred Reed holds a photo from his personal collection depicting the Commandos and Father Groppi. (Photo by Adam Carr)
The March On Milwaukee 50th Coordinating Committee is hosting the 200 Nights of Freedom Kickoff in the City Hall Rotunda (200 E Wells St.) on August 28, 2017, from 5:30-7:30pm.
This event kicks off the 200 Nights of Freedom initiative, which takes inspiration from the original timeline and spirit of Milwaukee’s Open Housing Marches. During this 200-day period, our focus will be recognition of our local civil rights heroes and re-ignition of Milwaukee’s simmering activist spirit through public events, policy initiatives, digital dialogue, and other programming.
Networking and socializing begin at 5:30pm and the evening’s program will run from 6:00-7:30pm. Speakers will include original marchers, elected officials and Milwaukee youth of today. All are welcome at this free event and refreshments will be provided.
The March on Milwaukee 50th Coordinating Committee is an intergenerational group of organizers, artists, professionals, academics, and elders who participated in the original marches. Our first meeting took place in February 2016, and since, over 100 community individuals, organizations and institutions have participated in the planning process.
Historical background:
Beginning on August 28, 1967, the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council/Commandos, Father James Groppi, Alderperson Vel Phillips and a host of activists and community members marched for over 200 consecutive nights to demand an end to housing segregation. The marches signified Milwaukee’s contribution to the Black Freedom Movement in America and helped inspire federal fair housing legislation. This moment was indeed the pinnacle of civil rights activism in Milwaukee.
For more, visit our website at 200nightsoffreedom.org, find us on Facebook, or e-mail March on Milwaukee 50th at info@200nightsoffreedom.org
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