Uplifting Black Liberation and Community (UBLAC), along with Black women, Black men and allies gathered in Victory over Violence Park in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood to march for Black women’s empowerment and racial unity yesterday morning. The movement coordinated in solidarity with the national March for Racial Justice and the Black Women’s March hosted by Black Women’s BluePrint , which both occurred in Washington, D.C. Other sister cities nationwide also participated and held Black women marches in solidarity.

Speakers at the event included elected officials Congresswoman Gwen Moore, State Senator Lena Taylor, and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs—who assisted in city permit submissions and logistics for the march. Other speakers included community members, community members 13 year-old Zion Rogers, Marie Kelly, Elizabeth Campbell, spoken word artist Tiffany Miller who discussed themes ranging from homelessness and addiction, to trans-women and the battle for survival. Other elected officials in supportive attendance were State Senator Lena C. Taylor, State Senator LaTonya Johnson, Alderwomen Chantia Lewis and Tomika Vukovic, County Representatives Sequanna Taylor and Marcelia Nicholson, and Judge Valerie Hill.

National marches occurred on the 30th of September in remembrance of the Elaine, Arkansas Massacre during the Red Summer of 1919 . White mobs and soldiers entered black communities, killing over 200 while birthing a new century of racial injustices within the justice system.

The Black Women’s Empowerment March traveled north Martin Luther King Drive and West Concordia Avenue ending at Crossing Jordan Ministries for a call to action, fellowship, and refreshments.

UBLAC core member Lisa Jones, in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , stated that: “If you uplift the black women, we are the backbone of the family. We’re the nurturers, the caregivers. We work hard, often two or three jobs.” “This is about black love and unity, and a sisterhood to uplift the community…” Jones ended with, “This is just the beginning”.

Uplifting Black Liberation and Community (UBLAC) 

UBLAC is a grassroots organization that was founded in Milwaukee after Sylville Smith was murdered by a former Milwaukee police officer. UBLAC, Uplifting Black Liberation and Community is a coalition led by Black Women, Queer, and Trans people working towards Black liberation with people of African heritage in Milwaukee to give the tools necessary to empower local communities for change.