Protest and Social Activism

Vietnam War: In the late 1960s the Vietnam War took center stage in the awareness of the public as young people from across the United States were dying overseas. Iin Milwaukee, there was a strong sense of social engagement and people took to the streets to protest the War. The Milwaukee 14, a group of priests and college professors burned 10,000 draft notices in downtown. The Milwaukee Peace Action Center organized peace demonstrations and disseminated information on anti-war activism throughout the city.

Civil Rights: Milwaukee has a compelling history of civil rights activism. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) worked tirelessly to end school segregation by setting up "Freedom Schools." The Milwaukee chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), led by their Youth Commando squad, took part in a series of dramatic marches throughout the summer of 1967 to bring attention to the need for an equal housing law. Leaders such as Lloyd Barbee, Vel Phillips and Father Groppi played pivotal roles in the communication of civil rights issues.

AIDS Activism: ACT UP Milwaukee described itself as "a diverse group of individuals united in anger and compassion and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis."  These actions took the form of demonstration and organization, mailings, flyers and media publicity. The Milwaukee Gay/Lesbian Cable Network did its part to publicize the AIDS issue through innovative interviews and programming on cable access television.

Women's Rights: Women's rights groups used protest and activism throughout the 1970s in Milwaukee. The National Organization of Women (NOW) worked on almost every women’s rights issue, including abortion rights, divorce reform, equal pay and credit legislation, consciousness raising, gender equity in education, poverty, childcare, sex segregation in public places, political campaigns, sexual assault, and marital property reform. The Women's Coalition, founded in 1972, supported the many women’s groups which developed in Milwaukee during the feminist movement of the 1970s.