Lucille Berrien

Lucille Berrien
Born1928 (age 95–96)[1][2]
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUS
Occupationactivist

Lucille Berrien is an activist from Milwaukee.[1] She was good friends with fellow Open housing advocate James Groppi.[1] She ran for mayor of Milwaukee in 1972, becoming the first African-American woman to do so, but lost the race to incumbent Henry Maier.[1] Though she had recently joined the Black Panther Party, she ran a non-partisan race for mayor.[1] Berrien also ran for State Treasurer of Wisconsin in 1990 with the Labor–Farm Party of Wisconsin, but lost to Cathy Zeuske.[3]

Berrien was a supporter of Milwaukee Alderperson Michael McGee Jr., even after his 2008 convictions for bribery and extortion, believing he was set up by the government.[4]

In 2013, the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin honored Berrien with one of the inaugural Community Health Champion Awards.[5]

In April 2021 there was an effort to rename a Milwaukee park currently named for Charles Lindbergh in her honor.[2] On October 23, 2021, the name of the park was officially changed in her honor to "Lucille Berrien Park".[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e Snyder, Molly (February 25, 2020). "Profiles in Milwaukee history: activist Lucille Berrien". OnMilwaukee. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Martinez, Juan Miguel (27 April 2021). "Milwaukee Alliance Organizes to Rename Lindbergh Park". Shepherd Express. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  3. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Diedrich, John (June 25, 2008). "McGee guilty: Former alderman convicted of extortion, bribery in dealings with store owners". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee. Lucille Berrien, a McGee supporter, said she believed McGee was set up by the government. "I think it's one of the worst things that has happened to Milwaukee," she said.
  5. ^ "Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin celebrates its 25th Anniversary". Milwaukee Courier. Courier Communications. October 12, 2013. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  6. ^ Powell, Teran (25 October 2021). "Signs at Milwaukee's former Lindbergh Park now officially bear Lucille Berrien's name". WUWM. Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-03-24.