Lucille Berrien

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]

Lucille Berrien
Born	1928 (age 95–96)[1][2]
Nationality	American
Citizenship	US
Occupation	activist

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]

References

1. 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. 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.