2007 Senate Resolution 19
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Rev. Lucius Walker.
Whereas, Rev. Lucius Walker has been a tireless advocate for civil rights and a true leader in the cause for social justice and human rights; and
Whereas, Rev. Walker received a master's degree in social work in 1964 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and taught there where he was an outspoken critic of funding and social work approaches, which he felt fostered dependency in the Milwaukee's Black community; and
Whereas, in April 1967, Rev. Walker was arrested in an act of civil disobedience after he was part of a crowd protesting the mistreatment of a Black youth by a plainclothes Milwaukee police officer; this led to a trial which included character testimony on Rev. Walker's behalf from former Mayor Frank Zeidler and future District Attorney E. Michael McCann; and
Whereas, upon moving to Harlem in 1967, he founded the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which fosters faith-based progressive organizing and has the distinction of being the only national ecumenical foundation committed exclusively to the support of community organizing; and
Whereas, Rev. Walker has additionally served on the staff of the Milwaukee Christian Center, was the founding director of the Northcott Neighborhood House, and Associate General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ; and
Whereas, after being shot by American-funded terrorist contras in Nicaragua in 1988 while leading an IFCO study delegation, Rev. Walker started the Pastors for Peace Organization to educate people about how United States policies were affecting impoverished citizens of the Americas; and
Whereas, through IFCO/Pastors for Peace, caravans of aid have been distributed to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chiapas, and over 200,000 tons to Cuba; additionally Rev. Walker has led scores of "Friendship Caravans" to areas such as Mexico, Haiti, Central America, and post-Katrina New Orleans; and
Whereas, in January 1996, Rev. Walker was arrested for attempting to send computers to hospitals in Cuba, and for the 94 days in which the computers were seized, he led a "Fast for Life" with four others which resulted in the computers being delivered in September; and
Whereas, the IFCO/Pastors for Peace is also the United States coordinator for Cuba's international affirmative action program, which provides free medical school for up to 500 United States students of color; and
Whereas, Rev. Walker is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and peace awards, including the Gandhi Peace Award, and the Thomas Merton Award, and has been honored by the Congressional Black Caucus as an outstanding leader in the struggles against racism and for human rights; and
Whereas, the adoption of this senate resolution is supported not only by the senate, but also by members of the assembly, including specifically Representatives Sheridan, Schneider, Young, Grigsby, Sinicki, Mason, Fields, Benedict, Turner, Kessler, and Hintz; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, That the members of the Wisconsin senate honor the outstanding contributions and life achievements of Rev. Lucius Walker in fighting for and promoting human rights for all.
