James Groppi facts for kids

James Edmund Groppi (born November 16, 1930 – died November 4, 1985) was a Catholic priest and a very important civil rights activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was famous for leading many peaceful protests and was often arrested for standing up for what he believed in. Later, he left the priesthood and got married. He passed away in 1985 at age 54.

James Groppi's Early Life and Education

James Groppi was born in the Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the eleventh of twelve children born to Giocondo and Giorgina Groppi, who were immigrants from Italy. His family lived in a working-class area.

James's father, Giocondo, opened a grocery store called "Groppi's" in Bay View. James and his brothers and sisters helped out at the store. Like many kids in Catholic Milwaukee, James went to a Catholic grade school. He then attended Bay View High School, where he was the captain of the basketball team in his final year.

Becoming a Priest

After high school, James Groppi decided to study to become a priest. He went to St. Lawrence Seminary from 1950 to 1952. During his time there, he started to understand the struggles faced by poor African Americans. He worked summers at a youth center in Milwaukee's inner city. This experience showed him the unfairness and hardship that many Black people lived with every day.

Groppi continued his studies at St. Francis Seminary from 1952 to 1959. He was officially ordained as a Catholic priest in June 1959.

Fighting for Civil Rights

Father Groppi's first assignment as a priest was at St. Veronica's Church in Milwaukee. In 1963, he was moved to St. Boniface, a church with mostly African-American members. This is when he became deeply involved in the civil rights movement.

He took part in major events like the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. He also joined the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. These marches helped bring about the Voting Rights Act, which made it easier for all citizens to vote. In the summer of 1965, he worked with Martin Luther King Jr. on a voter registration project in the South.

Leading Protests in Milwaukee

When Father Groppi returned to Milwaukee in late 1965, he became an advisor to the youth group of the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He helped organize protests against segregation in Milwaukee's public schools. He continued to advise the NAACP Youth Council until 1968. He also served as a leader for the Milwaukee United School Integration Committee.

As an NAACP advisor, Groppi helped create a group of Black men called the Milwaukee Commandos. Their job was to protect marchers and help keep the peace during the "Freedom Marches."

The Fair Housing Marches

Father Groppi and the NAACP Youth Council led a long series of protests for fair housing in Milwaukee. This meant fighting for laws that would allow people of all races to buy or rent homes anywhere they wanted. He led these marches across the 16th Street Viaduct, which is now named in his honor. This bridge crosses the Menomonee River Valley and was seen as a symbol of the city's racial divide.

During these protests, Groppi received support from other civil rights leaders like Dick Gregory and Martin Luther King Jr. Even though he was often criticized and arrested, his efforts helped show how unfair the housing situation was in Milwaukee. These protests eventually led to a law being passed in the city that made housing discrimination illegal.

Challenging Discrimination in the Courts

In 1966, Groppi also challenged the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a group that did not allow people of color to join. Many judges and elected officials in Milwaukee were members of this group. Groppi questioned how a judge who belonged to such an organization could be fair in cases involving African Americans.

He organized protests outside the homes of some judges, including Judge Robert C. Cannon. These protests continued on and off until 1967. During this time, Groppi also worked to pass laws that would stop discrimination in buying and renting homes. In 1968, a similar law, the Fair Housing Act, was passed across the United States.

In 1968, Father Groppi received the Pacem in Terris Award for Peace and Freedom. This award was named after a message from Pope John XXIII that called for peace among all nations. "Pacem in terris" means "Peace on earth" in Latin.

The Welfare Mothers' March

On September 29, 1969, Groppi led the "Welfare Mothers' March on Madison." More than 1,000 welfare mothers marched into the Wisconsin State Assembly chamber and stayed there to protest planned cuts to welfare programs. Groppi and his supporters held the chamber for 11 hours until the police took it back. He was arrested but later won his appeal in court.

Later Years and Legacy

Father Groppi's church leaders did not always agree with his protests. In 1970, he was moved to St. Michael's Church. He often asked to be assigned to churches in African-American communities, but his requests were not granted.

In 1976, Groppi decided to leave the priesthood. He then began studying law. He later married Margaret Rozga, who became an English professor. They had three children together.

From 1975 to 1976, Groppi worked with VISTA volunteers in several Wisconsin counties. He also helped mediate a disagreement between the Menominee Indians and the Alexian Brothers in 1975. The Menominee wanted to reclaim land where the Alexian Brothers' Novitiate was located.

Groppi briefly considered becoming an Episcopal priest in 1978 and 1979. However, his strong connection to Catholicism made him decide not to continue with that path.

In 1977, Groppi became a bus driver for the Milwaukee County Transit System. In 1983, he was elected president of the bus drivers' local union. In 1984, he became partially paralyzed after surgery for a cancerous brain tumor. He passed away the following year from complications of the same cancer.

James Groppi is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Milwaukee. His important papers and records are kept at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Images for kids

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  James E. Groppi Unity Bridge.

See also

• Philip Berrigan