SR19,1,32 Whereas, Rev. Lucius Walker has been a tireless advocate for civil rights and
3a true leader in the cause for social justice and human rights; and

SR19,1,74 Whereas, Rev. Walker received a master's degree in social work in 1964 from
5the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and taught there where he was an
6outspoken critic of funding and social work approaches, which he felt fostered
7dependency in the Milwaukee's Black community; and

SR19,1,128 Whereas, in April 1967, Rev. Walker was arrested in an act of civil disobedience
9after he was part of a crowd protesting the mistreatment of a Black youth by a
10plainclothes Milwaukee police officer; this led to a trial which included character
11testimony on Rev. Walker's behalf from former Mayor Frank Zeidler and future
12District Attorney E. Michael McCann; and

SR19,2,213 Whereas, upon moving to Harlem in 1967, he founded the Interreligious
14Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which fosters faith-based

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1progressive organizing and has the distinction of being the only national ecumenical
2foundation committed exclusively to the support of community organizing; and

SR19,2,53 Whereas, Rev. Walker has additionally served on the staff of the Milwaukee
4Christian Center, was the founding director of the Northcott Neighborhood House,
5and Associate General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ; and

SR19,2,9 6Whereas, after being shot by American-funded terrorist contras in Nicaragua
7in 1988 while leading an IFCO study delegation, Rev. Walker started the Pastors for
8Peace Organization to educate people about how United States policies were
9affecting impoverished citizens of the Americas; and

SR19,2,1310 Whereas, through IFCO/Pastors for Peace, caravans of aid have been
11distributed to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chiapas, and over 200,000 tons
12to Cuba; additionally Rev. Walker has led scores of "Friendship Caravans" to areas
13such as Mexico, Haiti, Central America, and post-Katrina New Orleans; and

SR19,2,1714 Whereas, in January 1996, Rev. Walker was arrested for attempting to send
15computers to hospitals in Cuba, and for the 94 days in which the computers were
16seized, he led a "Fast for Life" with four others which resulted in the computers being
17delivered in September; and

SR19,2,2018 Whereas, the IFCO/Pastors for Peace is also the United States coordinator for
19Cuba's international affirmative action program, which provides free medical school
20for up to 500 United States students of color; and

SR19,2,24 21Whereas, Rev. Walker is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and peace
22awards, including the Gandhi Peace Award, and the Thomas Merton Award, and has
23been honored by the Congressional Black Caucus as an outstanding leader in the
24struggles against racism and for human rights; and

SR19,3,4

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1Whereas, the adoption of this senate resolution is supported not only by the
2senate, but also by members of the assembly, including specifically Representatives
3Sheridan, Schneider, Young, Grigsby, Sinicki, Mason, Fields, Benedict, Turner,
4Kessler, and Hintz; now, therefore, be it