Arlington Heights residents call for renaming of local park to honor local activist

On Saturday, April 24, 2021, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (MAARPR) hosted a press conference at Lindbergh Park in the Arlington Heights neighborhood campaigning to change the name of the park to Lucille Berrien Park. Ms. Berrien (left photo) was in attendance with the MAARPR to demand the park be named in her honor, and that the money used to make the changes come from the Milwaukee County Sheriff Office’s overtime budget.

The park was originally created in a citywide effort to reduce crime by taking money out of the police budget and funneling that money into public projects instead.

Berrien, who is 92 years old, is a lifelong organizer and prominent activist in the Milwaukee area. She was the first Black woman to run for mayor of Milwaukee, a member of the Black Panther Party, helped establish the original Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and has fostered around 200 kids. MAARPR believes Berrien would much better represent the city and neighborhood where the park is located.