Social Justice

Al Fishman Papers

abarker — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:16:12 -0400

Alvin Fishman was born in Los Angeles, Nov. 28, 1927, but he was raised in New York and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He was drafted and served in Italy during World War II. After the war, he moved to Ann Arbor, MI to attend the University of Michigan and study architecture. During this time he became involved in politics. Fishman left the university prior to graduation to move to Detroit and work as a tool and die machinist in an auto plant for the next thirteen years. He married Margaret Radulavich in 1951; they had two children, Marcia and Daniel. As an adult, he returned to college to complete his education in mathematics at Wayne State University. He also pursued a Master of Public Adminstration from Wayne State in the 1970s. He made a living programming computer systems for the Detroit Police Department.

Al Fishman and his wife, Margaret, were activists for peace and justice. Al was a long time leader of Peace Action of Michigan, serving as co-chair and representative on the national board of directors. He joined in the 1980s when the group was called the SANE/Freeze, working on the Nuclear Freeze Campaign. He was also involved with the New Jewish Agenda, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, and Democratic Socialists of America.

Part 1 of Mr. Fishman’s papers reflect his activities as state chairperson for the New Democratic Coalition of Michigan (NDCM) and his involvement in various Detroit-area political organizations and the anti-Vietnam War movement.

Part 2 of the collection documents the Fishman’s activism in the city of Detroit and their participation in various peace, justice and human rights groups, such as New Jewish Agenda, Peace Action of Michigan and Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network groups. Materials from Margaret Fishman’s involvement in the group Women’s Conference of Concerns are included. The collection also contains some materials from Al Fishman’s work with the Detroit Police Department, the City Charter Revision Commission, and his unsuccessful bids for city office.

Anna Melissa Graves Photographs

drice — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 11:55:55 -0400

An associate of Peruvian political leader, Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, Anna Melissa Graves led efforts to liberate de la Torre during his imprisonment by the Peruvian government. Collection consists of photographic prints of de la Torre and other unidentified persons.

Harry Philo Papers

kschmeling — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 13:41:08 -0500

Harry Philo had the reputation as one of the most notable personal injury, constitutional and civil rights Lawyers on the Side of People in the US. His career based primarily in Detroit, spanned from 1959 through the 1990s. This collection is a reflection of Philo’s work as a trial lawyer.

William Bledsoe Papers

kschmeling — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 10:21:53 -0500

William F. Bledsoe held a long career in the field of law. Working under Attorney General Frank Kelley, as well as being elected to the 30th District Court in Highland Park, Michigan, Judge Bledsoe is particularly noted for cases pertaining to civil rights issues.

Workmen's Circle Records

kschmeling — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 12:05:40 -0400

The Workmen's Circle is a Jewish nonprofit organization based heavily in New York City, with a number of branch organizations around the country, including Detroit, Michigan. Workmen's Circle, today, focuses on social justice activism and the promotion of Yiddish culture and education.

Guest Post: Ciera Casteel on the Wayne State University Oral History Course Oral Histories

aorchard — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 11:05:31 -0400

Please note: The oral history course collections mentioned in this post have been consolidated into one collection: Wayne State University Oral History Methodology Course Oral Histories. Please refer to the finding aid here: https://archives.wayne.edu/repositories/2/resources/3381.

Over the course of the last few months I had the opportunity to work at the Reuther Library processing oral history collections. This was an incredible experience through which I was able to create tools to increase researchers' access to four relatively new collections: the Wayne State University Oral History Course Oral Histories. These four collections are a treasure for researchers studying a number of topics. read more »

Subject Focus: WDET in the UAW Years

teller — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Metro Detroiters recognize radio station WDET 101.9 FM as Wayne State University’s local voice for National Public Radio. Prior to 1952, however, WDET served as the local voice for labor. Unhappy with the critical representation of the labor movement in newspapers and on the radio, in 1944 the United Automobile Workers filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission to run independent radio stations in six markets with strong labor ties: the UAW’s hometown of Detroit; Flint, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles; Chicago; and Newark, New Jersey. read more »

(29808) Member Political Organizers, Immigration Rights Rally, Washington, D.C., 2001

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:08 -0500

Member Political Organizers rally in front of the Capital building in Washington, D.C.

(29189) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., 2000

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Justice for Janitors demonstration by Local 82 at Catholic University in Washington D.C..

(29211) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Day Demonstration, Washington D.C., 1996

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Demonstration during Justice for Janitors Day in Washington D.C. on June 14, 1996.

(29223) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1985

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Demonstrators carry a Justice for Janitors banner during a demonstration against United States Service Industries Inc. (USSI) in Washington, D.C.

(29224) Richard Trumka and other demonstrators, Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1995

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Richard Trumka speaks at a Justice for Janitors demonstration against USSI in Washington, D.C.

(29225) Richard Trumka and other demonstrators, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1995

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Richard Trumka and fellow demonstrators rally at a Justice for Janitors demonstration against USSI in Washington, D.C.

(29226) Local 525, Justice for Janitors Sexual Harassment Picket, Washington, D.C., 1988

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Members of Local 525 participate in a 1988 Justice for Janitors demonstration against sexual harassment in Washington, D.C.

(29227) Justice for Janitors Sexual Harassment Picket, Local 525, Washington, D.C., 1988

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Members of Local 525 participate in a 1988 Justice for Janitors demonstration against sexual harassment in Washington, D.C.

(29313) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Demonstrators carry signs during a Justice for Janitors march in Baltimore, Maryland, 2001.

(29314) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Demonstrators on strike carry signs during a Justice for Janitors demonstration in Baltimore, Maryland, 2001.

(29315), Local 82, Justice for Janitors, March for Justice, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

Demonstrators carry a banner during the Justice for Janitors' March for Justice in Baltimore Maryland.

(29316) Local 82, Justice for Janitors, March for Justice, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:29 -0400

A close-up of one of the demonstrators during the Justice for Janitors' March for Justice in Baltimore, Maryland, 2001.

(29317) Local 82, Justice for Janitors, March for Justice, Baltimore, Maryland, 2001

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:30 -0400

Demonstrators carry signs and crushed cola cans during the Justice for Janitor's March for Justice in Baltimore, Maryland, 2001.

(29640) Fix Our Immigration Laws Display, 2002

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Boxes each featuring the message, "President Bush and Congress Fix Our Immigrations Laws Now!" are stacked in a pyramid.

(29641) Immigration, Justice For Janitors, Ashcroft Action, Washington, D.C., 2002

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Demonstrators hold a banner proclaiming, "Fix our immigration laws now!" during the Immigration J4J Bus Tour, part of Ashcroft Action in Washington, D.C.

(29657) Member Political Organizers, Washington, D.C., 2001

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Member political organizers demonstrate for immigration rights in Washington, D.C.

(29700) Three Member Political Organizers, Washington D.C., 2001

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Three member political organizers hold signs during a demonstration for immigrant rights in Washington, D.C.

(29704) Demonstrators, Immigration, Justice for Janitors, Washington, D.C., 2002

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Three demonstrators carry an American flag during the Immigration J4J Bus Tour, part of Ashcroft Action in Washington, D.C.

(29789) Pat Ford, Impact of Immigration Press Conference and Testimony, Washington, D.C., 1999

aorchard — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:26:06 -0500

Pat Ford speaks during the Impact of Immigration on Low-Wage Workers Press Conference and Testimony in Washington, D.C.

(29790) Pat Ford, Impact of Immigration Press Conference and Testimony, Washington, D.C., 1999