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Recent Posts
- New Interview for the GRPS Uncovered podcast
- New GRPS Uncovered podcast for 7/7/2025
- Radical Grand Rapids: Places, Dates, Actions and People
- New book by long time community activist Paul Mayhue: Another Brother in The Struggle
- New Grand Rapids podcast sheds light on the history of the Grand Rapids Public Schools
Author Archives: Jeff Smith (GRIID)
Voltairine De Cleyre: Feminist and Anarchist writer lived in Grand Rapids in the 1880s
Emma Goldman once referred to Voltairine De Cleyre as, “The most gifted and brilliant anarchist woman America ever produced.” Voltairine De Cleyre was born in Michigan in 1866 and was named after the French Enlightenment writer Voltaire. She grew up … Continue reading
Malcolm X Spoke in Grand Rapids in 1962
On February 12, 1962, Malcolm X spoke at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids to an estimated crowd of 350 people. His lecture was part of the Great Speakers Lecture Series that Fountain Street has hosted for decades. Before we … Continue reading
Several Arrested in Grand Rapids in 1917 for passing out anti-draft information
In May of 1917, several members of the Socialist Party, two clergymen and Feminist/Labor supporter Viva Flaherty were arrested in Grand Rapids for distributing anti-conscription pamphlets near downtown Grand Rapids. This seemingly mild act of informing people about their rights … Continue reading
10,000 March in Labor Day Parade in 1911
According to the September 4 issue of the Grand Rapids Herald, 10,000 people planned on marching in the 1911 Labor Day Parade. According to the Herald, fifty-two unions participated in the march, which began at 10:00am on Bridge street, making … Continue reading
A Working Class and Capitalist perspective: Revisiting the 1911 Grand Rapids Furniture Workers Strike – Part Two
( A special thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library and its support for accessing the source documents used for this article.) In Part One, we looked at the role of Catholic Bishop Schrembs, whom the furniture workers on strike … Continue reading
Revisiting the 1967 Race Riot in Grand Rapids
“It is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These … Continue reading
Senator Arthur Vandenberg: The Grand Rapids Bi-Partisan Statesman for US Imperialism
As part of our series that looks at statues, monuments and other historic markers in Grand Rapids, we look at Senator Arthur Vandenberg, who’s statue sits across from the Rosa Parks statue near the entrance to Rosa Parks circle. Arthur … Continue reading
A Legacy of Organized Resistance: the Rosa Parks statue in Grand Rapids
The only statue in Grand Rapids that doesn’t feature someone who spent part of their life in this city, is that of Rosa Parks. The statue is located at the west entrance to a downtown community gathering space, also known … Continue reading
Grand Rapids People's History Project 