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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)
1991 Resistance to the Gulf War in Grand Rapids: Part I
In the summer of 1990, it began clear that the US government was beginning to marginalize Iraq, with the intent of going to war with the Middle Eastern nation. The US was claiming that Iraq’s border dispute with Kuwait was … Continue reading
Anti-Contra Aid action from 1986 in Grand Rapids
As we have mentioned in numerous postings before, there was an active Central American Solidarity Movement in the 1980s, resisting the US wars in El Salvador, Guatemala and the US funding of the Contra War in Nicaragua. US aid to … Continue reading
Print honors the legacy of Cole Dorsey and West MI for Animals
Nearly three years ago we interviewed Cole Dorsey, one of the activist and organizers with the 1990s group known as West Michigan for Animals. This new print, from GVSU student Mackenzie Fox, both celebrates and honors the legacy of Cole … Continue reading
Print Celebrates 1960s Freedom Rider from Grand Rapids, Walter Bergman
Over two years ago, we posted an article about Walter Bergman, a university professor from Michigan, who was badly beaten while participating in the Freedom Rides in 1960. In that article we honored the commitment and sacrifice that Dr. Bergman … Continue reading
The Black Community made demands of the Grand Rapids Police Department in 1970
There is ample evidence that African Americans in Grand Rapids have always been the target of intimidation, harassment and violence from law enforcement. This history plagues the black community today, with recent incidents of police traumatizing black youth who were … Continue reading
Artwork depicts the very public display of White Supremacy in Grand Rapids 1925
A new print by Jamari Taylor, depicts the blatant display of White Supremacy in Grand Rapids in 1925, when the KKK organized a parade on the city’s westside. This new artwork communicates a powerful message about the Klan, which turned … Continue reading
Two Prints honor 1990s Feminist organization – Womyn’s Action Network
The Womyn’s Action Network (WAN) only lasted for three years (1992 – 1995) in Grand Rapids, but their impact was significant. Two new prints honor the work of WAN. The first print, created by Natalie Schunk, pays homage to the … Continue reading
New Print captures the anti-war organizing during the 2003 US invasion/occupation of Iraq
In 2003, there was a group called the Grand Rapids People’s Alliance for Justice, which was the main anti-war organizing group in Grand Rapids opposing the US invasion/occupation of Iraq. This group had begun to organize in response to the … Continue reading
GR Press Coverage of the 1963 March on Detroit & Washington
Our last post looked at the Grand Rapids Press editorials on the 1963 March on Washington, with the main editorial practicing what we name as a form of white paternalism. Today’s post takes a look at the GR Press coverage … Continue reading
White Paternalism and the Grand Rapids Press Editorial on the 1963 March on Washington
In Jeanne Theoharis’s important book, A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History, makes the point that we often look back to events like the 1963 march on Washington and think that the majority … Continue reading
Grand Rapids People's History Project 