NCJ Number
127045
Journal
Western Political Quarterly Volume: 43 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 415-436
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Coalition for Justice for Ernest Lacy is an ad hoc, grassroots group mobilized by the death of a black man in police custody; its experience demonstrates some of the complexities of forming an interest group, agenda setting, protest politics, coalition building, and group results.
Abstract
Study information came from interviews with Coalition activists during January and February 1985. The Coalition was named for a 22-year-old black Milwaukee man, who died after being stopped and receiving rough treatment by a police "tactical squad" that was seeking a rape suspect. Accounts of the events leading to his death vary, but it was determined that Lacy had committed no crime. The death prompted the formation of the Coalition, rallies and marches, dismissal of criminal charges, disciplinary action against the officers, and a civil lawsuit that the City of Milwaukee settled out of court. The events showed that effective grassroots movements can change power relationships in a community and demonstrated the usefulness of a coalition approach. Footnotes and 62 references