A Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids: An invitation

It has been 4 months since I released my book, A People’s History of Grand Rapids, and the response has been tremendous. I have done several talks, book signings, plus the book is being used as part of a class at WMU this summer. I have a few other invites to speak and sign books, along with doing a session at the Great Lakes History Conference in October. 

Part of my excitement around sharing the book is introducing people to the rich history of radical organizing in Grand Rapids, the people involved and the movements that challenged systems of oppression. However, I have been thinking about other ways of sharing some of this history, so I am excited to announce that there will be a Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids on Saturday, September 23rd in downtown Grand Rapids. (start time to be determined)

The idea is modeled on what other cities have done, particularly in New York City, which you can read about in Bruce Kayton’s book, Radical Walking Tours of New York City.

What we want to do is organize a Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids, where we will visit roughly 32 sites and learn about people, protests and social movements that reflect the rich history of radical organizing in this city. What might make this event even more interesting is the fact that on Saturday, September 23rd, ArtPrize will also be happening at the same time. Doing a Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids seems like an interesting thing to do right in the midst of the annual monied spectacle that was originally created by DeVos money and will now be run by the City of Grand Rapids, DGRI and Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University.

An Invitation to help create a Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids

In order to make this event happen, we need people who are interested in doing any of the following things:

• Do a short public reading for each of the 33 stops along the radical walking tour. It would be great to have 33 different people do these readings.
• We need to blow up images for each of the stops along the radical walking tour, so if someone has access to places that do this, or we generate a little bit of money to cover the cost of making large images for each stop.
• Someone who can help create a map with all of the locations listed for the Radical Walking Tour.
• Create a Flyer to promote the event, both electronic and paper.
• People to document the event, in pictures, video and possibly live streaming it.
• People to pull carts along the route, with water and snacks to that people can stay hydrated and have something to eat along the way.
• People to play music along the Radical Walking Tour route.
• People to do Crowd Safety, making sure people are safe, especially when we cross intersections along the route.
• Anyone who has experience creating apps, so that we can have the Radical Walking Tour accessible for anyone who can’t attend the in person tour.
• People who will mark the Radical Walking Tour with sidewalk chalk ahead of time, so we can easily find the spots along the tour on Saturday, September 23rd. 
• Someone who can follow along the Radical Walking Tour with a vehicle, in case someone needs to take a break or turns an ankle.
• Bullhorns or electronic speaker and mic

We estimate that the Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids will take an estimated 3 hours to do, so bring comfortable shoes and plan on setting aside that amount of time. The Radical Walking Tour of Grand Rapids will begin at Ah Nab Awen Park and end up at Heartside Park. 

If you are interested in participating in this event and/or helping to organize it, please send an Email to sjeff987@gmail.com. Lets celebrate a People’s History of Grand Rapids!

Proposed Radical Walking Tour locations:

1. Ah-Nab-Awen Park – Settler Colonialism
2. Gerald R. Ford – The Real story
3. Monument to the 1911 Furniture Workers Strike
4. 1925 Klan parade on Monroe 
5. 1995 Klan Rally protest in front of old Hall of Justice
6. 1991 Gulf War Protest July 4th
7. Gerald R Ford Federal building – 1986 anti-Contra Aid Protest
8. Gerald R Ford Federal building – 1989 action against Salvadoran priests who were murdered
9. Protest at Rep. Ehlers office 2003 against Iraq war/Trial of Vern Ehlers
10. Grand Rapids City Hall – Divests from South African Apartheid 1982
11. Kent County building – End the Contract Campaign 2018
12. Calder Plaza – 2000 anti-Globalization protest
13. Calder Plaza – immigrant justice march 10,000 people 2006
14. Ottawa & Lyon – GRPD tries to stop 2003 anti-Iraq War march when Bush was in GR
15. Lyon & Monroe – DeVos headquarters
16. Monroe Amphitheater/Rosa Parks Circle – 1988 1st Pride Celebration
17. Monroe Mall protest in the 1980s – Street theater
18. Wolverine Gas & Oil – 2012 anti-fracking protest
19. Van Andel Statue in front of Arena
20. Corner of Fulton and Commerce – 1995 Grand Prix
21. GRPD headquarters – 2020 BLM protest
22. Weather Ball Black Nuclear Attack – 1985 anti-nuclear actions
23. Veterans Park – 2003 Critical Mass, No Blood for Oil ride 
24. Fountain Street Church – 1962 Malcolm X speaks
25. Park Congregational church – anti-Vietnam speakers
26. Acton Institute – Far Right Think Tank
27. Bishop Baraga Statue
28. Koinonia House – Central American Sanctuary 1980’s
29. 1963 – 3,000 people silent march in solidarity with the Birmingham Church bombing victims
30. 1967 Riot – Wealthy & Division
31. May 10,1891 cable and horse car workers strike
32. Heartside Park Eviction 2020

(Images used above were produced by GVSU students from a printmaking class, which you can read about at this link.)