🔥 64 Years Ago: The Black Nite Brawl & Our Fight Continues 🔥
On a hot August night 64 years ago, 4 U.S. military servicemen entered the Black Nite Club in Milwaukee refusing to show ID’s or sign the visitor’s log, which was mandatory for all newcomers. The servicemen insisted on being served in the bar, so much that a disturbance was started and was only quelled by the brandishing of a beer bottle by one of the patrons. The servicemen quickly left the establishment, only to round up more than a dozen men from a neighboring bar.
Returning to the club, the group of men thought they’d have an easy time getting “even” with Josie Carter, the Queen who threw the first bottles. To their dismay, all 75 patrons who were in the club at the time stood their ground, ready to defend their treasured second home. What followed was a short but fiery battle between the patrons and the small-minded dozen. Black Nite sustained over $2,000 in damages (over $20,000 today), with every bottle of liquor in inventory being destroyed, an electric organ, a jukebox, and every single window in the bar. All of the instigators were arrested and piled in to police vans; no patrons were arrested that night. To the dismay of the bar owner and patrons, all charges against the offenders were dropped by Judge Christ T. Seraphim, citing not enough evidence to prosecute. Though the attackers walked free, the bravery of that night lives on.
📢 Join us Saturday, August 9th at 2pm at Houdini Plaza to protest, resist, and declare: WE ARE HERE. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. WE ARE NOT AFRAID.
💪🏻 Bring a friend, a sign, and all the beautiful rage you have contained for too long. There is strength in numbers, in community, and remembrance of the fights that have shaped where we are today.
✊ Together, we honor those who fought before us and continue the battle for justice, pride, and unbreakable community. There is power in our refusal to forget.
‼️ IN EVERY SHADE, THERE’S A STORY OF PRIDE!!! Help us write the next chapter! 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
#BlackNiteBrawl #BlackNite64 #PrideisaRiot #PrideisaProtest #HateFreeOutagamie #QueerResistance #QueerLiberation #PrideAndProtest #WeRemember
