| Groppi, Father James, 1930 – 1985, Father James Groppi, Roman Catholic priest and well known civil rights activist in Milwaukee during the 1960’s. He attended Mount Calvary Seminary in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, from 1950 to 1952 and later went on to study at St Francis Seminary in Milwaukee from 1952 to 1959.
He was ordained to the priesthood in June, 1959 and began his duties as a priest at St. Veronica’s Church in Milwaukee. In 1963, Father Groppi was transferred to a parish in the inner city of Milwaukee, St. Boniface Church. It was while Father Groppi was serving at St. Boniface Church that he began his work in the area of human rights and received national attention.
Father James Groppi participated in the 1963 “March on Washington,” and worked for the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) movement in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. He also worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference voter registration project, led by Martin Luther King, Jr., during the summer of 1965. He became the advisor to the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council. He began protesting segregation in Milwaukee public schools and organized the group named “Milwaukee Commandos,” a group consisting of all black male council members who would prevent violence and protect protesters during Freedom Marches. During 1967 – 1969, Father Groppi received National attention by participating in Freedom Marches in support of the open housing legislation and picketing the home of Judge Robert C. Cannon to protest his membership of the white only Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
With the help and passionate beliefs of Father James Groppi, an open-housing law was passed in Milwaukee. In 1970, Father James Groppi left St. Boniface to go to St. Michael’s in Milwaukee. He continued his services in the community.
In 1976, Father James Groppi left the priesthood, married Margaret Rozga and had one child, Anna. In 1979 he became a bus driver for Milwaukee County Transit System, a position he once had prior to entering into priesthood.
Father James Groppi died in 1985; interment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI
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