John Gilman (activist)

John Gilman (September 16, 1920 – April 26, 2011) was an American activist and World War II veteran. He first became involved in unionism and left-wing politics in high school in the 1930s. In 1956 he was subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He later campaigned for civil rights and desegregation in Milwaukee, which resulted in the 1966 firebombing of his flooring business by the Grand Dragon of the Illinois Ku Klux Klan. Gilman advocated for improved ties to Cuba and promoted freedom for the Cuban Five. He was also a leader of the Milwaukee Coalition for Peace and Justice and a board member of the Wisconsin Action Coalition. rdf:langString