(Nov. 24, 1942-Feb. 12. 2017). Michael Gradison was born in , Indiana, attended Speedway High School, and graduated from Brown University with a degree in political science. At Brown, Gradison served as program director of the campus radio station, and he was instrumental in the successful launch of WBRU FM, which continues as an independent nonprofit digital media and broadcasting organization run by college students.
Upon graduation, Gradison served in the U.S. Army at . During a home invasion at Gradison’s parents’ house on July 18, 1967, intruders nearly beat Gradison to death.
Gradison served as vice president of the from 1973-1977, and then as president though for only one month due to a dispute over his responsibilities with the organization’s board. In 1980, he returned to the ICLU as a board member and later as the executive director in 1983. Under his aegis, the organization sought to secure financial support for statewide Indiana ACLU chapters and addressed such social issues as women’s rights and police violence.
He supported civil rights campaigns for a diverse group of Indianapolis residents. In the 1980s, during the mayoral administration, Gradison worked with leading gay and lesbian activists and Kathy Sarris to affect political and social change for the LGBTQ community. He championed the fight for their public recognition and their protection from police abuse.
Following several fatal police shootings that took place in 1986, president , rabbis Sandy and Dennis Sasso, Gradison, and others drafted a proposal of a civilian review board to confront and deal with questionable police actions (see ). A City-County Council committee nearly stopped the proposal, but Gradison was instrumental in getting the Council to adopt the group’s proposal in amended form and made sure that the review board was a civilian body. Gradison served as co-chair of the Indianapolis Law Enforcement/Community Relations Coalition that resulted with Jones.
Gradison stepped down from his position as executive director of the ICLU in September 1992, though he continued his civil rights activism. In 1998, he received the Jefferson Award, awarded annually by the to recognize outstanding volunteerism. Gradison served on the boards of the Indianapolis Urban League, , the , the , and the . He also was a dedicated member of the .
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