J. Quinn Brisben
Encyclopedia
John Quinn Brisben was the Socialist Party USA
candidate for President of the United States
in the 1992 U.S. presidential election
. His running mate was initially Bill Edwards, but after Edwards died during the campaign he was replaced by Barbara Garson
.
Extremely active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s
, Brisben took part in the Mississippi
Freedom Summer
of 1964—where he was briefly jailed—and in several Southern Christian Leadership Conference
-sponsored activities in Alabama
from 1965 to 1967. He was active in the anti-Vietnam War movement
, served as a boycott
captain for the United Farm Workers
, and has been part of significant progressive movements of all kinds since the 1950s. In July 1990, he helped smuggle 3,000 condoms donated by ACT-UP
Chicago to the Moscow Lesbian and Gay Union. In recent years, Brisben has been primarily involved in the disability rights movement, with American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT
). In fact, he began his 1992 run for president by serving three days in an Orlando
jail for taking part in an ADAPT demonstration.
Brisben worked as a high school history and social studies teacher in Chicago’s inner city for 30 years until his retirement in 1990. He served several terms as a representative in the American Federation of Teachers
, Local 1, and frequently served on strike committees. He received several teaching awards, including being named Teacher of the Year by Teachers for Integrated Schools in 1964.
Brisben had previously been the Socialist Party USA's candidate for United States Vice President in 1976.
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
candidate for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 1992 U.S. presidential election
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
. His running mate was initially Bill Edwards, but after Edwards died during the campaign he was replaced by Barbara Garson
Barbara Garson
Barbara Garson is an American playwright, author and social activist.Garson is best known for the play MacBird, a notorious 1966 counterculture drama/political parody of Macbeth that sold over half a million copies as a book and had over 90 productions world wide...
.
Extremely active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
, Brisben took part in the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer was a campaign in the United States launched in June 1964 to attempt to register as many African American voters as possible in Mississippi which had historically excluded most blacks from voting...
of 1964—where he was briefly jailed—and in several Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
-sponsored activities in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
from 1965 to 1967. He was active in the anti-Vietnam War movement
Opposition to the Vietnam War
The movement against US involvment in the in Vietnam War began in the United States with demonstrations in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. The US became polarized between those who advocated continued involvement in Vietnam, and those who wanted peace. Peace movements consisted largely of...
, served as a boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
captain for the United Farm Workers
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
, and has been part of significant progressive movements of all kinds since the 1950s. In July 1990, he helped smuggle 3,000 condoms donated by ACT-UP
AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power
AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power is an international direct action advocacy group working to impact the lives of people with AIDS and the AIDS pandemic to bring about legislation, medical research and treatment and policies to ultimately bring an end to the disease by mitigating loss of health and...
Chicago to the Moscow Lesbian and Gay Union. In recent years, Brisben has been primarily involved in the disability rights movement, with American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT
ADAPT
ADAPT is a grassroots United States disability rights organization with chapters in 30 states. It is known for being part of the militant wing of the disability rights movement due to its history of nonviolent direct action in order to bring attention to the lack of civil rights the disability...
). In fact, he began his 1992 run for president by serving three days in an Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
jail for taking part in an ADAPT demonstration.
Brisben worked as a high school history and social studies teacher in Chicago’s inner city for 30 years until his retirement in 1990. He served several terms as a representative in the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
, Local 1, and frequently served on strike committees. He received several teaching awards, including being named Teacher of the Year by Teachers for Integrated Schools in 1964.
Brisben had previously been the Socialist Party USA's candidate for United States Vice President in 1976.
External links
- His poetry, prose, lectures and other writings can be found at QuinnBrisben.com.