Jerome Strong, 1947-1994
Jerome Strong, 1947 - 1994
On August 14, Ypsilanti City Charter commissioner Jerome Strong died of liver disease. He was way too young.
Last winter when a deal was cut to gerrymander student representation off of the Ypsilanti City Council, Jerome stood nearly alone in opposition. He often took lonely but righteous stands. Half a lifetime earlier, as a soldier, he went to prison for refusing to fight in Vietnam.
In between, Jerome served as South Side Ypsi's combative City Councilmember. He was a lobbyist and an aide to state senators and a governor, and Deputy Director of the Michigan Civil Rights Department.
As he was dying, Jerome served on the charter commission. He spoke out for political prisoners. He defended public school students through the Student Advocacy Center. He worked for universal access to health care.