Outspoken 1970's Educational Activist Dagoberto Ibarra Who Participated At The UW-Milwaukee Chapman Hall Takeover Seeking Higher Education For Latinos Has Passed Away

Ibarra, a well known business and activist icon in the Milwaukee Latino community has passed away.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 3, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Dagoberto D. Ibarra, 73, of Milwaukee passed away on September 1, 2021 in Mexico. Ibarra was well known for his outspoken character concerning community issues and was also known for his participation in the August 27, 1970 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Chapman Hall Takeover, which led to the creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) that was later renamed the Roberto Hernandez Center.

Ibarra was one of hundreds of educational activists in 1970 who held a sit-in and protest at UWM Chapman Hall for the unwritten discriminatory policy that kept Latinos from enrolling at the university. 

"In Milwaukee many barriers existed blocking their paths to higher education. Their language and cultural distinctness were frowned upon, and they had limited access to information about educational opportunities and few professional models. Discriminatory treatment was the norm," cited from Myriad Magazine UWM 1990.

Ibarra during the weeks of protest, tirelessly transported food and United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS) students from the Southside of Milwaukee to participate in the protest at the university. Ibarra's activisim during the UWM Takeover was instrumental in bring down the wall of discrimination that existed at UWM in 1970.

Today, thousands of Latinos have since enrolled and successfully graduated from UWM.

Ibarra graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison and was originally from Huauchinango, Puebla, Mexico.

Ibarra was also a successful business owner and used his organizing skills and charisma to generate funds from other local business owners for worthy causes in the Latino community.

In 2006, Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) was organizing a march for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and anti-HR 4437 and the Real ID movement in March 23, 2006.

Dagoberto Ibarra from Ibarra Enterprises was also instrumental in organizing local business owners support for the VDLF march that drew more than 30,000 participants.

Ibarra ran for Alderman in the City of Milwaukee 8th Aldermanic District in 2004.

Ibarra was also an avid Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider.