Giuliana Milanese, an 82-year-old San Francisco resident, has spent her life fighting for labor, social justice, and anti-racist causes. Born in Oakland to Italian immigrants, Milanese was raised in a flat above her family’s grocery store in Temescal.

Early Life and Activism

Milanese attended Holy Names, where she became radicalized and developed a passion for social justice. She later attended San Francisco State, majoring in art and Italian, and traveled to Italy to connect with her relatives, who introduced her to the Italian Communist Party.

Milanese was active in the civil rights movement and traveled to Cuba with one of the early Venceremos brigades in 1970. She met her future husband, Bill Sorro, a community organizer, and they married in 1973. The couple had two sons, Giulio and Joaquin, and Milanese continued to work as an organizer and activist.

Community Involvement

Milanese has been involved in various community organizations, including the California Nurses Association, where she worked on campaigns for single-payer healthcare and safe staffing. She has also been involved in the fight to save the International Hotel, a single-room occupancy hotel for immigrant Filipino workers, and has worked with the Bernal Heights Democratic Club to support progressive candidates.

Today, Milanese continues to be active in her community, distributing slate cards and participating in vigils to support Palestinian and immigrant rights. She serves on the board of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth and is involved with the online daily news site, 48 Hills.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.