Arthur Miller Jr.: The Death That Sparked a Movement

Editor-in-Chief Published: August 25, 2025 | Updated: October 22, 2025 2 min read

How one man’s killing by NYPD birthed a national Black resistance network

Arthur Miller Jr.Killed by police in Brooklyn NY leading to formation of NY Metropolitan Black United Front

Portrait of Arthur Miller Jr. with protest overlay and Brooklyn 77th Precinct badge

On June 14, 1978, Arthur Miller Jr.—a respected Brooklyn community leader and father—was choked to death by officers from NYPD’s 77th Precinct. His killing sent shockwaves through New York’s Black communities and catalyzed the formation of the New York Metropolitan Black United Front, a coalition that would later expand nationally as the National Black United Front (NBUF).

“Arthur Miller was the George Floyd of his generation.”

Table of Contents

The Killing of Arthur Miller Jr.

Miller was arrested during a dispute outside his business and died after being placed in a chokehold. No officers were charged. His death sparked immediate protests and galvanized clergy, educators, and activists to demand systemic change.

Birth of the NY Metropolitan Black United Front

In the wake of Miller’s death, Black leaders formed a united front to challenge police brutality, economic injustice, and educational inequity. The coalition emphasized self-determination, cultural pride, and political pressure.

Expansion into the National Black United Front

By the early 1980s, NBUF had chapters in cities across the U.S., advocating for Pan-Africanist principles, international solidarity, and grassroots empowerment. Their work laid the foundation for modern Black resistance networks.

Legacy and Modern Echoes

Arthur Miller’s death foreshadowed the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. His legacy reminds us that community trauma can birth enduring movements—and that historical memory is a tool for justice.

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Editor-in-Chief

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The Editor-in-Chief of BlackPolitics.org leads the platform’s strategic vision, editorial integrity, and archival design. With deep experience in national, state, and local campaigns — including efforts to build and strengthen independent Black political parties — the Editor-in-Chief bridges historical insight with technical innovation. Grounded in African American history, voting rights advocacy, and coalition strategy, the Editor-in-Chief has helped shape sustainable tools for Black political empowerment. From digitizing legacy archives to developing scorecards, timelines, and policy trackers, the Editor-in-Chief ensures that every post reflects a commitment to truth, transparency, and collective power.

The Editor-in-Chief’s contributions span decades of movement history — from New York City community activism and voter mobilization, to the Southern organizing tradition, and onward to modern digital mobilization — always rooted in rigorous documentation and future-ready infrastructure. Through collaborative design, the Editor-in-Chief has helped build archival systems that connect historical records to actionable advocacy.
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