CHICAGO (July 17, 2007) -- The Newberry Library's Bughouse Square Committee is proud to present the 2007 Altgeld Freedom of Speech Award to Jorge Mújica on Saturday, July 28, in recognition of his role in the struggle for the human and civil rights of non-citizens and for fair and just immigration reform.
Each year the award goes to a courageous defender of free speech and ideas. The Award is named for the former Illinois Governor (1892-96) who sacrificed his political career by pardoning Haymarket anarchists who had been condemned in 1887 for their words rather than their deeds.
"Jorge Mújica embodies the historic values of Bughouse Square and of Governor Altgeld," says Diane Ciral, chair of the Bughouse Square Debates committee. "Like John Peter Altgeld, Mújica was an immigrant to the United States. By honoring him, this year's Altgeld Award honors hundreds of thousands of immigrants, their families, friends, and supporters, who participated in immigrant rights marches that electrified the nation in 2006."
Mújica was one of the lead organizers of Chicago's March 10 demonstration, the first of these large marches.
He believes that "everyone in the United States not only has the right to free speech, but the right to exercise it. That's what the marches are all about."
A former journalist and union organizer, Mújica has worked for La Raza, Univision, and Telemundo, and has been involved in union organizing in both the US and in Mexico.
According to Radio Arte General Manager Silvia Rivera, Mújica "represented the immigrant rights movement genuinely and truly empowered the masses, to become defenders of their first amendment rights. He worked for print media last year and used his voice to educate, mobilize, and act."
From Haymarket to Grant Park, across more than 120 years, the struggle for immigrant and labor rights continues.
"In the contemporary context, no individual better embodies this spirit than the 2007 Altgeld Award winner, Jorge Mújica," Ciral said.
ABOUT THE BUGHOUSE SQUARE DEBATES
WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 12-4 pm
WHAT: Join the Newberry Library, the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, Bread and Butter Forum and the Poetry Foundation to hear local Chicagoans rant and rave about hot topics of today at the annual Bughouse Square Debate festival in Washington Square Park. The event is in celebration of Bughouse Square, the most notable outdoor free-speech center in the nation. The festival includes:
· music by Black Bear Combo,
· poetry recitations by Poetry Out Loud high school contestants,
· the presentation of the John Peter Altgeld Award for courageous free speech to Jorge Mújica, and
· the famous soapbox debates
Main Program:
The main debate on immigration closes the festival with participants sharing in 60 seconds or less their views surrounding this hot topic. Learn more at www.bloghousesquare.blogspot.com.
Have your voice be heard:
If you are interested in trying out to be a soapbox orator at this year's festival, please call 312.255.3834.
What to do:
Leave a short message summarizing your topic of choice. The Bughouse Debate Committee will review the submissions and select three contestants to participate in soapbox debates on July 28.
WHERE:
Washington Square Park
901 North Clark St.
Across from the Newberry Library
Free admission