Chicago, September 9, 1999: The American Civil Liberties Union will present awards to seven extraordinary members of the Chicago community during the 1999 ACLU Bill of Rights Celebration, to be held on Saturday evening, October 2, 1999, at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Those honored include former White House Counsel Abner Mikva, recently-retired Chicago Tonight host John Callaway, attorney, businessman and civic leader James Zacharias, Chicago Tribune reporters Ken Armstrong and Maurice Possley, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism Professor David Protess and investigative journalist Rob Warden. The event is open to the public, and tickets are available from the ACLU of Illinois.



“This may be – collectively -- the most notable group of honorees in the thirty year history of this affair,” said ACLU Executive Director Jay A. Miller in announcing the awards. “These seven individuals reflect a range of work and a depth of commitment to preserving and defending civil liberties that is astonishing and incredibly important.”



James Zacharias, philanthropist, businessman and lawyer, is being honored with the Roger Baldwin Award for longtime commitment to and support of civil liberties. The Award, given only on rare occasions, is named for the founder of the national ACLU. Mr. Zacharias has been active with the ACLU of Illinois for many years, serving on its Board of Directors since 1983 and the Executive Committee since 1990. He currently chairs the ACLU Advisory Committee. In addition, he chaired the Illinois Commission on Children and the John Howard Association, as well as the North Suburban council for the Mentally Retarded. He also was the first chair of the Cook County Special Bail Project, and was a leader in the expansion of the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault (La Casa).



Abner Mikva will be honored with the Edwin A. Rothschild Civil Liberties Award, recognizing his outstanding commitment to defending civil liberties over the course of his long and distinguished career in all three branches of the government. Before serving as White House Counsel to President Clinton, Mr. Mikva served in the Illinois House of Representatives, the U.S. House of Representatives and as a member and chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.



The Harry Kalven Freedom of Expression Award, honoring those who have demonstrated devotion and dedication to the principles of freedom of expression will be presented to John Callaway. Mr. Callaway hosted WTTW’-TV’s public affairs program Chicago Tonight for fourteen years until his departure in June, 1999. Under his direction, Chicago Tonight provided a unique forum for the thoughtful discussion of local, state and national issues.



The James B. McGuire Award honors local journalists for raising awareness about important civil liberties’ issues to the public’s attention. This year, the award is being given to four outstanding recipients.



Rob Warden and David Protess are being feted for their investigative efforts on behalf of persons on Illinois’ death row. Protess and Warden worked together to free the “Ford Heights Four,” a story they have told in their 1998 book, A Promise of Justice. Warden’s investigations have been instrumental in freeing six men from Illinois’ death row. Earlier this year, Warden and Protess coordinated the effort that resulted in the release of Anthony Porter, the tenth individual freed from death row in Illinois since 1987.



Ken Armstrong and Maurice Possley are award-winning reporters for the Chicago Tribune. They are being recognized for their five part investigative series “Trial & Error” exposing abuses of prosecutors, and uncovering more than 300 instances across the nation where prosecutors behaved in a dishonest and unethical manner in pursuit of convictions – often of persons who were later shown to be innocent of all charges.



The Bill of Rights Celebration also features music for dancing by the High Society Orchestra and a silent auction with incredible merchandise.