|
Home » News » Archives » Nationally-Syndicated Columnist, Chicago Alderman and Four Others to be Honored at Annual Bill of Rights Celebration
Nationally-Syndicated Columnist, Chicago Alderman and Four Others to be Honored at Annual Bill of Rights Celebration For Immediate Release October 1, 2003 CHICAGO � Nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts and Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney headline a list of distinguished awardees to be honored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois at the 2003 Bill of Rights Celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 11th. The awards recognize the efforts by each honoree to protect basic rights and liberties in the courtroom, in the media and in communities across the State of Illinois. More than six hundred (600) ACLU supporters are expected to attend the awards ceremony. This year�s awardees include: Roger Pascal, a partner in the Chicago office of Schiff, Hardin and Waite; Natalie Saltiel, a Certified Public Accountant and long-time ACLU of Illinois volunteer; Leonard Pitts, an award-winning columnist who serves as strong voice on civil rights issues; Buff Carmichael, editor and publisher of The Prarie Flame, a Springfield based publication devoted to serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in downstate Illinois; Thomas M Tunney, a member of the Chicago City Council and activist in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender causes; and, David Bentlin, a committed activist from the Bloomington-Normal community. �This year�s group of honorees proudly reflect the values, the passion and the commitment of the ACLU to support and defend basic constitutional rights,� said Colleen Connell, Executive Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. �From a national columnist and a prominent elected official to local activists and media members, these six individuals have worked tirelessly and courageously for fairness, justice and dignity. Their work is a model for all of us.� The Roger Baldwin Award is being presented to Roger Pascal, a leader and partner in the Chicago law firm Schiff Hardin & Waite. As General Counsel to the ACLU of Illinois for many years, Mr. Pascal has shared his time, enthusiasm and legal skills with the organization for nearly four decades. He was recruited to work on this first ACLU case just out of law school � the landmark Gautreaux case challenging racially discriminatory site selection by the public housing authority in Chicago. Since that time, Mr. Pascal has assisted the ACLU directly in cases addressing issues as diverse as assuring educational opportunities for the children of workers at a horse track, challenging the adequacy of care received by mental health patients in Illinois and addressing the placement of permanent religious displays on publicly owned property. Natalie Saltiel, a devoted ACLU member and volunteer leader for more than fifty years is awarded the Annetta Dieckmann Volunteer Award. Ms. Saltiel has volunteered her professional service, advice and counsel as a Certified Public Accountant helping the ACLU of Illinois achieve necessary financial controls and security. Ms. Saltiel�s contribution to modernizing and securing the organization�s financial processes and circumstances has provided a strong foundation to support the programmatic efforts of the ACLU. The James B. McGuire Journalism Award for 2003 goes to nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. Intelligent, informative and thoughtful, Mr. Pitts regularly writes in strong support of civil liberties � from gay and lesbian rights to police misconduct, the First Amendment and the current state of the movement to extend and protect basic civil rights. Mr. Pitts began his journalism career as an 18 year-old college student in 1976, initiating his regular column in 1994. In 2002, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awards their inaugural Columnist of the Year Award to Leonard Pitts, Jr. The editor and publisher of the Springfield-based, monthly newspaper Prairie Flame, Buff Carmichael is the recipient of the 2003 Harry Kalven Freedom of Expression Award. In June 1996, Mr. Carmichael launched his publication to serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons community in Springfield. The Prairie Flame today serves as a voice for the GLBT community across Illinois, keeping the community informed on political issues and social trends. With a keen reporter�s eye and a passion for social justice, Mr. Carmichael has helped break down barriers in Central and Southern Illinois, raising awareness about important issues for the GLBT community, while helping to reduce hostility, hate and abuse aimed at that community. A recipient of the 2003 John R. Hammell Award is Tom M. Tunney. Mr. Tunney is a successful restaurateur, serving as president of the Ann Sather Restaurants in Chicago, who used his profile in the community to work on behalf of GLBT rights in Chicago and across Illinois. When HIV/AIDS first began to devastate the Chicago area, Tom Tunney responded with generosity and concern. His restaurant provided free meals for those in need, he supported a local program providing meals to those who were home bound, and he helped conceive and initiate the �Dining Out for Life� program that raised funds to support AIDS causes. David Bentlin also is a 2003 John R. Hammell award recipient. A committed activist from Normal, Illinois working to insure basic human rights for all persons, Mr. Bentlin has worked for years to secure passage of local ordinances in Bloomington and Normal that include sexual orientation as a protected category in anti-discrimination laws. After more than six years of struggle, setbacks and false starts, both communities now have adopted such ordinances. �We are looking forward to a successful Bill of Rights Celebration,� add the ACLU�s Connell. �The quality of the awardees, the strength and vitality of our membership and the importance of civil liberties issues in the public consciousness at this time makes this event very special.� |
|
