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Home » News » Archives » Famed Civil Rights Lawyer Morris Dees to Keynote ACLU of Illinois 2004 Bill of Rights Celebration
Famed Civil Rights Lawyer Morris Dees to Keynote ACLU of Illinois 2004 Bill of Rights Celebration CHICAGO - Nationally prominent civil rights lawyer Morris Dees will deliver the keynote address at the 2004 ACLU of Illinois Bill of Rights Celebration scheduled for Saturday, October 2nd in Chicago. Morris Dees is one of the most widely recognized civil rights advocates in the nation. The son of an Alabama farmer, Mr. Dees co-founded the Southern Poverty Law Center located in Mobile. Dees says he felt the Center was necessary because of his firsthand experiences in witnessing and confronting the prejudice and racial injustices still present in the this country more than a century after the end of the Civil War. The author of the best-selling memoir, A Season for Justice, Mr. Dees� life and his work on behalf of civil rights have been the subject of a television movie. Dees� speech will highlight an evening during which the ACLU recognizes eight distinguished honorees that have contributed to protecting and advancing civil liberties and basic freedoms in the State of Illinois. Two individuals are being honored with the Roger Baldwin Award for lifetime service to civil liberties. The first recipient is Irwin Askow, a lawyer with the Chicago law firm of Tenney & Bentley. Ironically, Mr. Askow received an early introduction into the work of the ACLU when as a young man he befriended ACLU founder Roger Baldwin. In the 1950s, Mr. Askow defended more than twenty government employees who refused to sign loyalty oaths. This year�s other Roger Baldwin Award winner is Lois Lipton, an attorney with the Chicago office of AT&T. Out of law school, Ms. Lipton joined the staff of the ACLU of Illinois, and worked on a number of high profile cases. She assisted, for example, in pursuing the ACLU�s efforts to end the City of Chicago�s policy of strip-searching women taken into custody for minor offenses. The ACLU of Illinois prevailed in the matter. As the ACLU�s docket in the area of reproductive rights began to grow, Ms. Lipton became the first director of the organization�s Reproductive Rights Project. The ACLU of Illinois Board of Directors also selected two outstanding winners this year of the Edwin Rothschild Civil Liberties Award. Jack Block is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Sachnoff & Weaver. Mr. Block has used his talents as a skilled litigator to serve some of our society�s most vulnerable, including victims of racial discrimination, victims of police brutality and those denied their right to free speech. Mr. Block also has worked in litigation to defend the City of Chicago�s minority set-aside program, as well as defending the ability of the City�s minority alderman to get attorneys fees in order to ensure protection of voting rights. The other Rothschild Award winner for 2004 is Martin Castro. The son and grandson of Mexican immigrants, Mr. Castro is a well-regarded leader in Chicago�s Latino community. He serves on the Leadership Council of the Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center and on the Board of the Legal Assistance Foundation. As a proud graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Castro organized a group of lawyers from across the nation to support the law school�s admissions policy when it was challenged before the Supreme Court of the United States last year. Esther Saks and Alan Saks, devoted ACLU members and volunteers are awarded the Annetta Dieckmann Volunteer Award. Esther Saks owned and directed the Esther Saks Gallery. Her husband Alan chaired and ran Saxon Paint Company. Together, they forged a dynamic couple committed to advancing the work of the ACLU. Both have contributed immeasurable time and talents to the ACLU and its work. The other Dieckmann Volunteer Award winner is Judy Gaynor. Ms. Gaynor has volunteered her considerable talents and creative energy to the ACLU of Illinois for many years. She is recognized widely as one of the best volunteer organizers in the City of Chicago. The recipient of the 2004 John R. Hammell Award is Mary Morten. Mary Morten is recognized widely as one the most prominent leaders in Chicago�s gay and lesbian community. She has served as the President of the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Women, May Daley�s liaison to the gay and lesbian community and the first African American, first openly lesbian president of the Chicago Foundation for Women. Committed to creating a safe space for gay and lesbian youth, Ms. Morten also helped to found the Coalition for Education and Sexual Orientation (CESO), a group that trains adults and youth to provide support to gay and lesbian young people. �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. �These eight individuals have worked tirelessly and courageously for fairness, justice and dignity. Their work is a model for all of us.� October 2, 2004 Hyatt Regency Chicago's Crystal Ballroom 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago 6:00 pm cocktails and silent auction 7:30 pm dinner, dancing, and program Black Tie Optional Valet Parking Available Tickets are $300 each, all but $50 of which is a tax deductible donation. |
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