"The Bughouse Square Debates pays tribute to the Haymarket Affair, which began on May 4, 1886 as a planned protest by workers against a violent police attack on strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company the day before. At an otherwise peaceful protest, a bomb was thrown at police after they marched on the crowd and ordered it to disperse. One officer was killed immediately and 60 wounded; an undetermined number of protesters were killed or wounded. Eight anarchists were charged with murder for the deaths at what became known as the Haymarket Riot. Their subsequent trial and conviction lacked credible evidence and relied instead on the menâs writings and speeches. On November 11, 1887 four were hanged in the Cook County jail (a fifth had suicided in his cell).
The trial is considered one of the worst miscarriages of justice in American history. The Haymarket bombing and its political aftermath crippled the labor movementâs pursuit of the eight-hour workday. In 1893, Illinois Governor John Peter Altgeld pardoned the three surviving men. His action contributed to his failure to win reelection in 1896 and cost him his political career. But it is also the inspiration for the John Peter Altgeld Freedom of Speech Award, which the Bughouse Square Committee presents annually to a person or organization that has defended free speech and ideas."
Stephanie Weiner - a Chicago peace activist. She is among those investigated by the FBI in fall 2010 for allegations of a conspiracy to provide material support for fooreign terrorist organizations. Visit www.stopFBI.net
Hugh Iglarsh - a reasonably introverted Chicago-based writer and editor who writes for New City, Counterpunch and various and sundry publications, and is a member of the Nelson Algren Committee.
Jerry Boyle i- a Chicago lawyer, and member of the Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild which was established "...to the end that human rights shall be held more sacred than property interests."
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