Bughouse Square Debates, 2013, Newbury Library Chicago

Buughouse Square Debates,
Washington Square Park, Newberry Library
Chicago, IL, July 27, 2013

Saturday, July 27th
Bug House Square Debates at the Newberry Library
with Environmental Encroachment as roving entertainment

Washington Square Park
The Newberry Library
60 W. Walton St.
Chicago, IL 60610-7324
free, all-ages
1 to 4 PM

Bughouse Square Debates commemorate the park as the foremost site of free speech activity in the city of Chicago in the first half of the twentieth century and it advocates for free speech today by inviting people to stand up in the park (on metaphorical "soapboxes") and speak out on important issues. The Debates are held while the Newberry's annual used book sale, the Book Fair, is open.

"When soapbox orators flourished in Washington Square Park (Chicago) in the 1920s and 1930s, they created a real sense of speech as performance, and speakers who drew crowds in the Park gave poetry readings or offered dramatic readings, and displayed art they created. We hope to create a similar kind of atmosphere in the Park for the Bughouse Square Debates event on Saturday, July 27, 2013, from noon to 4:00 PM.

Exercise your first-amendment rights and relive the days of soapbox oratory and public debates that immortalized Washington Square Park. Celebrate Chicago's long history as a hub of free speech with soap boxers and a compelling main debate. Bring your loudest heckling voice, and get on the soapbox yourself. An open mic and musical entertainment complete the afternoon's participatory pleasures. For gustatory delights, Chase Root Beer's hot dogs, fresh squeezed lemonade, and root beer floats are highly recommended. Prizes will be awarded to the best speakers and hecklers.

photos from Mike Smith, more soon..

The Debates last year drew, at a conservative estimate, 500 people; and the event was covered in the Washington Post/ and TimeOut Chicago, and was recorded by CAN TV. This year Chicago Public Radio's Chicago Amplified will also be recording the event and will post the recording on http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Program_AMP.aspx. The Debates are held while the Newberry's annual used book sale, the Book Fair, is open, which helps draw people into and around the Library.

Check out the Bughouse Square blog:
http://www.bloghousesquare.blogspot.com/

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