OVER 75 CHICAGO WRITERS READ TO “RE-INAUGURATE” DEMOCRACY

On January 15th, 2017, joining over 50 cities worldwide, Chicago “Writers Resist” Threats to Free Expression and Democracy with eight City of Neighborhoods events.

CHICAGO, Illinois, December 23, 2016 – On January 15, 2017, the date of Martin Luther King’s birth, over 75 Chicago authors will join writers across the United States and worldwide, coming together for Chicago #WRITERS RESIST, a “re-inauguration” of compassion, equality, free speech, and the fundamental ideals of democracy.

True to the spirit of our city, Chicago #WRITERS RESIST is taking a City of Neighborhoods approach, with a central reading in the Loop and same-day events in Hyde Park, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, River West, Albany Park/ Old Irving Park, and Evanston. Chicago #WRITERS RESIST readings large and small will be united with events in 50 locations throughout the U.S. and the world.

When asked why he is working to organize Chicago #WRITERS RESIST, Chicago poet and event director Ruben Quesada said: “Our local communities are where we will see people suffer under the environment of bigotry that has taken hold of the country and also where we can contribute most to helping people. #WRITERS RESIST is a call for resistance to everyone and anyone who will listen.

These events are meant to inform and empower individuals in their respective communities, to let them know what is happening locally and on the state-level and a space to connect with others around you who will stand by you and for you.”

The Loop reading starts out the day from noon to 3:00PM at Open Books, in the West Loop, 651 W. Lake St. The still-growing list of authors reading for the central event in the Loop includes: Audrey Niffenegger, Audrey Petty, Barrie Jean Borich, Brian Kornell, Daniel Borzutsky, Janet Burroway, Juan Martinez, Kelli Ellis, Mark Turcotte, Peggy Shinner, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Rachel Galvin, Rebecca Hazelton, Roger Reeves, Ruben Quesada, T. Clutch Fleischmann, Toni Nealie and Tyehimba Jess. This event will also feature speakers from the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and other local agencies.

Chicago #Writers Resist community events will run from midday into the evening on Sunday, January 15, beginning with the noon Loop event:

• Noon-3:00PM LOOP at Open Books in the West Loop, 651 W. Lake St.
• 1:00-3:00PM RIVER WEST at Woman Made Gallery, 685 N. Milwaukee Ave. “Inauguration: Affirmation, Empowerment & Resistance;"
• 2:00-4:00PM PILSEN, at Flor del Monte, 1951 West 22nd Place;
• 2:30-4:30PM ALBANY PARK/ OLD IRVING PARK, at Café Urbano, 4176 N. Elston Avenue;
• 4:00-6:00PM EVANSTON, at Bookends and Beginnings, 1712 Sherman Avenue, Alley #1;
• 6:00PM LOGAN SQUARE, at Cole's, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave, 21+, SPEAK UP/WARM UP to Benefit the Logan Square Neighborhood Association;
• 7:00PM HUMBOLDT PARK, at La Bruquena, 2726 W. Division;
• TBA HYDE PARK TBA.

All events are free and open to the public. Simultaneous #WRITERS RESIST events will happen in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Oakland, Austin, Portland, Omaha, Seattle, London, Zurich, Hong Kong, Singapore and many more cities. The Manhattan event, to be held on the steps of the New York Public Library, is co-sponsored by PEN America and features some of the best-known writers in America. These worldwide events originated from a recent Facebook post by poet Erin Belieu, co-founder of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. Belieu challenged writers to organize to reclaim democracy, which led to an online forum that now boasts over 1,600 members, out of which over 50 events rapidly emerged that feature countless prominent literary voices.

Chicagoans who would like to attend one or more of these events can watch www.chicagowritersresist.info for developing information. Anyone interested in events beyond Chicago can visit www.writersresist.org for a list of cities and contact information for local organizers.

Our growing list of Chicago co-sponsors include: ACLU–Illinois, &NOW Books, Big Shoulders Books, Chicago Book Expo, Chicago Review of Books, Chicago Women in Publishing, Curbside Splendor, Guild Literary Complex, Haymarket Books, In These Times, Open Books, Packingtown Review, Planned Parenthood, Poetry Center of Chicago, Read/Write Library, Rose Metal Press, Seminary Coop Bookstore, Slag Glass City, South Side Weekly, StoryStudio Chicago, UnAbridged Books, Windy City Times, Women & Children First.