FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 5, 2007—YearlyKos Convention organizers announced today that Sen. Richard Durbin, Gov. Howard Dean, and Gen. Wesley Clark confirmed their participation in the second annual event, to be held in Chicago this August.
Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003, will kick off the convention as Thursday's evening keynote speaker. Dean addressed the Netroots community at the 2006 YearlyKos Convention in Las Vegas.
"Gov. Dean has been one of the most influential forces in the new progressive movement," said Gina Cooper, YearlyKos Convention executive director. "His belief that every citizen matters, from California to Connecticut, from Alaska to Mississippi, matches our belief that the voices of regular Americans deserve to be heard. It's an honor for Gov. Dean to return to our venue and present the opening keynote."
Dean will follow opening remarks from Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas Zúniga and a warm Chicago welcome from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) the Senate's assistant majority leader.
"The citizen forum Markos created at Daily Kos has been the launching point for many of the progressive projects that are strengthening our movement. We are grateful for the community he has nurtured and empowered," Cooper said. "And Sen. Durbin is one of our true progressive leaders in Congress. We are thrilled that he will join us to welcome YearlyKos attendees to his home state of Illinois."
On Friday, Gen. Wesley Clark, the retired four-star general and a vocal critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war, will speak to conference attendees as the morning's keynote speaker.
"Over the last few decades, Gen. Clark has distinguished himself as both a scholar and a statesman," Cooper said. "We're pleased he's a part of our movement, and we're excited to have him once again join us at the YearlyKos Convention."
Organizers expect to announce more than 100 speakers, panelists, and workshop presenters between now and August. Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson have already confirmed their participation in a Presidential Leadership Forum set for August 4.
YearlyKos Convention 2007 will take place August 2–5, 2007 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to the forum, the conference will include panels and caucuses led by national and international experts; prominent nationally recognized political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; a progressive film screening series; and the most concentrated gathering of high-profile progressive bloggers to date.
Thursday's keynote is set for 7 p.m., and Friday's gathering will begin at 8 a.m. Both events are open to the media.
For more information about the YearlyKos Convention or for credentials, visit www.yearlykosconvention.org/press.
ABOUT YEARLYKOS CONVENTION
The YearlyKos Convention is an annual convention gathering people from all walks of life who belong to the Netroots community, the US-based (but globally focused and inclusive) non-partisan grassroots community that uses the internet and blogs as primary tools for expressing viewpoints; building consensus; acting to change the status quo; mobilizing huge numbers of people and informing each other and the world about current events, grassroots actions, networks, meetings, policy and more.
