KINGSTON, R.I. – November 3, 2006 – Political protest singers Anne Feeney and David Rovics will speak and perform at the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Edwards Auditorium, Kingston campus.

Their visit is part of the URI Honors Colloquium, Songs of Social Justice: The Rhetoric of Music, a semester-long series that explores music as a means of expression, persuasion, and mobilization. The event is free and open to the public.

Feeney and Rovics, highly regarded singer-songwriters, use music as a means of political protest. They are politically controversial and heavily advocate free speech through their music and message. They have performed at high visibility rallies and protests such as at the School of the Americas in Washington, D.C.

Feeney has been dubbed the “minister of culture” to movements for economic and social justice and human rights. She spent two decades performing both nationally and internationally, rallying for community activism. Since 1991, Feeney has taken her message on the road traveling 42 states, as well as internationally.

She recently performed in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Utah Phillips calls her “the best labor singer in North America.” In 2005, Feeney received the Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

David Rovics has been called the musical voice of the progressive movement in the United States. His songs challenge administration policy dealing with Iraq and Hurricane Katrina response, as well as questioning Wal-Mart labor practices and abuses of corporate power.

Rovics has traveled since the ‘90s and has been an on-air guest on radio stations throughout the world. He has also participated in thousands of rallies and protests performing at conferences, colleges, etc. According to Rovics, songwriting is his “survival mechanism” and his “main way of dealing with life.”

Visit www.uri.edu/hc for the colloquium schedule and directions. For more information, contact the URI Honors Center at 401-874-2303 or debg@uri.edu.

Major sponsors for the series are The Providence Journal, the URI Division of University Advancement, the URI Honors Program, the URI Office of the President and the URI Office of the Provost.