Chita Rivera

Chita Rivera news, related photos and videos, and reviews of Chita Rivera performances. According to Wikipedia: Chita Rivera is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical actress and dancer of Puerto Rican heritage, and the first Hispanic... [more]

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Chita Rivera, Actress Receives Congressional Medal of Freedom from President

Written by JJ on

President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to stage and screen legend Chita Rivera during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House August 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 16 recipients during the ceremony. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America)

Legendary Puerto Rican stage and screen actress Chita Rivera was one of 16 to receive a Congressional Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

Rivera is known best for broadway roles such as Anita in West Side Story, and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

From whitehouse.gov:
Barack Obama: "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way.

"Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom."