Civil Rights Coalition Hails “Crash” Oscar Honors

Washington – The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s premier civil rights and human rights coalition, hails the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ decision to award the provocative movie “Crash” with three Oscars, including Best Picture of the Year.

“The Academy’s recognition of ‘Crash’ is a testament to the strength of the film’s powerful core message,” said Wade Henderson, executive director of LCCR. “In a year of many stunning, eye-opening depictions of our society, ‘Crash’s’ gut-wrenching examination of race and class stood out as most deserving.”

“Like the Academy, we at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights are also bestowing our highest honor – the 2006 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award – to the Lions Gate film “Crash,” to its director Paul Haggis, its producers, and actors for advancing the cause of civil and human rights.”

LCCR announced in December that it would honor “Crash” and La Opinión publisher and Chair of the National Council of La Raza Monica Lozano at its annual dinner in Washington, D.C. on May 4, 2006, the largest gathering of the civil rights community. In addition to elected officials, business leaders and a broad cross-section of the civil rights community, a number of stars from the film are expected attend.

“As a powerful portrayal of the racial, ethnic and class tensions in our society, ‘Crash’ is a film that helps Americans better understand themselves and the reality of race and class in America,” said Henderson.

Awardees are selected based on their distinguished contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Previous recipients include Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; Former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker; United Farm Workers Union co-founder Dolores Huerta; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart; and actor-activist Danny Glover, among others.


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The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition. For more information on LCCR visit civilrights.org