Leahy, Narasaki, LaMarche and Belafonte to Receive the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award

The Leadership Conference will honor Sen. Patrick Leahy, Karen Narasaki, Gara LaMarche, and Harry Belafonte at the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award Dinner to be held on May 12 in Washington, D.C.

“This year, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Leadership Conference, it’s our privilege to honor four remarkable individuals who in their distinct fields have demonstrated passion and great leadership in protecting the civil and human rights of all Americans,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference. 

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Leahy is the third most senior senator.  He has been in the Senate since 1974 and has a long record of advocacy on social and economic justice.  His efforts to create the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law have led to increased congressional activity around the advancement and enforcement of our nation’s human rights commitments.

Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), is a principal advocate for the rights and interests of Asian Americans and a leading voice for equality and equal justice for all. She is also vice chair of The Leadership Conference and chair of the coalition’s Compliance and Enforcement Committee, in which she oversees Leadership Conference task forces.

Gara LaMarche, president and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies, is widely recognized for charting a course for the philanthropic community that addresses social and economic justice here in the U.S. and throughout the world. He has been a steadfast proponent of racial equity in society at large and within the corridors of the social justice community.

Belafonte is as well-known for his pursuit of social justice as he is for his artistic talent. His initiatives in overturning racial barriers throughout society are highly acclaimed. He served as a confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped to organize the March on Washington in 1963, raised funds to free imprisoned civil rights protesters, and has been a powerful voice for voting rights.

The Leadership Conference established the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award in 1977 as a testament to Humphrey’s exemplary leadership on civil and human rights.