Grammy Nominee Raheem Devaughn, NBC Anchor Sheinelle Jones, Actor Stephan James Take The Stage For Equal Opportunity Dinner
NEW YORK (November 19, 2015) – During the 59th annual Equal Opportunity Dinner tonight, the National Urban League honored New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo with the Empowerment Justice Award for a major criminal justice reform initiative he enacted earlier this year.
“By appointing a special prosecutor to oversee cases in which an unarmed civilian is killed at the hands of law enforcement, the Governor is shedding light on an issue that has torn communities apart and left families and citizens in the dark for far too long,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said, referring to Executive Order 147, which Cuomo signed in August. “That is the leadership that we need in government to help our communities heal and I am proud of the Governor for leading New York State on criminal justice reform.”
Each year, the National Urban League marks the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, November 19, by presenting the Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) Awards to stellar corporations, individuals and organizations that have championed the principles of equal opportunity, civil rights and social justice. Proceeds from the dinner allow the Urban League Movement to serve over 2.8 million people annually through its network of 94 affiliates nationwide.
The appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of police misconduct is one of the recommendations Morial made in his testimony to President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing earlier this year. The plan also calls for widespread use of body and dashboard cameras, comprehensive review and revision of police hiring and training practices and a national anti-racial profiling law. Morial also commended the Governor for his leadership on other criminal justice issues including his commitment to reducing the size of New York's prison population, closing prison facilities, and his fight to raise the age of criminal incarceration and move non-violent juvenile offenders out of the general prison system into age-appropriate facilities.
"The justice system must have the trust of the people - period. We have seen too many cases where the public's confidence has been shaken, and it is time that we restore faith in the system,” Governor Cuomo said. “This is not a simply a New York issue - it is a national problem - but New York is leading the way forward and I am proud to do my part to restore the public's trust."
Also receiving top honors tonight were longtime corporate partners State Farm and Toyota.
“We’re honored to support the work of the National Urban League and join them in their efforts to open wide the doors of opportunity,” said James Colon, Vice President, African American Business Strategy, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. “A diverse workforce is a dynamic workforce, and we remain committed to equal opportunity and community empowerment.”
Duane Farrington, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, State Farm Mutual Automobile insurance Company, added, “We are especially proud of our partnership with the Urban League on the Project Ready Youth Empowerment Initiative, showing young people in struggling communities that achievement in education does matter.”
Actor Stephan James, who portrays Olympic champion Jesse Owens in an upcoming biographical film, shared an exclusive sneak preview of Race.
“Jesse Owens’ triumph at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 has come to symbolize a triumph over Nazi ideology and white supremacy,” Morial said. “Ironically, while Owens could stay in the same hotels as his white teammates in Germany, he couldn’t do the same in his own country. He had to take the freight elevator at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City to get to a reception honoring him. “
Longtime supporters MetLife and the MetLife Foundation will be inducted into the National Urban League’s Ten Million Dollar Hall of Fame, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation into the Five Million Dollar Hall of Fame, and Marriott International Inc., into the One Million Dollar Hall of Fame.
Journalist Sheinelle Jones, anchor of NBC’s Weekend Today, served as master of ceremonies for the event at the New York Marriott Marquis, which featured a performance from Grammy nominated singer Raheem Devaughn and after-dinner entertainment from renowned DJ D-Nice. EOD Chair David L. Steward, Urban League Board Chair Michael F. Neidorff were among the featured speakers.
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CONTACT: Teresa Candori
(212) 558-5362
tcandori@nul.org
