2016 Human Rights Winners Announced

We recognize some of the many human rights heroes who live among us.

There is plenty of evidence that human rights are under attack where we live. All you have to do is turn on the television news. Fear, bigotry, and hatred are a volatile mixture. We worry about the future of our nation.

Yet, there is other evidence to examine -- hopeful signs that human rights are alive and well. Right here in Oklahoma, we see that the dignity of the individual person is being honored. Religious freedom is being protected. The rights of all people are being defended. We are building communities where every man, woman, and child may find equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal dignity without discrimination.

Where is our evidence?

We find it in the people of our great state. In every corner of Oklahoma -- in places close to home, in the world of the individual person -- we recognize the human rights heroes who live among us. They are the champions of human rights where we live.

They defend the weak. They teach justice. They inspire us by their example to recognize our own rights and to uphold the rights of others.

These are our Oklahoma Human Rights Award Winners for 2016:

Miguel Baez

Oklahoma City

Sara Zaynab Bana

Midwest City

David Brinker, MD

Oklahoma City

Dr. Lindsey Churchill

Edmond

Priya Desai, MSW 

Oklahoma City

The Dialogue Institute of Oklahoma

OKC & Tulsa

Moises Echeverria 

Tulsa

Rex D. Friend

Oklahoma City

Robert M. Goldman

Oklahoma City

Tom Guild

Edmond, OK

Dr. Nyla Ali Khan

Norman

Father Tim Luschen

Oklahoma City

Roberto Mendoza

Oklahoma City

Multicultural Education Institute

Edmond

OKC Artists for Justice 

Oklahoma City

Allen Parleir & Elia Woods

Oklahoma City

Sache Primeaux-Shaw

Oklahoma City

Garland Pruitt

Choctaw, OK

Andrew Sartain, Earth Rebirth 

Norman

Seneca Scott

Tulsa

Marjan Seirafi-Pour 

Norman

Catalina Serrano

Oklahoma City

Mana Tahaie 

Tulsa

Angelica Villalobos Solis

Oklahoma City

The Gordon and Pauline Wahpepah Family

Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma

John T. Walters

Oklahoma City

Richard Ray Whitman

Oklahoma City

You're invited to attend the presentation of the 2016 Human Rights Awards on Saturday, December 10th, in the House Chamber of the Oklahoma State Capitol. The program will begin at 10am. It will be emcee'd by former State Representative Seneca Scott. There is no charge to attend. Following the awards program, you are invited to enjoy a Free Speech Forum in the Senate Assembly Room from 12 Noon to 2pm.

Every year, the Oklahoma Human Rights Awards are co-sponsored by the Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association and the Oklahoma Universal Human Rights Alliance.

Previous winners of the award include educators, physicians, students, and community volunteers from many different communities and all walks of life. They are united by their enduring commitment to the values and principles expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For more information about the awards program, please contact Wilfredo Santosrivera, 405-631-3027.