 in New York City)
February 3, 2013: New York, NY, USA: Yoko Ono Lennon presents her “2013 Courage Awards for the Arts” to Julian Assange of Wikileaks in absentia. Accepting the award for Assange are Michael Ratner (2nd from left) and Balthasar Garzon Real (2nd from right). Daniel Ellsberg (left) and Foreign Minister of Ecuador Ricardo Patino Aroca also spoke at the ceremony. (Allan Tannenbaum/Polaris)
Leading International Advocates for Civil Liberties Honor, Accept Award on Wikileaks Founder’s Behalf
February 3, 2013, New York, NY
Yoko Ono Lennon this evening granted her 2013 Courage Award for the Arts to journalist and Wikileaks principle Julian Assange. The award was delivered to Mr. Assange in absentia at The Modern restaurant in Manhattan before an audience of civil rights advocates, artists and diplomats.
The Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award For The Arts 2013
Ms. Ono Lennon initiated the Courage Award in 2009 to recognize artists who demonstrated courage in their work, despite pressure to succumb to commercial and political constraints.
Today Yoko Ono Lennon commented on her decision to extend the award to a journalist:
“Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office; that the information they keep in secrecy belongs to all of us. Julian Assange took a courageous step by rightfully returning what belongs to the public domain. For that reason, I believe we need to stand behind him.”
Julian Assange
Currently confined to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Mr. Assange accepted the award via two of his legal counselors: Baltasar Garzón Real of Spain, best known for his precedent-setting pursuit of Augusto Pinochet for crimes against humanity, and Michael Ratner, longtime civil rights attorney and President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who delivered Mr Assange’s speech to the audience.
Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador
In his speech, Mr Assange gives special thanks to Ecuador’s people, its President, Rafael Correa, and its Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patiño, who also honored Mr Assange at the ceremony.
Wikileaks
Mr Assange’s speech dedicates the award to Wikileaks’ sources, supporters and staff, stating, “through their courage and wit they are revealing the true nature of our global human civilization. This is how we may reform it. Elevate it – and make it just, beyond its humble origins. Their courage in documenting war crimes, gross human rights violations, and the corruption of our societies is unequalled.”
Aaron Swartz
He also made special mention of the recent death of American programmer and Internet activist, Aaron Swartz, who took his own life after being pursued with felony charges for downloading academic articles at MIT.
Notably, the ceremony also included a speech by American whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg who famously exposed the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War era.
Bradley Manning
Daniel Ellsberg: “Julian Assange richly deserves this award. I hope that this award will give the Nobel Committee the courage to award Bradley Manning and Julian Assange the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Michael Ratner: “Julian and others who’ve opened secret governments and exposed crimes should be treated as heroes. Hopefully the courage award will go a long way toward acknowledging his public service and ending his persecution. I hope that in five years Julian will be standing before us, celebrated like Daniel Ellsberg was tonight.”
Baltasar Garzón: “Even when he is a prisoner inside the Ecuadorean Embassy his voice is not. His words, wisdom and acts are out, reminding us all the time that courage is contagious and truth is a powerful force.”
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino Aroca: “Julian gives us all an example: the powerful cannot hide information to dominate states and destroy democracies.”
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[...] Ono honored Julian Assange at her Courage Awards for the Arts ceremony in New York on Sunday evening, calling the WikiLeaks founder and political refugee “courageous” for [...]
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All you will read now-my dedicated to all and to everyone….Whith LOVE….Anastasia Rakutko.Russia…
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[...] Yoko Ono Lennon Presents 2013 Courage Award to – Imagine Peace http://imaginepeace.com/February 3, 2013: New York, NY, USA: Yoko Ono Lennon presents her “2013 Courage Awards for the Arts” to Julian Assange of Wikileaks in absentia. Accepting the award for Assange are Michael Ratner (2nd from left) and … [...]
Fantatic Yoko! You are such an inspiration conceptualising this culture of peace and the environment award/s. Julian Assange is a great example. Proud he went to school, just up from my home in Nimbin NSW Australia, pioneering community action, taking on the Coal Seam Gas in our area. I hope one day you and Seam visit our community, which is sister to the Village of Woodstock.
In May we celebrate the 40th anniversary since the Nimbin Aquarius Festival which put this village on the map as the capital of the Alternative Society of Australia.
[...] Read more on the event here. [...]
You are a very brave woman and the world needs more people like you, strong, determined and courageous!!! A great “The Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award For The Arts 2013” honest and merited Julian Assange of Wikileaks!!! Congratulations Yoko!!!
i ii iii
BIA – BRASIL
[...] artist/musician and counter-culture icon Yoko Ono Lennon shows no such ambivalence, however, giving Assange the Courage Award for the Arts 2013 at a special ceremony this past [...]
[...] “Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office; that the information they keep in secrecy belongs to all of us,” she said at the ceremony (http://imaginepeace.com/archives/19347). [...]
Bravo Yoko! The world needs more courageous people like u that don’t think only about what is the impact of being courageous on their pockets. Courageous enough to stand by really courageous ones like Mr. Assange.
[...] Ono honored Julian Assange at her Courage Awards for the Arts ceremony in New York on Sunday evening, calling the Wikileaks founder and political refugee "courageous" for [...]
I believe that in this generation, Brasil will be democratic…
Mrs. Yoko Ono Lennon you are such an adorable citizenship My prayers to you and all friends like a family I thank you all each everyday heartedly and lovingly Kind regards love Maria