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.