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AMV Foundation Community Service Awards
We have chosen to name AMV awards from diverse community leaders to honor them and to reflect our nation’s diversity. Regardless of whom they are their commitment to social justice, equality, fairness, inclusion and peace mirrors the teachings of Islam.
Fred Korematsu Civil Rights Award
For someone who has shown courage and commitment to protect civil liberties and constitutional rights in the current political climate.
About Fred Korematsu: He challenged internment orders during World War II and became a spokesperson for civil rights. He died at the age of 86 on March 31, 2005. Fred Korematsu was an ordinary man who defied orders to report to Japanese-American internment camps during W.W. II because he believed it wasn't right. His case changed legal history and resulted in an apology by our government for wrongdoings, as well as reparations to 120,000 living Japanese-Americans. "If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up." - Fred Korematsu.
2004: Amnesty International USA . .
2006: Liz Figueroa, California State Senator.
2007: Brandon Mayfield
Peter Jennings Unbiased Media Award
For an individual reporter or an institution (TV, radio, news paper) dedicated to unbiased reporting.
About Peter Jennings: ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings, 67, who died on August 7, 2005, was one of America 's most distinguished journalists. Jennings reported many of the pivotal events that have shaped our world. He was in Berlin in the 1960s when the Berlin Wall was going up, and there in the '90s when it came down. He covered the civil rights movement in the southern United States during the 1960s and the struggle for equality in South Africa during the 1970s and '80s. On Dec. 31, 1999, Jennings anchored ABC's Peabody-award winning coverage of Millennium Eve, "ABC 2000." Some 175 million Americans watched the telecast, making it the biggest live global television event ever.
2004: Mr. Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle:
2006: Jonathan Jones:
2007: KQED EdNet
Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award
Established in 2007: For an individual or organization dedicated to create social justice.
The story of Cesar Estrada Chavez begins near Yuma , Arizona . Cesar was born on March 31, 1927. He was named after his grandfather, Cesario. Regrettably, the story of Cesar Estrada Chavez also ends near Yuma , Arizona . He passed away on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, a small village near Yuma , Arizona . Dishonest Anglo-saxons possessed the small adobe home in which Cesar was born. Cesar's father agreed to clear eighty acres of land and in exchange, he would receive the deed to forty acres of land that adjoined the home. The agreement was broken and the land sold to a man named Justus Jackson. A lawyer advised Cesar's father to borrow money and buy the land. When Cesar's father could not pay the interest on the loan, the lawyer bought back the land and sold it to the original owner. Cesar learned a lesson about injustice that he would never forget. "The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature."- Cesar Chavez
2007: Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
Virtuous Public Official Award
For a public official who is Representative of all his constituents, not just for selected groups.
2004: Congressman Pete Stark
2006: Dutra Family, Bernie, John and Dominique:
2007: Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich
Badshah Khan Peace Award
Awarded to peacemakers with unwavering faith in their nonviolent approaches.
Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890-1988) was a Pashtun political and spiritual leader known for his non-violent opposition to British rule in India . A lifelong pacifist and a devout Muslim. At the age of 20, he opened his first school to men and women. The school's success granted him close ties with fellow progressively like-minded reformers. Khan worked towards the formulation of a united, independent, secular India . To achieve this end, he founded the Khudai Khidmatgar ("Servants of God"), commonly known as the "Red Shirts." Ghaffar Khan was a champion of women's rights and nonviolence. He became a hero in a society dominated by violence; notwithstanding his liberal views, his unswerving faith and obvious bravery led to immense respect. He never lost faith in his non-violent methods or in the compatibility of Islam and nonviolence. He was closely identified with Gandhi and he is known in India as the `Frontier Gandhi'."I am going to give you such a weapon that the police and the army will not be able to stand against it. It is the weapon of the Prophet, but you are not aware of it. That weapon is patience and righteousness. No power on earth can stand against it." - Abdul Ghaffar Khan
2004: Code Pink, Women for Peace:
2006: Cindy Sheehan
2007: Syeda Reshma Yunus
Marla Ruzicka Humanitarian Award
Established in 2006: For an extraordinary individual committed to serving all humans, regardless of race, religion and creed.
About Marla: Intrepid humanitarian aid worker Marla Ruzicka and her Iraqi driver died in Baghdad on April 18, 2005, when her car was caught in an insurgent attack. Marla Ruzicka founded the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) in 2003, an NGO that began as a one-woman operation and grew to include dedicated Iraqis who compiled statistics of Iraqi civilian casualties. Marla pursued the casualty figures by going door to door in a country that sent so many other aid agencies over the brink. She gave her young life to help the innocent victims of the Iraq war. At 28, she represented the best of America .
2006: Delores Lundie
2007: Rafia Syed
Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Building Award
For an individual who shares King's dream of an inclusive, beloved community.
About Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) led a mass struggle for racial equality that doomed segregation and changed America forever. King won the Nobel Peace Prize before being assassinated in 1968. In 1977, King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by Jimmy Carter. For his promotion of non-violence and racial equality, King is considered a peacemaker and a martyr around the world. Martin Luther King Day was established in his honor. Martin Luther King's most influential and well-known speech is "I Have A Dream.".
2004: Jim McEntee, Director of the Office of Human Relations for 27 years.
2006: Bev & John Titus and Azim Khamisa
2007: Delorme McKee-Stovall
The Spirit of Islam Lifetime Achievement Award
Established in 2007: For an individual who dedicated his/her entire life to serving the
Creator through his creation.
2007: Dr. Waheed Siddiqee
AMV awarded the following individuals at its inauguration and solidarity dinner in 2003 & 2004
Ms. Riva Enteen, of National Lawyers Guild - Civil liberty award
Medea Benjamin, Founding Director, Global Exchange - Protector of Human Rights for all award
Nasira Shariff, spirit of Islam award
Habibe Hussain, founder of Rahima, a charitable foundation - Community service award
Attorney Altaf Adam, Houston, Texas - Civil liberty award
Father Louis Vitale, Pastor of Saint Boniface, San Francisco - Social justice award.
Reverend John Oda, Senior Pastor of Pine United Methodist Church, San Francisco - community builders award.
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