Kennedy award goes to three leaders of Immokalee coalition

Published: 2003-11-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Three leaders of the church-supported Coalition of Immokalee Workers received the 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award at a Nov. 20 ceremony in Washington. The award, which carries a $30,000 prize, was presented to Julia Gabriel, Lucas Benitez and Romeo Ramirez by Kennedy's widow, Ethel Kennedy. The three were cited in particular for their work in freeing more than a thousand field workers in South Carolina and Florida from slavery rings by employers using violence and the threat of violence. "The work of these incredible human rights defenders is pivotal in this day and era as it uncovers the ugly truth that modern-day slavery exists in the United States," said Todd Howland, director of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, which selects award recipients.

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