Opal Lee, Medgar Evers Among 19 To Receive Top Presidential Medal

New Journal and Guide Staff

President Joe Biden has chosen 19 persons to receive this year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom, to include several Black honorees. The prestigious award is the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Among living legends to be awarded are South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn; Clarence B. Jones, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and Opal Lee, an educator, and activist, for her tireless work in making Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.

An iconic legend to be awarded for making his mark in civil rights history is Medgar Wiley Evers, Mississippi NAACP  activist who was assassinated at the height of the civil rights movement

Evers, born in 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi, is remembered for his unwavering dedication to the civil rights movement despite facing relentless racism and threats to his life.

He embarked on a career in activism after serving in World War II, joining the NAACP and organizing boycotts and protests to combat segregation and discrimination. His efforts caught the attention of the NAACP national leadership, leading to his appointment as Mississippi’s first field secretary for the organization.

A white supremacist assassinated Evers on June 12, 1963, outside his home, sparking outrage and galvanizing the civil rights movement.

Clyburn, a stalwart figure in American politics known as the “Kingmaker,” has dedicated his life to public service and advocacy.

Representing South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Clyburn has served since 1993, making history as the first African-American to hold multiple terms as Majority Whip.

Other recipients are: Michael R. Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City; Father Gregory Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries;  Senator Elizabeth Dole, a trailblazing political leader; Phil Donahue, a pioneering journalist; Al Gore, former Vice President; John Kerry, a decorated veteran and former Secretary of State; Senator Frank Lautenberg, remembered for advocacy in environmental protection and consumer safety; Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history; Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space; Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime advocate for democracy and progressive values; Dr. Jane Rigby, a prominent astronomer; Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers; Judy Shepard, co-founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal; and Michelle Yeoh, an acclaimed actress.

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“There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together,” Biden insisted. “These 19 Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better. They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields. They consistently demonstrated over their careers the power of community, hard work, and service.”

This article was adapted from a story by Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia