Foundation For Ethnic Understanding

Washington, D.C. Congressional Awards Ceremony

Photos from the Sixth Annual Interethnic Congressional Racial Harmony Awards

Foundation president Rabbi Marc Schneier and chairman Russell Simmons hosted the Sixth Annual Interethnic Congressional Racial Harmony Awards program on July 8th, 2004. This annual event honored Alcee Hastings, Michael Honda, Robert Menendez, Edolphus Towns, and Henry Waxman, members of congress who have shown leadership and commitment to strengthening relationships among ethnic communities. Nineteen members of congress gathered on Capitol Hill to support honored colleagues, including Shelley Berkley, Carolyn Kilpatrick, Tom Lantos, Barbara Lee, Greg Meeks, Robert Menendez, Jerrold Nadler, Major Owens, Donald Payne, Ciro Rodriguez, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Diane Watson, and Anthony Wiener. Co-hosts included Congressmen Bob Filner, Tom Lantos, Jerrold Nadler, Charles Rangel, and Silvestre Reyes. The luncheon was co-sponsored by the World Jewish Congress, National Council of La Raza and NAACP.

Congressional and community leaders spoke on political issues of common concern such as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. In addition, several speakers noted that multi-ethnic congressional support of Rep. Donald Payne's legislation H.Con.Res 467 condemning Darfur's genocide was an excellent example of working together for the benefit of all. Rep. Major Owens thanked The Foundation for assisting him in crafting a resolution that marked the 40th anniversary of the civil rights movement as well as the tragic murders of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, Black and Jewish activists who dedicated themselves to registering Black voters in the South. The congressman spoke eloquently on the enduring legacy of these three men.

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The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding was founded in 1989 by Rabbi Marc Schneier and the late Joseph Papp.
We are committed to the belief that direct, face-to-face, dialogue between leaders of ethnic communities
is the most effective path toward the reduction of bigotry and the promotion of reconciliation and understanding.

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