The Patrick Henry Democratic Club Annual Awards for 2007

Kucinich & Waters: Best in America

At its December 18, 2007 meeting, the Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America announced its 2007 annual awards. Dennis Kucinich and Maxine Waters took top honors as Congressman and Congresswoman of the Year.

Dennis Kucinich introduced and Maxine Waters co-sponsored legislation to impeach Dick Cheney. Congresswoman Waters backed Kucinich’s attempt to bring the matter to a discussion on the floor of Congress. Both previously voted against the war in Iraq, USA-PATRIOT, the Real ID Act, and against War Funding. Both have top voting records in Congress this year. Kucinich's opposition to war with Iran was bolstered by the NIE Report that contained much of what he has been saying all along.

The club members felt that a Senator from the past best represented the kind of leadership they wanted to see in the U.S. Senate and chose to recognize Paul Wellstone as its Senator of the Year:

Additional awards were as follows:

A number of the winners were present to receive their awards on the night of the announcement. Other recipients will be presented trophies at a later time. In the case of Paul Wellstone, his trophy will go to his sons, David and Mark.

Spirit of America Award winners Eric Goren and Vicki Wilson, who have championed the cause of freedom, peace and civil rights in the Inland Empire and throughout Southern California, have both received peace awards from a variety of major organizations this year.

Christina Avalos, who received the Humanitarian of the Year Award for her long history of human rights work and generosity, is running for Congress in the 40^th Congressional District.

Earlier this year, Patriots of the Year Natasha and Alexandar Hull-Richter convinced the California Democratic Party to call for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. These youths also convinced the party to call for the freeing of the Jena Six, withdrawal from the WTO, and the lowering of the voting age, among other causes.

Courage under Fire Winners, the Sanchez Six, Pat Alviso, Ed Garza, Professor Jarret Lovell, Abraham Ramirez, Thutrang Tran and Robert Patrick Dietrich were arrested earlier this year for sitting in Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez’s office, trying to convince her to oppose the funding for the war in Iraq. During the first part of the year, California Democratic Party Executive Board Member Ed Garza and Pat Alviso of Military Families Speak Out were arrested for trying to enter the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ask her to end the war funding.

The Patrick Henry membership managed to surprise their chairman by secretly voting to recognize her as Activist of the Year. Ruth Hull-Richter acknowledged the members as each being great leaders and activist. The Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America is generally considered to be the most progressive and active Democratic Club in the country.

Educator of the Year Michael Novick, a respected leader in the fight against racism and author of White Lies, White Powrer gave a powerful keynote address, speaking about the history of racism and imperialism in America and the world.

The turnout for the event, which took place in the midst of a Southern California rainstorm, was excellent.

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The Patrick Henry Democratic Club of America is a leading progressive organization with members all across the United States.

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