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This Month in Human Rights
and Social Justice
The upcoming events and dates below are opportunities for all of us to recognize and remember those who speak out and take action to alleviate
discrimination, promote tolerance, and achieve justice for victims of
social injustice.


January News and Events
  
Who will be the 2016 Salem Award Winner?
Come to our announcement event!
...
January 24 at 4:00pm
Opus Underground | 87 Washington St., Salem 
 
Find out who the 2016 winner is.
Meet past Salem Award winners.
Learn about the Salem Award Foundation.

Free Event | Cash Bar
For more information, visit
 salemaward.org



January 10  Speaker Series on Islam: Ask a Muslim Anything 

A "Question and Answer" forum featuring newspaper columnist, photojournalist, and Arab-American Muslim, Robert Azzi.

316 Essex St., Salem


SSU_Logo
January  18-25  
26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration at Salem State University
Salem State University continues its tradition of celebrating the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a week-long celebration that begins with the observance of MLK Day on Monday, January 18 and ends on Monday, January 25 with its annual convocation. Events include a candlelight vigil, a day of service, and presentations.  
    The week of observances and activities offers a reflective opportunity for the Salem State community and constituents to consider all that is occurring in our nation as it relates to justice. We will take a deeper look into what is happening in our communities and refer back to the teachings of Dr. King and others.  Learn more.  
    Contact SSU directly with any questions: [email protected]
or call (978) 542-2681.

 
January Dates to Remember  
  National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
"One hundred fifty years ago, our Nation codified the fundamental truth that slavery is an affront to human dignity." Thus begins President Obama's proclamation of January 2016 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Dedicated to raising awareness of this persistent global tragedy, the observance began in 2007, when the U.S. Senate designated January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. 
   Although this is a U.S. initiative, the United Nations has begun to highlight this topic and is working towards international awareness. The month's events will culminate with the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1. Learn more.

January 19   Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  
MLK Day is a chance to start the year off right by making a positive impact in your community. Now accepted as an important observation, this holiday was slow to achieve national recognition.
    Four days after Dr. King's assassination, April 8, 1968, Congressman John Conyers introduced the first legislation for a Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday (see timeline). In August 1994, President Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act, expanding the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives. Learn more about The MLK Day of Service.

January 27   International Holocaust Remembrance Day  
2015 Remembrance in Vienna, at the site of the 1938 Austrian takeover  
The U.N. General Assembly designated January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The U.N. urges everyone to honor the victims of the Nazi era and develop educational programs to prevent future genocides.
   This year's theme, "The Holocaust and Human Dignity," links Holocaust remembrance with the founding principles of the United Nations and reaffirms the dignity and worth of every person, as well as the right to live free from discrimination and with equal protection under the law per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Learn more.  


We thank the City of Salem for its ongoing financial support to the Salem Award Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. However, the majority of our funding comes through individual donations.  

To support the Salem Award Foundation with a donation, please visit  www.salemaward.org.

 
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