Honors are bestowed on Human Rights Day

Thursday, December 11, 2003 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff

Several city residents and the Seattle Indian Services Commission were honored yesterday during the annual Seattle Human Rights Day celebration.

Jerry Sheehan, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, received the City of Seattle 2003 Distinguished Citizen Award for Human Rights.

The Indian Services Commission, founded in 1972, was honored for providing services to Seattle's Native American residents, from education assistance to prenatal health care to domestic-violence prevention programs.

The Seattle Chapter of the United Nations Association presented an award to Roy Farrell, a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility. He is outspoken on national security issues and the need for disarmament. He works with battered women and victims of violence and helped provide earthquake relief in Armenia.

The U.N. chapter also honored Rita Zawaideh, an Arab American advocate.

She has worked to provide medical and humanitarian care to Middle Eastern war victims. She also has offered training and educational programs to many Seattle organizations about hate crimes, human rights issues and cultural sensitivity.

© 2003 Seattle Post-Intelligencer