Virginia Gazette, 12 November 2012

RICHMOND – College of William & Mary president Taylor Reveley has been honored with the First Freedom Center’s Distinguished Service Award for advancing freedom of religion and conscience, according to a release.

Under Reveley’s leadership, William and Mary has continued to distinguish itself as a leader in constitutional and civil rights by advancing First Amendment freedoms, the center asserts, reforming speech policies to promote free expression for students and faculty on campus, and cultivating an environment of respect and understanding through interfaith dialogue and community service.

In commemoration of National Religious Freedom Day, January 16, the center’s awards are given annually to individuals who have made “profound contributions” to advancing freedom of religion and conscience at home and abroad.

In addition to Reveley, the center is awarding:

Rebiya Kadeer with the International First Freedom Award.  Kadeer, an exiled Uyghur from the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, defends the human rights of Chinese minorities. Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, she rose from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest people in China. For her leadership in the Uyghur self-determination movement, she endured six years of imprisonment and exile.  She currently heads the World Uyghur Congress and lives in the United States.

Tad Stahnke with the National First Freedom Award. Stahnke is director of Policy & Programs at Human Rights First, an organization founded in 1978 to promote laws and policies advancing universal rights and freedoms.  He was a founding staff member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, where he served as deputy executive director for policy 2000-2007 and as acting executive director in 2002 and 2007.

Eric Treene with the Virginia First Freedom Award. Treene is an advocate for the right of all people to express and practice faiths freely and without discrimination. He is the special counsel for religious discrimination in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice and the former director of litigation for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, an interfaith and nonpartisan public interest law firm in Washington.

“The honorees have dedicated much of their lives to promoting and defending freedom of religion,” said E. Ben Howerton, Jr., chair of First Freedom Center’s Board of Trustees. “They are people of conscience and principle, and we are pleased to recognize their contribution.”

The First Freedom Center advances the fundamental human rights of freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. It is a non-partisan, non-denominational, non-profit organization that pursues its mission through education, monitoring, and advocacy programs across the United States and abroad.

The 2013 awards dinner will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Downtown Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad Street, in Richmond.

Want to go? The dinner is open to the public. Reserve by contacting Chris Payton at 804-643-1786 or [email protected].

http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-reveley-honored-for-free-speech-policies-20121112,0,927865.story