UUSC Rights Night An Inspiring, Joyful Evening

UUSC's second annual Rights Night, held Thursday, December 10, 2009, was a big success. On the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we honored pioneering activist Mel King. A crusader, educator, organizer, and entrepreneur, King has devoted his life to organizing and advocacy for anti-poverty and urban renewal causes.

King was presented with UUSC's Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award for his commitment to social justice and human rights. Long-time colleague, friend, and fellow pioneer Gus Newport introduced King, and Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon delivered an impassioned keynote connecting King's work with the values embodied in the UDHR. The evening was opened and closed with rousing performances by the vocal group Foxx.

Rights Night attendees were asked to take action for the Gulf Coast by asking their congressperson to support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act. If you haven't had the chance to do so, you can do it online through our website.

UUSC thanks everyone who attended Rights Night 2009! We also extend special thanks to the staff of the Media Arts Center of Roxbury Community College for helping us make the evening a big success, and to Altman & Altman, LLP, for standing with UUSC a second consecutive year as corporate sponsor.

And last, UUSC is delighted to announce the winner of the Rights Night raffle — for sharing her e-mail address with us, Susan Klimczak of Boston is the proud owner of a UUSC Human Right to Water water bottle and a handsome 2010 planner.

Please mark your calendars for December 10, 2010 — we'll be back with the third annual Rights Night, on the occasion of the 62nd anniversary of the UDHR.

Read an article from the South End news about Rights Night.