Press Release

New York, NY–The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor activist Harry Belafonte, Art Chong, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Safeco Corporation, and investigative journalist Seymour Hersh with the 2008 Justice in Action Award at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City. Author Walter Mosley, Harvard law professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. and retired U.S. Army Major General Antonio M. Taguba will be presenting the awards. ABC News Correspondent Juju Chang will be the emcee for the evening.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards are presented to exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, Maya Lin, David Henry Hwang, Lani Guinier, Yoko Ono, Mira Nair, Harold Koh, and Deval Patrick.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Annual Lunar New Year Gala honoring Harry Belafonte, Art Chong, and Seymour Hersh, 2008 Justice in Action Award recipients. Location: PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers in New York City. Sponsorship for tables of ten including VIP reception, dinner, and silent auction available at $7,500-$50,000. Individual tickets start at $500. RSVP Contact: Lillian Ling, 212.966.5932 x 202 or lling@aaldef.org.

Journalists who wish to RSVP for the 5:30 p.m. press conference/photo op with the honorees should contact Jennifer Weng at 212.966.5932 x 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.

Over 800 leaders of the business, legal, civil rights and arts communities are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2008 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the “Year of the Rat 4706.” The Gala begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony, a three-course dinner, and a silent auction. Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $12,000, and $7,500, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. Bingham McCutchen LLP is a major sponsor of this event.

Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

For more information:
Lillian Ling
Assistant Director
212.966.5932 ext. 202
lling@aadef.org

Margaret Fung
Executive Director
212.966.5932 ext. 201
mfung@aaldef.org