Photo Flash: Seth Meyers & More Attend Human Rights First Awards Dinner

Last week, Seth Meyers and other distinguished guests attended the Human Rights First Award Dinner at Chelsea Piers in New York City. The organization honored Friar Tomás Gonzaléz, founder of the Mexcian migrant shelter La 72 with the 2017 Human Rights First Award. He is being recognized for his courageous work to provide providing refuge for desperate people fleeing violence and persecution in Central America.

Human Rights First also presented its 2017 Sidney Lumet Award for Integrity in Entertainment to the Emmy award-winning Hulu television show The Handmaid's Tale for raising important questions about the fragility of democracy, personal responsibility, and how complacency, complicity, and fear can conspire to enable extremism. Each year the Sidney Lumet Award honors a work of popular culture that raises awareness about human rights and provokes discussion about some of the most pressing political and social issues of our time. The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful and timely portrayal of a dystopian society where a theocratic regime seizes power, enslaves women, and makes homosexuality a capital crime. The series is based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood. The award will be presented to Bruce Miller, The Handmaid's Tale's show runner.

The program also recognized this year's winners of the Marvin Frankel Award for extraordinary commitment to providing pro bono legal representation to individuals who have fled persecution and seek asylum in the United States. Human Right First will honor Richter & Hampton LLP in Los Angeles, Vinson & Elkins LLP in Houston, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York City, and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP in Washington, D.C. for their dedication to human rights and commitment to pro bono service.

Photo credit: Michael Ian.

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