New York, NY, November 19, 2018 … ADL today announced that it will recognize the achievements of The Honorable Gurbir Grewal with the 2018 ADL Blum-Kovler Nation of Immigrants Award at its Annual Summit on Anti-Semitism and Hate, Never is Now, on Monday, December 3 in New York City.
The ADL Blum-Kovler Nation of Immigrants Award was established by the Judy and Peter Blum-Kovler Foundation to honor and recognize an individual or group’s contributions to fair and welcoming treatment of immigrants. In 2017, its inaugural year, the award was presented to HIAS, a champion of immigrants since 1881.
On behalf of the Foundation, Peter Kovler said, “True to its historic values, the ADL continues to take uncompromising stands when it comes to immigration. Even if now popular in some places to belittle or dehumanize refugees and immigrants, the ADL has shown, through words and deeds, that such maliciousness is simply not acceptable. I am proud of this partnership and proud to be associated with so many people who care about what this country should stand for.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt added, “Not only has Honorable Grewal personally overcome issues of discrimination and intolerance throughout his life, but, in the wake of troubling federal anti-immigrant polices that continue to target marginalized communities and minorities, he has committed to standing up and challenging bias and discrimination in all forms.”
“From a personal and professional standpoint, I can think of no one more deserving to receive this honor,” said Ross Pearlson, ADL’s New Jersey Regional Advisory Board Chair. “I have known Gurbir for a number of years and have also been fortunate enough to witness firsthand his efforts and achievements in protecting immigrant communities. He embodies not only the values of the Award but, without any doubt, those of the ADL as an organization.”
Supporting fair and humane immigration policy has been a pillar of ADL’s work to secure justice and equality for all. Through legislative advocacy, litigation and public awareness campaigns, ADL has promoted such policies since its founding in 1913. ADL has helped expose anti-immigrant hate that too often has been a fixture of the immigration debate and has called for a responsible public dialogue that will honor America’s history as a “nation of immigrants.”