Washington, DC – Today, Foreign Policy for America applauds State Department Special Representative for Racial Equity & Justice (SRREJ) Desirée Cormier Smith for establishing the annual Secretary of State’s Global Anti-Racism Champions Award. On Wednesday, August 9th Secretary of State Antony Blinken will present the inaugural award to six anti-racism champions from around the world. The award recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership to advance racial equity and combat systemic racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in their communities. Additional information can be found at the State Department’s website.
Since taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration has shown commendable leadership working to protect and advance the rights of marginalized racial and ethnic communities, both at home and abroad. We commend Secretary Blinken and Special Representative Cormier Smith for establishing this award on an annual basis to further integrate these efforts into U.S. foreign policy. The Global Anti-Racism Champions Award bolsters U.S. partnerships with civil society leaders around the world in our shared effort to combat systemic racism and disproportionate inequity and injustice for marginalized communities; to promote inclusive democracy and human rights; and to pursue economic equality and prosperity for all.
In addition to the Awards Ceremony, Foreign Policy for America Foundation is honored to be working with the State Department to facilitate additional programming for award recipients to engage U.S.-based policymakers and civil society leaders also working to advance racial equity and justice.
Foreign Policy for America recognizes that the fight against systemic racism and xenophobia cannot be won overnight. We will continue to approach this work with great humility. We look forward to continuing to work with Special Representative Cormier Smith, her team, and a broad coalition of partners to combat systemic racism and to advance a U.S. foreign policy that protects the rights of marginalized racial and ethnic communities, at home and abroad.
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