RFK's daughter honored with human rights award in Dayton
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Kerry Kennedy will be honored Thursday in Dayton for four decades of work to protect human rights globally.
The University of Dayton Human Rights Center will award Kennedy its Oscar Romero Human Rights Award on Thursday, April 24. The ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. in the Roger Glass Center for the Arts.
'Kerry Kennedy's leadership in the global human rights movement is genuine, thorough and impactful,' said UD's Human Rights Center Executive Director, Natalie Hudson. 'Her long-standing solidarity with human rights defenders, like those that embody Saint Oscar Romero's legacy, fully expresses our Catholic mission and Marianist values, and makes her a deserving recipient of the Romero Award.'
Kennedy is a daughter of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel. She is the president of the non-profit Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
'The University of Dayton Romero Human Rights Award is a powerful tribute to Saint Oscar Romero's unwavering courage and sacrifice in the fight for justice,' said Kennedy. 'His fearless advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised continues to inspire us all to challenge oppression, amplify marginalized voices and uphold the dignity of every human being.'
She said receiving the award is a personal honor.
'This recognition is a personal honor and a reminder that the pursuit of human rights demands boldness, compassion and an unshakable commitment to justice for all,' said Kennedy.
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The award honors the ministry and martyrdom of Saint Oscar Romero. He was a Salvadoran archbishop killed in 1980 while officiating at a Mass because he defended the human rights of the poor and disenfranchised.
One year later, Kennedy began working as an intern with Amnesty International in El Salvador. In 2002, she joined UD's Distinguished Speaker Series to discuss her book Speak Truth to Power, which chronicled the struggles of 51 human rights defenders from 41 countries. Recently, she has partnered with the Human Rights Center on national and international human rights advocacy projects.
Kennedy is highly awarded and has received honors from the President of Poland, Lech Walesa, for aiding the Solidarity movement; the humanitarian award from the Congress of Nobel Peace Prize laureates; and honorary doctorates of law from both Le Moyne College and the University of San Francisco School of Law.
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After the ceremony, the Human Rights Center will host an opening reception for a new exhibit by the Moral Courage Project. 'At the Root: Policing and the Right to Protest,' focuses on the Stop Cop City movement, which was started in Atlanta, Georgia, in opposition to a proposed police training facility. It will highlight photo essays, activists' testimonies and a companion podcast, 'Moral Courage Radio.' To learn more, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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