Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh and 16 others

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 folks, together with civil rights icons such because the late Medgar Evers, distinguished political leaders similar to former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. James Clyburn, and actor Michelle Yeoh.

Biden mentioned the recipients of the nation’s highest civilian honor are “unimaginable folks whose relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity and hope have stored religion in a greater tomorrow.”

Certainly one of them, Clarence B. Jones, mentioned in an interview that he thought a prankster was on the cellphone when he answered and heard the caller say they have been from the White Home.

“I mentioned, ‘Is that this a joke or is that this severe?'” Jones recalled. The caller swore they have been severe and was calling with the information that Biden wished to acknowledge Jones with the medal.

Jones, 93, was honored for his activism in the course of the Civil Rights Motion. He is a lawyer who offered authorized counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. and helped write the opening paragraphs of the “I Have a Dream” speech that King delivered on the Lincoln Memorial on the 1963 March on Washington.

The White Home mentioned the recipients are “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or safety of the US, world peace, or different vital societal, public or non-public endeavors.”

The ten males and 9 ladies hail from the worlds of politics, sports activities, leisure, civil rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy, science and faith. Three medals have been awarded posthumously.

Seven politicians have been among the many recipients: former New York mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, local weather activist and former Vice President Al Gore, Biden’s former local weather envoy John Kerry, former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who died in 2013, Clyburn, the Democratic congressman from South Carolina, and Pelosi, the Democratic congresswoman from California.

Biden in his remarks acknowledged that Clyburn’s endorsement within the 2020 Democratic presidential major helped him rating a thundering win in South Carolina, powering him to his celebration’s nomination and finally the White Home. Bloomberg mounted a short-lived bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

“I can say this with out concern of contradiction,” Biden mentioned. “I’d not be standing right here as president making these awards have been it not for Jim. I imply that sincerely.”

Along with representing North Carolina within the Senate, Dole, a Republican and the widow of former Sen. Bob Dole, additionally served as transportation secretary and labor secretary and was president of the American Pink Cross. She at the moment leads a basis supporting army caregivers.

Pelosi is the primary and solely girl ever elected to the speaker’s publish, placing her second within the line of succession to the presidency. Biden referenced her legislative achievements, famous her actions in the course of the Capitol rebellion on Jan. 6, 2021, and mentioned, “Historical past will keep in mind you, Nancy, as the best speaker of the Home of Representatives.”

Evers obtained posthumous recognition for his work greater than six a long time in the past combating segregation in Mississippi within the Nineteen Sixties because the NAACP’s first area officer within the state. He was 37 when he was fatally shot within the driveway of his house in June 1963. His daughter, Reena, who was 8 years previous when her father was killed, accepted his medal.

Yeoh made historical past final 12 months by turning into the primary Asian girl to win an Academy Award for greatest actress for her efficiency in “The whole lot, All over the place All at As soon as.”

Jim Thorpe, who died in 1953, was the primary Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the US.

Judy Shepard co-founded the Matthew Shepard Basis, named after her son, a homosexual 21-year-old College of Wyoming pupil who died in 1998 after he was overwhelmed and tied to a fence.

Jones mentioned he felt “very touched” after he digested what the caller had mentioned.

“I am 93 years previous with some well being challenges, however I awakened this morning because of the grace of God,” he advised The Related Press in a phone interview Thursday. “I am trying ahead to regardless of the White Home would love for me to do.”

The opposite medal recipients are:

• Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who based and runs Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention and rehabilitation program.
• Phil Donahue, a journalist and former daytime TV talk-show host.
• Katie Ledecky, essentially the most adorned feminine swimmer in historical past.
• Opal Lee, an activist who’s greatest identified for pushing to make Juneteenth a federal vacation. Biden did so in 2021.
• Ellen Ochoa, the primary Hispanic girl in area and the second feminine director of NASA’s Johnson Area Middle.
• Jane Rigby, an astronomer who’s chief scientist of the world’s strongest telescope. She grew up in Delaware, Biden’s house state.
• Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Employees and the primary Hispanic girl to steer a nationwide union within the U.S. The union has endorsed Biden’s reelection bid and backed him in 2020.

In 2022, Biden introduced the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 folks, together with gymnast Simone Biles, the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and gun-control advocate Gabby Giffords.

Biden is aware of the way it feels to obtain the medal. As president, Barack Obama introduced Biden, his vp, with the medal every week earlier than their administration resulted in 2017.