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Earvin “Magic” Johnson, David Linde, Jermaine Dupri and Betty and Stanley K. Sheinbaum to Be Honored at ACLU/SC Awards

Thursday, December 4, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA legend and successful businessman; David Linde, co-chairman of Universal Pictures; Jermaine Dupri, president of Island So So Def; and lifelong civil-rights activists Betty and Stanley K. Sheinbaum will be honored at the ACLU of Southern California’s star-studded Bill of Rights Dinner on Monday, December 8, 2008.

Queen Latifah, Golden Globe and Grammy award-winning actress (“Chicago,” “Hairspray”) and recording artist; Rachel Weisz, Academy Award-winning actress (“The Constant Gardener,” “The Brothers Bloom”); Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Margarita Papandreou, former First Lady of Greece, and international peace and women’s activist; and Robert Scheer, author, journalist and political commentator, will present awards to the honorees. Shaun Robinson, co-host and correspondent for “Access Hollywood,” will emcee the event, to be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.

The annual Bill of Rights Dinner recognizes exceptional people who have worked to promote civil liberties and civil rights. Past honorees have included Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman and Martin Scorsese.

“The Bill of Rights Dinner is a gratifying tradition for the ACLU of Southern California, because it’s a way for us to recognize people who have furthered the cause of civil liberties and civil rights in truly extraordinary ways,” said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU/SC. “We’re humbled by the dedication and courage of this year’s honorees, and we look forward to celebrating them and their work on this very special night.”

About this year’s honorees:

Earvin “Magic” Johnson (Bill of Rights Award): The NBA legend and successful businessman has helped pioneer investment and development opportunities in underserved communities across the country as the Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. Through the Magic Johnson Foundation, he has demonstrated a commitment to developing programs and supporting community-based organizations that address the health, education and social needs of ethnically diverse urban communities. In addition, Johnson has worked tirelessly to address the alarming rate of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community through his award-winning “I Stand With Magic” campaign, a partnership with Abbott, a global health care company.

David Linde (Bill of Rights Award): Throughout his career in film and in his current role as co-chairman of Universal Pictures, Linde has overseen development of many films that not only serve as outstanding entertainment but also educate and enlighten viewers about freedom of speech, racism, censorship, privacy and sexual discrimination. In addition to his innovative and influential work as a studio executive, he serves on the boards of the American Film Marketing Association, the leading trade association for the independent film and television industry, and Brooklyn Woods, a nonprofit vocational program that helps unemployed and low-income New Yorkers start careers in skilled woodworking and custom cabinetry.

Jermaine Dupri (Bill of Rights Award): The president of Island So So Def is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer who has overseen the release of dozens of platinum and gold albums. Through his involvement with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Dupri also has worked for voter’s rights, the fight against mandatory minimum sentencing, and racial justice. By setting up Nu America, he has helped to build local youth councils across the country, and in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he joined forces with House of Cartier to raise money and awareness for the Hurricane Relief Fund.

Betty and Stanley K. Sheinbaum (Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award): The Sheinbaums have effected change on countless issues during a lifetime of political and social activism. In addition to being personally involved in numerous battles for justice and equality, Betty is a successful artist and gallery owner on both coasts whose work has always reflected her political concerns. Stanley is publisher of New Perspectives Quarterly and a founder of People for the American Way. He was a senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, President of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners in the aftermath of the Rodney King beating, and a Regent of the University of California, where he fought for divestment from South Africa. He is a former chairman of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and has been a guiding influence on all of the organization’s major decisions for more than three decades.

Tickets for the Bill of Rights Dinner start at $275, and all proceeds contribute to the ACLU/SC’s efforts to defend and extend civil liberties and civil rights. For additional ticket information, call Meegan Lee Ochs at 213.977.5250, or e-mail Meegan@ACLU-SC.ORG.

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