Secretary Blinken to Honor Global Anti-Racism Champions Awardees at the State Department

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver remarks at the first annual ceremony for the Secretary of State’s Award for Global Anti-Racism Champions (GARC) at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 9, at the U.S. Department of State. The Secretary will be joined by Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice Desirée Cormier Smith.

This group of civil society leaders from around the world has demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, leadership, and commitment to advancing the human rights of members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and Indigenous communities, including people of African descent, Roma people, and members of the Dalit caste, and combatting systemic racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in their communities.

The honorees will spend the week meeting with U.S. government officials and U.S. civil society leaders to offer expertise and exchange ideas on promoting racial equity and justice in their respective countries.

The award ceremony will be open press and streamed live on the Department homepage and the Department YouTube Channel.

Pre-set time for video cameras from the 23rd Street entrance is 10:15 a.m. Final access time for writers and stills from the 23rd Street entrance is 10:30 a.m.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver’s license, passport).

Please submit media inquiries to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at [email protected].