President Joe Biden will honor 19 people on Friday with the Presidential Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Activist groups from politics and entertainment include Biden’s 2020 primary Democratic opponents and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Vice President Al Gore, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Reps. Jim Clyburn, Elizabeth Dole and recent Biden climate ambassadors and former Sec. Country John Carey.
“Juneteenth’s grandmother” Opal Lee, the mother of Judy Shepard and Matthew Shepard who was abducted and brutally murdered in 1998 because she was gay, will also pay tribute
Oscar Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, swimming legend Katie Ledecky, “the most decorated female swimmer in history,” and Drs. Ellen Ochoa. The first Hispanic woman in space on a nine-day mission aboard Discovery in 1993, will also be given the nation’s highest civilian honor.
The White House said in a statement that those selected for Friday’s honors “are top-notch leaders in their fields to build teams, coalitions, teams, organizations and businesses that organize America for the better. They have consistently demonstrated the power of community, hard work and service on their work.”
