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Harvey Silverglate Wins Manhattan Institute’s Alexander Hamilton Award

FIRE co-founder Harvey Silverglate received the Manhattan Institute’s 2016 Alexander Hamilton Award last night at a gala dinner in New York City for his decades of civil liberties advocacy.

An attorney, author, and activist, Harvey co-founded FIRE with University of Pennsylvania professor Alan Charles Kors in 1999. Harvey continues his legal advocacy work with the Boston firm Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP, specializing in criminal defense, civil liberties, and student-rights cases. He currently serves on FIRE’s Board of Directors and writes extensively on civil liberties issues.

The Manhattan Institute described the award and recipient-selection process in a press release:

The Alexander Hamilton Award was created to honor those individuals helping to foster the revitalization of our nation’s cities. We chose to name the award after Hamilton because, like the Manhattan Institute, he was a fervent proponent of commerce and civic life. Throughout the years, we have expanded the scope of our prize to celebrate leaders not just on the local levels, but also at the state and federal levels, who have—whether it be in public policy, culture, or philanthropy—made remarkable things happen in their home state or city. We hope our celebration of our awardees encourages replication of their efforts.

“I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of an award for service on behalf of free speech and due process, both on and off campus, than FIRE co-founder Harvey Silverglate,” said FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff. “On a more personal note, in addition to being the person who recruited me for FIRE, he has been a mentor to me and remains one of my lifelong heroes.”

“Harvey’s influence permeates every aspect of FIRE’s work,” Greg said, “from our attention to detail, to our commitment to rights that transcend political labels or concerns, to our insistence that in order for basic liberties to survive, legal remedies are essential but not sufficient. We all agree with Harvey that we must transform the culture into one that values genuine diversity of opinion and the most robust protections of freedom of speech, fair process and procedures, and freedom of conscience.”

FIRE congratulates Harvey on this momentous achievement!

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