Northfield’s Human Rights Commission Announces The 2021 Human Rights Award Winner

Press release from the City of Northfield:

January 28, 2021

The Northfield Human Rights Commission is pleased to announce Rahmah Abdulai as the 2021 recipient of the City of Northfield’s Human Rights Award. The Human Rights Award was established to recognize an area individual, group, or organization that has contributed to the advancement of human rights in Northfield.

Rahmah Abdulai is a senior at Northfield High School and has been an advocate for human rights since she was a freshman, when she joined the Black Student Union. She later became the co-chair of that organization. She has spoken at various civic groups and participated in the Say Their Names and the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd. She also organized a donation drive for a group called the Autonomous Zone, which distributed food, toiletries and first aid items to those families impacted by the violence.

In the words of her nominators, “Rahmah is someone who cares deeply and passionately about human rights and racial equality and is a natural leader. She is a strong leader, holding the microphone, rallying others, tirelessly looking to what can be done to improve the lives of all in Northfield and beyond.”

Recent recipients of the Human Rights Award include: employees of the Laura Baker Services Association, the Community Action Center, Jennifer Lompart, Father Dennis Dempsey and Susan Sanderson. The Human Rights Commission thanks each one of them for their lasting contributions to the Northfield community.

The award was presented at the Martin Luther King Day celebration, which was held online on January 18, 2021. A recording of the event can be found at City of Northfield YouTube channel or npb.ci.northfield.mn.us.

Declaración de Derechos Humanos en apoyo a la petición de justicia racial y social en los Estados Unidos

Nos solidarizamos con todas las personas que buscan la justicia social, especialmente la justicia racial con las comunidades negras y afroamericanas. Nos encontramos en un momento histórico en la búsqueda de la justicia, la imparcialidad y la equidad para todas las personas y debemos aprovechar este momento y trabajar aún más duro para lograr cambios en todas las instituciones. Estar en silencio no es una opción y queremos sumar nuestras voces a esta continua petición de cambio.
El asesinato de George Floyd, como sabemos, no es una trágica pérdida aislada, sino que está incrustado en una larga historia de desigualdad, acceso diferente a las oportunidades, falta de vivienda justa, discriminación en las prácticas de préstamo y acceso desproporcionado a la atención médica; injusticias que comenzaron durante la esclavitud en los Estados Unidos. Vemos que este trato injusto y la falta de acceso se producen en el estado de Minnesota, así como en todo el país y el mundo.
Nuestra esperanza y nuestro trabajo como Comisión de la ciudad de Northfield es hacer todo lo que esté a nuestro alcance para elevar las preocupaciones y voces de aquellos que por tanto tiempo han sido silenciados, oprimidos e ignorados.

-Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Northfield
Leído en la reunión del Consejo de la Ciudad de Northfield el 17 de junio de 2020

More about the Human Rights Commission

This press release was produced by the City of Northfield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.