Michael
H. Posner
Read Michael H.
Posner's Bio
Welcome and good evening. I’m Mike Posner, the Executive Director
of the Lawyers Committee. Twenty-five years ago, no one would have
imagined that we would be here at our 25th Anniversary Human Rights
Award Dinner, in this wonderful setting with more than 1,000 old friends
and new, past and present colleagues, donors and supporters. You have
contributed more money to this evening than the Lawyers Committee’s
cumulative budget over its first five years. Thank you all for being
with us, and for your very generous support.
In the early years it also was hard to imagine an organization
with a great staff of more than 50 people, strong partners worldwide,
guided by our founding vision - not just to make a point,
but to make a difference.
Whether in representing asylum clients like Michele Montas, working
for a public inquiry in the Finucane case in Northern Ireland, or
advancing a human rights legislation in Washington - like
the Torture Victim Protection Act - the Lawyers Committee’s
approach is practical, measured, results oriented and - well,
lawyerly, in the best sense of that word, and to the highest standards
of the profession.
Early next year we will begin carrying out this work under a new
name. As Human Rights First we will maintain our human
rights legal expertise, which is at the heart of what we do well.
Our new name puts us in a better position to engage more people
in our work: lawyers, of course, businesspeople, religious leaders,
academics, people in the creative community. And in this turbulent
world it is more important than ever to promote the centrality of
human rights to solve the challenges we face. Our new name will
make this mission clear.
The success of 25th Anniversary Human Rights Award Dinner is a tribute
to our exceptional board. Bill Zabel and Tom Bernstein, this evening
is a special tribute to you - for your leadership, your devotion,
and your friendship.
HONORING TOM A. BERNSTEIN
Let me start with Tom. Where to begin? Virtually since I arrived
in New York in 1978, Tom has been like a brother to me. Newly arrived
from Chicago, I was 27, less than three years out of law school,
starting a new job with a new organization, in an embryonic field.
As they say “wet behind the ears.” If I had been asked
to envision a best friend in New York, I would have invented Tom
Bernstein. As luck would have it, I didn’t have to.
No friend could be more loyal, more thoughtful, or more caring.
Tom combines a wonderful sense of fun and adventure, with a focused
drive and determination which all but guarantees success in his
every endeavor. Despite a tendency to tell and retell some of the
world’s corniest jokes, people gravitate towards Tom, and
want to be on his winning team. We are so lucky that early in his
career, Tom chose to be on our team. He has been central to our
successes ever since.
His life choice to become a human rights activist was, of course,
partly genetically determined. His father, Bob, paved the way. Like
his father, Tom’s commitment to human rights is centered on
people - the people we serve. As a young lawyer Tom represented
an asylum applicant from the Philippines, Sonny Alvarez. It took
two years to win that case - but Tom prevailed over a resistant
INS in typical Bernstein fashion - he simply wore them out.
Drawing from that experience, he has helped us shape and grow our
asylum representation program. Today, with 1,000 cases, it is the
largest and most successful such program in the country.
Tom is our leading ambassador on behalf of human rights defenders
around the globe. Aristotle said, “There is no more important
habit to be formed than delighting in good characters and noble
actions.” Some of Tom’s greatest pleasures and victories
have been standing with human rights activists engaged in “noble
actions.” Last year both Tom and his father played an instrumental
role in securing the release from a Chinese prison of Xu Wenli,
whom we also honor here tonight. Over the years Tom has provided
a critical lifeline to people like Najib Hosni from Tunisia, Hector
Timerman from Argentina, Saad Ibrahim from Egypt, and many, many
more.
And Tom is a builder. His philosophy is “build it and they
will come.” Just look around us. Nine years ago, as we drove
by those old rotting piers, who among us would have bet on the success
of the Chelsea piers? Tom has applied his building skills to the
Lawyers Committee, helping us lay our foundation, brick by brick.
Tom, over twenty-five years, our almost daily conversations have
provided me with sure, steady counsel and constant support. Your
extraordinary commitment, energy and faith make us better and stronger
-- everyday, through thick and thin, you have been my partner and
my friend. I thank you.
In presenting this award I am joined by someone who takes us back
to the beginning of our journey.
HONORING WILLIAM D. ZABEL
Now we turn to our second honoree - an accomplished leader
of the bar, and my dear friend, Bill Zabel.
Bill is, to me, the quintessential public citizen, exemplifying
the best of the legal profession. He has combined excellence in
a very successful private law practice with an unflagging commitment
to protecting the rights of the vulnerable. Bill and I, both sons
of the American Midwest, are lifelong fans of the Chicago Cubs.
As Cub fans, we learned at a very early age to throw in our lot
with the underdog. This fire burns deep in Bill, as does his passion
to use the law to oppose discrimination and to promote justice.
This passion was aroused when, as a young lawyer, he traveled to
Mississippi in the mid-1960’s to support civil rights workers
who were challenging racial bigotry in our own society.
He has kept the fire burning in his work with the Lawyers Committee,
on missions abroad to the former Soviet Union, Chile, and other
places. Following one of these missions Bill arranged a fellowship
at Harvard for a courageous Chilean judge, Carlos Cerda, when he
was threatened by the Pinochet government for investigating disappearances.
Bill is a dedicated supporter of the new International Criminal
Court, established to prosecute those who commit the worst human
rights crimes. His life experience in challenging discrimination
in Mississippi informs his support of our recent work challenging
anti-Semitism in Europe and challenging the erosion of civil liberties
in this country since September 11.
Bill’s style of leadership is the perfect combination of
warmth and patience mixed with resolve and a fierce determination
to prevail. His focus is laser sharp, but his manner is genial.
His judgment is unerring, but he is not judgmental.
Throughout the year Bill lends us his time and resources. He opens
many doors through the invocation of his good name.
Bill, you are, as Aeschylus wrote, “a man who does not boast,
but whose hand sees what must be done.” Your hands support
the Lawyers Committee and other human rights groups, but also the
work of universities like the new school, NYU and Princeton, arts
institutions, and a range of other philanthropic causes. All of
us benefit from your extraordinary engagement in our community.
But it is your generosity of spirit that I appreciate the most.
The constant encouragement you offer those with whom you work on
our staff is the hallmark of your leadership.
Bill, congratulations, and thank you for everything. Someone else
also wanted to shake your hand, before this audience, to help toast
your accomplishments.
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