Florida-based civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Jamaican singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur Rita Marley will be honored at the 41st International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) next month.
The event will be held Friday, March 22, 2024, at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Freedom Fighter Award
Ben Crump, a Florida-based attorney and former president of the National Bar Association, known for his advocacy on behalf of the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, is set to be honored with the Freedom Fighter Award at this year’s IRAWMA presentation.
His significant victories in securing multimillion-dollar settlements in cases of police brutality have spurred efforts to ban no-knock warrants in cities across the country. Addressing a congressional committee, Crump emphasized the urgent need for reform, citing the glaring disparities between the justice systems for white Americans and Black Americans. Notably, Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson of the Rainbow Push Coalition was a previous recipient of the Freedom Fighter Award in 2019.
Read more:
- Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump Represents Families of 2 Teens Fatally Shot in Florida
- Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Hired by Family of Body-slammed Teen
Philanthropist Award
Dr. Rita Marley will be honored with the Philanthropist Award at the event.
Rita Marley, the widow of legendary musician Bob Marley, has been actively involved in philanthropy throughout her life. One of her most notable endeavors is the establishment of the Rita Marley Foundation (RMF), which focuses on various charitable initiatives in Jamaica and beyond. The foundation is dedicated to the advancement of education, health care, and poverty alleviation, particularly in underserved communities.
One of the key projects of the Rita Marley Foundation is the “Lioness of Lebanon” initiative, which supports education and empowerment programs for girls and young women in Lebanon. The foundation also runs the “Lioness on the Rise” program in Jamaica, which provides scholarships, mentorship, and support to young women pursuing higher education.
Additionally, Rita Marley has been involved in numerous charitable events and fundraising efforts to support causes related to health care, music education, and cultural preservation.
From our archives: Spotlight on Rita Marley at 2019 IRAWMA Awards
Dr. Ephraim Martin, President and Producer of IRAWMA, said “Some 15 special honors and 40 nominated categories will be awarded. This is our eighth hosting of IRAWMA in South Florida, we have for over forty consecutive years, served as the only organization, honoring the best of reggae and world music’s best throughout the globe. We intend to uphold the integrity of IRAWMA by giving honors only where honors are due without compromise.”
