Fr. McManus said:

“I have the honor of being the Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize, which is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It was founded in 1989 by the late Presbyterian Minister Rev. Dr. Han Min Su.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council is composed of representatives of the nine Major World Religions, and it selects worthy potential Laureates of the World Peace Prizes of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’; ‘World Peace Prize for Labor Leadership’; and ‘World Peace Prize for Solidarity,’ re-named after President Trumka’s death (August 5, 2021) the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.’—www.worldpeaceprizewashington.org

The late, great President Trumka, God rest him, on February 3, 2016, at his AFL-CIO Headquarters, helped us to launch the World Peace Prize throughout American Organized Labor. To do so, he graciously agreed to receive all three World Peace Prizes. He died before he could receive the World Peace Prize for Solidarity, so we posthumously presented it to his family, and then in his honor re-named it the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.’

President Trumka deeply appreciated and enthusiastically supported our linking Organized Labor to the World Peace Prize and that is now an important part of his legacy. View his own 3-minute statement.”—

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZF5S61DVCS7Cuey4YAl3Dn6kA0ztr3C/view

RE-NAMING PRIZE WARMLY WELCOMED

The re-naming of the Prize has been warmly welcomed by the Trumka Family: “We are honored that Rich’s name will live on, always linked with solidarity and peace because the World Peace Prize for Solidarity will be re-named in his honor the ‘Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity.'” (October 9, 2021).

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO, said: “Rich Trumka’s contributions to peace and prosperity around the world were countless. He was a global ambassador for worker rights, economic justice, dignity, and respect for all human beings. I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.” (November 8, 2021).

And, his son, Rich Jr., has stated: “[My father] appreciated that the World Peace Prize saw what so many others missed…that organized labor through solidarity, and the pursuit of justice, forges the path to peace.” (January 5, 2023).

Fr. McManus explained:” In President Trumka’s memory, I now refer to American Organized Labor as “Organized Love of Neighbor” because “Love of Neighbor” means, in effect and consequence, the doing of social justice on this earth.

President Trumka also strongly supported our policy of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our selection of World Peace Prize Laureates.”

International Secretary-Treasurer Jones

Fr. McManus continued: “I was pleased and honored to propose International Secretary-Treasurer Milton Jones for this special World Peace Prize because, like the late beloved President Trumka, he has demonstrated a life-long commitment to the Union, solidarity, social justice, and peace. (See his quote below).

Since I became the Chief Judge, we have made social justice the heart and soul of peace, and of the World Peace Prize.

Why does a World Religion group make social justice so central?

• Because, as the American Protestant Old Testament Scholar, Rev.Walter Brueggemannhas stated: ‘In Biblical faith, the doing of justice is the primary expectation of God.’

• Because Islamic scholar Ajmal Masroor states: ‘Standing firm for justice is considered closest to Godliness. In other words, my religious and social responsibility is to work for just causes.’

• Because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that peace is the fruit of justice; and Saint Pope John Paul II taught us, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’

• Because the Catholic Church teaches: ‘… Action on behalf of justice [is] a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel…and [a constitutive dimension] of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.’

• And because Jesus Himself declared, ‘In so far as you did it to least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’ 

That is why we were able to place American Organized Labor in the category of those who should be considered worthy recipients of the World Peace Prize—because Labor leaders who spend their lives fighting for social and economic justice for working women and men are also building peace locally, nationally, and worldwide.

And, the wonderful thing about placing social justice at the heart and center of peace is this: People of faith believe that faith must be the faith that does justice on this earth (otherwise, it is not faith). And people of no faith, but of goodwill, also know they have to do justice (otherwise, they are not of goodwill),” Fr. McManus concluded.

International Secretary-Treasurer Jones’ Acceptance quote

“It’s an honor to receive the Richard L. Trumka World Peace Prize for Solidarity, and I am pleased to accept on behalf of all the hard-working members of the UFCW family.

We understand and acknowledge the importance of this prize to both President Trumka’s family and his legacy.

President Trumka helped to launch the World Peace Prize throughout American organized labor, and he dedicated his life to the qualities this prize represents – solidarity and equality. I know the UFCW and all of our members will do all we can to continue to advance these qualities throughout the labor movement.”

END.