Harvey Burg. Courtesy of ADL.

The evening of Dec. 6, ADL Austin will present Harvey Burg with ADL Austin’s Lifetime Achievement Award as part of ADL’s Virtual Concert Against Hate. The community is invited to hear how Burg dedicated his life to civil rights and to justice and fair treatment for all.

In addition, that evening, ADL Austin will participate in ADL’s national Concert Against Hate. The Honorable Rudy Metayer and Robyn Sperling are co-chairing Austin’s portion of this event. As part of Austin’s own pre-reception, which begins at 6:30 p.m., Burg will receive his honor.  

The Honorable Rudy Metayer. Photo courtesy of ADL.

Robyn Sperling. Photo courtesy of ADL.

Robyn Sperling explained, “Harvey Burg’s story is incredible. Every time I spend time with him, I learn more about his participation in the Civil Rights movement, from being a marshal at the Walk on Washington to working with John Lewis to having the first integrated law firm in Alabama in 1960s and the cases he worked on during that time. I am excited that the Austin community will have the opportunity to get to know Harvey’s incredible contribution the evening of Dec. 6.”

After Austin’s pre-reception, participants will join ADL supporters from across the country and around the world to share a night of music and inspiration celebrating real-life heroes in the fight against injustice, extremism and hate of all kinds. This first virtual ADL In Concert Against Hate continues a 25-year tradition of lifting up ordinary people who performed extraordinary acts of courage and compassion when confronted with hatred and bigotry.

Oct. 18, ADL Austin will be finishing up its first ever Walk Against Hate. Zoe Bernbaum and Iser Cukierman are serving as co-chairs of the walk. 

Zoe Bernbaum and Iser Cukierman. Photos courtesy of ADL.

Bernbaum explained, “This is a way our community can stand up against hate, especially with the environment we all find ourselves in now.” 

The Walk Against Hate will engage groups and individuals from around Central Texas and promote positive ways to embrace differences. In Austin, teams and individuals will set their own walking goals, and complete them by Oct. 18. ADL Austin is putting together some guided walks of historic places in and around the area that would allow participants to look at Austin’s history through different identities. 

“We know this will be a great family activity to learn more about Austin while standing up against hate,” explained Cukierman. ■