STATE BAR HONORS GLENN D. MAGPANTAY WITH 2015 HAYWARD BURNS AWARD

ALBANY, NY (01/30/2015)(readMedia)-- Glenn D. Magpantay is the 2015 recipient of the Haywood Burns Award, given by the Committee on Civil Rights of the New York State Bar Association.

Magpantay, former director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund's Democracy Program, received the award during the State Bar Association's Annual Meeting in New York City on January 29.

"Glenn is a true champion of civil rights," said Diana Sagorika Sen of New York City, chair of the Committee on Civil Rights. "He has enfranchised thousands throughout our nation, giving a voice to those who were previously voiceless."

Magpantay, an attorney, has defended the voting rights of Asian Americans and pressed for bilingual ballots and greater political representation of Asian Americans. He also has worked with law firms to encourage attorneys to help monitor polling sites to guard against anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement.

The Haywood Burns Memorial Award is given to honor the late civil rights lawyer and academic, Dean W. Haywood Burns. From the age of 15 until his untimely death at age 55 while visiting South Africa, the former head of the City University of New York School of Law was active in seeking to expand the civil rights of all people. He was a builder of bridges rather than walls, actively involved in trying to extend connections to diverse groups within the community as a whole.

The award an recognizes individual who has contributed to New York state in a manner that reflects Burns' commitment to the struggle for justice and the qualities that made him an outstanding advocate for civil rights and the empowerment of the powerless.

The New York State Bar Association, with 74,000 members, is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. It was founded in 1876.

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