Connecticut Governor Gets JFK Award For Pro-Refugee Stance
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Connecticut's governor has received the 2016 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his public support of resettling Syrian refugees in the U.S.
Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, presented the award to Dannel P. Malloy at a ceremony Sunday morning in Boston.
Malloy, a Democrat, was named this year's recipient for his vocal support of refugee resettlement. Schlossberg credits Malloy with taking a stand "against the hateful, xenophobic rhetoric" at a time when some governors and presidential candidates sought a ban on Syrian refugees.
"I came to the conclusion that someone had to lead a counter-offensive," Malloy told reporters after the ceremony. "Someone had to remind us who we are and what we are. What our Constitution says. What we all repeat and say we believe, except when we want to exclude someone."
Malloy announced three days after the Paris attacks that Connecticut would continue to accept refugees from Syria.
"I think it's also a teaching experience about how we should honor our values, which are religious freedom," said Malloy. "We should honor our international agreements, which means that we need to take refugees, regardless of what their religion is or where they're from, provided they're properly vetted--and they are."
He said he thought other governors' decisions not to take refugees were more likely based out of ignorance than fear.
Schlossberg says that exemplifies JFK's vision of the United States as a nation that welcomes freedom-loving people who are persecuted or in need.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
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