Minoru Yasui to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Human and civil rights leader will receive the award posthumously at a White House ceremony on Tuesday.



On Tuesday, President Obama will present seventeen individuals, included civil and human rights leader Minoru Yasui, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Min Yasui Wins Presidential Medal of Freedom

Yasui is best known for his legal case challenging the racial discrimination of military orders that resulted in the incarceration of Japanese-Americans in U.S. concentration camps during World War II. After the war and throughout his life, he fought for the human and civil rights of all people. He died in 1986.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals who have made "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." This year's recipients also include public servants, artists and activists.

Here's more about Minoru Yasui, from the White House's announcement:

Daniel Inouye to be awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

This week, President Obama named sixteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the sixteen individuals bestowed with the Presidential Medal this year, including Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Loretta Lynn, the late Senator Daniel Inouye will be presented with the honor posthumously.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who "have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Executive Order signed by President John F. Kennedy establishing the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The awards will be presented at the White House later this year. Here's the full list of this year's recipients: