Today President Obama will award Billy Frank Jr. the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest honor that can be given to a civilian in the United States. Around 2 p.m. this afternoon, you can watch the ceremony here:
Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, recently sat down to talk about her thoughts:
To continue to honor the life and legacy of Billy Frank Jr, Salmon Defense is offering a print edition of “Tell the Truth,” a collection of his columns. Proceeds from the book go directly to the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Forever Fund.
The Seattle Times recently published an editorial honoring Frank:
The Mandela-like Frank was a fighter, fiercely committed to saving endangered salmon runs for the Nisqually people, and forcing the question of tribal treaty rights. Frank organized “fish in” protests a half-century ago and was arrested hundreds of times. His efforts culminated in the 1974 Boldt decision, the seminal ruling upholding tribal fishing rights.
