Featuring the National Symphony and hosted by Joshua Malina of the West Wing, the event was a tribute to ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary feats in their fight against extremism and hatred. Last night the ADL honored and remembered the stories of four brave individuals who stood up to hate and said no to extremism:

Ruby Bridges – At the age of 6 Ruby became the first black child to integrate the all-white New Orleans Public School System

Ruth Halimi – After the brutal kidnapping and murder of her son Ilan Ruth became a courageous voice against anti-Semitism in Europe.

Simon Deng – At the age of 9 Simon was kidnapped from his village in southern Sudan and forced into slavery in northern Christian Sudan. Today Simon dedicates his life to fighting the genocide in Sudan.

Vincent Chin - At age 27 Vincent was brutally murdered in Detroit because of his race. The failure of the judicial system to bring his murders to justice was a turning point in the history of the community spurring the Asian community to become more involved in fighting racism.

I highly encourage you to read the stories of these courageous individuals and honor their memories – click here to read more. They are truly inspiring.