Transforming lives with Good News in the Nation’s Capital

Press Release: NBA Player Receives Freedom Award at F&L Ministry Center

Feb 18, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom was presented the 2022 Freedom Award from the Captives Nation Coalition of the Committee on the Present Danger: China (CPDC) at Faith & Liberty’s Ministry Center last night.
 

Freedom, who formally adopted that last name after becoming a U.S. citizen in November, received the award for his bold stand against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His continued public stance against China’s ongoing human rights abuses has likely cost him his athletic career. Freedom previously played for the Boston Celtics and was recently waived by the Houston Rockets, leaving him without a team.

Freedom, who also has been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, is the first recipient of the Freedom Award. Last night, an international crowd of advocates as well as survivors filled the Ministry Center to watch Freedom receive the award.
 

 
Freedom said, “I cannot call myself a hero, when we have these heroes in front of me. You can talk about all the social justice, all the injustices that are happening around the world, but when it comes to China, you cannot speak up, because if you do, then you have to face the consequences.”

Two Chinese women were also honored and received the "Speak Truth to Power" award at the event for their heroism in speaking out publicly against the CCP. Zhang Zhan, a Christian, was recently sentenced to four years in prison by the CCP for posting unfiltered videos of scenes in Wuhan Province at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Peng Shuai, a tennis star, posted online that she was sexually assaulted by a CCP operative and since has been forced to retire from professional tennis.
 

 
The CPDC’s Captive Nations Coalition was established in August 2020 to advocate on behalf of and to stand with the nations suffering under the occupation of the CCP. Since its formation, the Captive Nations Coalition has been among those on the forefront of advocating for the freedom of nations, namely Southern Mongolia, Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, and China, as well as the Belt-and-Road Initiative nations, addressing the threats posed by the CCP.

Faith & Liberty is America’s premier Christian outreach to top-level government officials in Washington, D.C. Faith & Liberty accomplishes its mission through building personal relationships with individuals serving in government, distributing Scripture and informative materials, and staging special events and Bible studies.

 

Thank you for partnering with Faith & Liberty

Your generous support forms the backbone of this gospel outreach in our nation's capital. Because of you, we are able to bring the Word of God to bear on the hearts and minds of those that make public policy in America. Click here to give.

 

TAKE ACTION