The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday it is awarding former South Georgia Mayor Paul Bridges a JFK Profile in Courage Award for fighting the state’s sweeping immigration enforcement law in court.
Bridges, the former mayor of the small, rural town of Uvalda in Montgomery County, served as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Georgia’s Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011.
A Republican, Bridges argued he could face prosecution in connection with the law for transporting immigrants without legal status to churches and doctor appointments, as he had done in the past. He also argued the law could split up immigrant families and damage his town’s agriculture-based economy.
Federal courts ultimately struck down parts of the law and upheld others, including a provision giving police the option to check the immigration status of certain suspects.
The foundation also has announced it is giving the same award to former President George H.W. Bush for the political courage he demonstrated in agreeing to a 1990 budget compromise that reversed his campaign pledge not to raise taxes.
The awards are to be presented to Bush and Bridges at a May 4 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
Bridges, 61, said he was shocked by the recognition.
“I’m just so very honored and humbled,” said Bridges, who did not seek re-election when his mayoral term ended last year. “I only speak the truth on the immigration issues. It doesn’t take courage to speak the truth.”
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