Quote:

---

A Wisconsin teacher refused to accept an award from Rep. Paul Ryan during a ceremony last week, saying he couldn't do so "in good conscience" because of the Republican congressman's politics.

Al Levie, a high school social studies teacher in Racine, Wis., was one of three recipients of a Martin Luther King Jr. humanitarian award during a celebration honoring the late civil rights leader. Ryan, who represents the district, was on hand to present his OWN congressional recognitions to each award winner, the Kenosha News reported:

After Ryan spoke, Levie criticized the congressman’s policies before being walked off the stage.

In a video of the ceremony, Ryan is seen stepping from behind the podium to hand the award to Levie, who backs away and instead turns to speak to the audience. He said, "I can't in good conscience accept this award, as a humanitarian, Paul Ryan stands for everything I don't believe in."

Levie appeared on the video afterward to explain his protest.

"I would not accept the award from Paul Ryan because Paul Ryan is a lackey for the 1 percent," he said. "Paul Ryan had no business at a Martin Luther King event, it's totally hypocritical. On the one hand he votes to slash health care, while on the other hand, King dedicated his life and he died for it, for people to have adequate healthcare, to have adequate jobs."

"King made it very clear that he was on the side of working people," he continued. "Ryan on the other hand, he has absolutely no affinity for the working class and for him to come to an event where somebody of King's stature was honored is wrong." http://news.yahoo.com/wis-teacher-refuses-award-paul-ryan-during-mlk-1
70813376.html

---