Walesa Won’t Come to L.A.
WARSAW — Solidarity founder Lech Walesa said today he will not fly to Los Angeles to pick up a human rights award because Polish authorities refuse to guarantee him the right to return home to his wife and family in Gdansk.
“I must stay in the country in the name of the responsibility,” Walesa said in reference to his scheduled departure Thursday for the Integrity Award, given him by the Santa Monica-based John Roger Foundation for his defense of human rights. Previous winners include South African Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
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