Laureates of White Crow award for acts of civic courage announced

On Sunday, a pensioner, a Roma and two fighters against Nazism became laureates of the 2019 White Crow award, intended to recognise acts of civic courage in defence of the public interest. Pensioner Mária Sisáková from the eastern Slovak village of Zbudza helped to identify alleged land fraud. Roma Milan Hudák, one of six people beaten in the eastern Slovak town of Moldava nad Bodvou in a controversial police intervention, is a leader in his community, helping to educate and integrate its members. Branislav Tvarožek is one of the last remaining members of the University security guard who fought against Nazi occupants in the Slovak National Uprising in 1944. Tvarožek was dismissed from high school by the Nazis, and later dismissed from university by communist leaders. He was imprisoned during both regimes. Eduard Marek is the oldest Slovak scout who fought against both the Nazi and communist totalitarian regimes. He helped protect Jews prosecuted during WWII and founded an illegal group helping people to flee the country during the era of communist rule.