Singer Radek Banga to receive František Kriegel Award for civic courage

Romany singer and composer Radek Banga is to receive the František Kriegel Award for civic courage, handed out annually by the Charter 77 Foundation. The popular rapper was selected for his fearless stand against racism and xenophobia in Czech society. He walked out of the Slavik Music Awards gala ceremony last year in protest against the fact that the band Ortel, known for its xenophobic and neo-Nazi lyrics, won second place in its category. He was later showered with insults and threats on the social media. František Kriegel, a Charter 77 signatory, was the only Czechoslovak politician who refused to sign Moscow's humiliating dictate after the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in August of 1968.