Last week we learned that Tim Cook was set to receive the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights 2015 Ripple of Hope award, and last night the Apple CEO delivered his acceptance speech during the scheduled award ceremony. The RFK Center hasn’t yet posted video of last night’s event, but Bloomberg has shared excerpts of what it reports was a 12 minute speech across of a variety of political and social issues.
Naturally, Cook delivered his worldview on issues that he’s come to champion during his tenure as CEO of Apple, including voicing frustration over how some have responded to the Syrian refugee crisis, which Apple has raised money to aid through donations and a charity song.
“Today, some in our country would turn away innocent men, women and children seeking refuge,” Cook said, “regardless of how many background checks they may submit to, simply based on where they were born. Victims of war and now victims of fear and misunderstanding.”
Cook also cited the state of education in America, which Apple has made efforts to improve through technology in partnership with the government:
“Today, too many children are denied access to quality education simply because of the zip code they live in. They begin their lives facing strong headwinds and disadvantage they did nothing to deserve. We could do better, Robert Kennedy would say, and because we can do better, we must act.”
Finally, the Apple CEO continued championing marriage equality and LGBT protections in the US. Cook notably became the first leader of a major company to acknowledge being gay in a public essay published last year.
“Today, more than half of the states in this country still don’t offer basic protections to gay or transgender people, leaving millions of people vulnerable to being fired or evicted because of who they are or who they love,” Cook said.
Cook has also publicly called on Congress to pass legislation that protects LGBT workers across the US, mirroring Apple’s own policies, on numerous occasions. Apple under Cook’s leadership has publicly backed such legislation, while denouncing controversial legislation around the country.
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and Ethel Kennedy attend as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook (L) and Ethel Kennedy attend as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks onstage as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook poses with a guest as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook attends as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
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- NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook attends as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights hosts The 2015 Ripple Of Hope Awards honoring Congressman John Lewis, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Evercore Co-founder Roger Altman, and UNESCO Ambassador Marianna Vardinoyannis at New York Hilton on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for RFK Human Rights)
We’ll update with video from the event as soon as it’s available.
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That’s great Tim, so glad that you have so much spare time on your hands. Now, get back to work and get Apple to come out with some new and better products and fix the problems that Apple has that need to get fixed. I wondering what are Tim Cook’s priorities and whether or not he’s earning his money.
Yes some smart people would turn away terroists. Did anyone take american refugees during the civil war? I want to know where these kids live that are denied education. And don’t gays have enough rights what more do they want. Why does Tim Cook have the worst smile its so smug its disgusting.
Lol. Lol. LOL. LOL. And maybe the only thing you’re right about, it’s not the best smile in the world. Smug, though? Nah
Sorry Tim if you want to be a politician go run for congress and let someone else run Apple.
Mr. Cook please leave politics to politicians and spend more time thinking about Apple future, some of it’s latest design decisions are questionable…
It is always easy to be clever when you live thousands miles away from conflict zones and you are not flooded by immigrants.
I get a kick out of people like Mr Cook that support bringing muslims here to the USA that if they got their way would kill all the LGBT people, is that kind of strange. Its like asking a serial killer in to your house to live when you know he is the killer, I just don’t understand! Can anyone help me understand that one?
I knew exactly what the comments would be before I opened this in a new tab, and almost word for word too.
I could care less what Tim has to say about anything but keeping the company he runs on the rail. Whoo made him a spokesman for social causes? All this while Apple suffers embarrassment after embarrassment. Ne battery pack , TV , Watch, I-Pro . As he sells his AAPL at the highest price in the last 6 months.
I wonder what percentage of Apple’s employees are made up of refugees. I bet not a single one. And even if they were to be employable, I also bet their skillsets won’t bring them enough wages to even contemplate the purchase of a single Apple product. This seems to be a problem that you, Mr. Cook, can actually address instead of pontificating your utopian vision down on those of us who actually support the privileged position you are fortunate enough to find yourself.
Steve Job’s dad was a Syrian refugee.
That’s ridiculous. He was the son of a millionaire, and of Syrian descent. Look up the definition of “refugee.”
You are correct that Abdul Fattah Jandali is not technically classified as a Syrian refugee, but a Syrian migrant. Regardless, that fact doesn’t lessen the xenophobic. ignorant bigotry of your post.
So you are wrong. Thrice. Noted.
A few examples exposing why your comment as bigoted, ignorant, and xenophobic: Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, Sigmund Freud, Henry Kissinger, and artist M.I.A. All are refugees.
It’s because of people like this bpbatch buffoon that people like me (and most decent human beings) stay away from the bottom feeding cesspool that is opinion forums, especially when they’re infested by right-wing idiots. Which means I too need to depart from my brief visit to this online slum. Later losers.
Very good. But to your underlying point, quote where I said, “this country should never, under any circumstance, ever accept a refugee.” You can’t. You’re just mad that I pointed out your foolish comment as false. Facts matter, dude. I’m surprised you didn”t call me “homophobic” because I disagreed with Cook. You should be embarassed with yourself with your responses, Meni… I would be.
The comments are sad but predicable. There are plenty of Muslim people who don’t share the conservative, radical views of those who would kill us. The same can be said for Christians, Jews, Hindus, and atheists. Additionally, if we left politics for only the politicians, we’d miss out of many champions of the people, of progress, of the future. Go support another tech company if you don’t agree with Mr Cook’s views, if you can find one…
Don’t bully. There’s no need to “go support another tech company” when we can have the freedom to disagree with a political figure. Would you be pleased if I suggested you go,live in another country if you don’t like being around people who don’t hold your exact same opinion?
Gotta love how a person who’s incredibly qualified for life in general doesn’t get to be a spokesperson but all the racist pond scum do. :)
That is one hideous look sculpture. It looks like Bobby Kennedy and The Thing from Fantastic Four had a love child.