Skip to main content

Apple’s Tim Cook is now a board member of a human rights group

apple tim cook center for justice and human rights feature
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple CEO Tim Cook is now a member of the board of directors at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

The international organization advocates for a “just and peaceful world” through litigation and education. It was founded by Robert Kennedy’s family and friends in 1968.

Recommended Videos

Cook received the Ripple of Hope award last December from the organization, for his “commitment to sustainable business practices and his lifelong commitment to human rights.” Cook has repeatedly spoken about human rights issues, and has also publicly declared his pride in being gay in an op-ed, hoping to alleviate the fear of coming out for others. He also spoke out about discrimination in the workplace.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“If hearing that the CEO of Apple is gay can help someone struggling to come to terms with who he or she is, or bring comfort to anyone who feels alone, or inspire people to insist on their equality, then it’s worth the trade-off with my own privacy,” Cook said in 2014 op-ed, published in Bloomberg Businessweek.

Other members of the human rights group’s board come from business, finance, academia, entertainment, education, government, and civil society.

“Growing up, I was inspired by Robert Kennedy’s infinite hope for humanity and his belief that people at their core are good, sharing universal goals for themselves and the world in which we live,” Cook said, as reported by the organization. “Robert Kennedy spoke to our highest aspirations, calling Americans from all walks of life to fight for something better. He was and is a hero and role model to me, and I am honored to serve alongside Kerry and the rest of the board to advance his message of justice and equality.”

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
Elon Musk says Tim Cook refused meeting about buying Tesla
Elon Musk.

 

Elon Musk has claimed that he once tried to meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook about the possibility of the tech giant acquiring Tesla -- but that Cook “refused to take the meeting.”

Read more
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks out about racism, calls for change
Tim Cook WWDC 2019

 

Apple CEO Tim Cook has responded to the murder of George Floyd and the protests happening worldwide, calling to create change. 

Read more
Apple CEO Tim Cook addresses how the company has been affected by coronavirus
Tim Cook

 

In an interview posted on Fox Business, Apple CEO Tim Cook has addressed the outbreak of coronavirus, officially called Covid-19, and how it has affected Apple's business for the year.

Read more