WASHINGTON — In one of his last official acts as president, Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, including a posthumous award to civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer, who died in 1977. The Delta native is the 11th Mississippian to receive the honor since 1964.

President Biden celebrated 19 recipients, with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Controversial Open Society Foundations founder George Soros and 18 others are recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Joe Biden announced Saturday.

President Biden named former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, actor Denzel Washington, billionaire George Soros and Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2, four of 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday.

Magic Johnson and Lionel Messi are among 19 people receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, the White House announced Saturday, the morning of the awards. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States’ highest civilian honor.

Denzel Washington joined 17 other honorees in receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House over the weekend.

President Biden awarded the Medal of Freedom to Black luminaries, Denzel Washington, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Fannie Lou Hamer.

While Denzel Washington, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the late Fannie Lou Hamer may all be legends in their own respective industries, the trio were among the recipients for the same very special honor recently.