The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during its 5th annual Criminal Justice Seminar on June 16 awarded Volkswagen attorney Wade Hinton the 2nd annual Thurgood Marshall Freedom of Justice Advocate of the Year award. The organization chose based its choice of Hinton as the recipient of the award on his work in civil rights and his committement to volunteer work in the community, calling him “one of Chattanooga’s most worthy freedom fighters.” Humbled, Hinton said, “The NAACP does a lot of good work. If it weren’t for groups like it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I’ve had as a person of color. There are a lot of folks out there, including women, who have had groups fighting on their behalf for a long time, so I don’t take it lightly when a group like the NAACP, with its history and legacy, recognizes me.” (Photo by David Laprad)