Rage for Justice Awards

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Consumer Watchdog hosts the Rage for Justice Awards to honor the heroes and heroines of the public interest movement. The awards are named after Congressman Phillip Burton, one of the most productive and driven progressive legislators in American history. His story is told in John Jacobs’ acclaimed book, A Rage for Justice.

SEE PHOTOS & HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 RAGE FOR JUSTICE AWARDS

Consumer Watchdog Hall of Fame

Michael Finney [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Harvey Rosenfield] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
Annette Ramirez [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by RoseAnn DeMoro] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
RoseAnn DeMoro [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Jane Sanders] (opens in new tab) [Jane Sanders honors RoseAnn DeMoro] (opens in new tab) [tribute from Bernie Sanders] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
Tammy and Tim Smick [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Carmen Balber] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
Bob Pack [Speech, with intro by Jamie Court] (opens in new tab)
Kay McVay [Speech, with intro by Rose Ann DeMoro] (opens in new tab)
Dana Christensen [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Jamie Court] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
Joan Claybrook [speech] (opens in new tab)
Wally Marks, Jr. [speech] (opens in new tab)
Mary Lee
Kathy, Scott and Steven Olsen
Harry Snyder
Strumwasser & Woocher

Jackson Browne performing at the 2017 Rage for Justice Awards

Nalleli Cobo presenting at the 2023 Rage for Justice Awards

Citizen Activist Award

2023 Nalleli Cobo [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Jane Fonda] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2022 Charles Johnson [bio video] (opens in new tab) [introduction by Annette Ramirez] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2019 Alastair Mactaggart [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Jamie Court] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2018 Nacole S. [intro by Ashley Aitken] (opens in new tab) [bio video] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2007 Mike Farrell [intro by Robert Greenwald] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2004 Robert Greenwald
2003 Margery Tabankin

JJ Abrams speaking at the 2013 Rage for Justice Awards

People Speak Media Award

2013 Chris Moore [Intro by JJ Abrams] (opens in new tab) [Bio Video] (opens in new tab) [Speech] (opens in new tab)

Lifetime Legal Achievement Award

2025 Brian Panish [bio video] (opens in new tab) [Nick Rowley honors Brian Panish] (opens in new tab) [intro by Rahul Ravipudi] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2023 Niall McCarthy [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla] (opens in new tab) [intro by Adam McCarthy] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2022 Nick and Courtney Rowley [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Nava & Gary Dordick] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2019 Ricardo Echeverria [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Mike Bidart] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2018 Frank Pitre [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Joe Cotchett] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2017 Christine Spagnoli [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Julie Kane] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2015 Bruce Brusavich [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Harvey Rosenfield] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2013 Mark P. Robinson, Jr. [Speech, with intro by Browne Greene] (opens in new tab)
2011 Joe Cotchett [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by John Burton] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2009 David Casey, Jr. [intro] (opens in new tab)
2008 Mike Bidart [speech] (opens in new tab)
2007 Wylie Aitken
2006 Browne Greene
2004 Bruce Broillet
2003 Herb Hafif [speech part 1] (opens in new tab) [speech part 2] (opens in new tab)
2002 William Shernoff

2019 Rage for Justice Honorees Ricardo Echeverria, Annette Ramirez, and Alastair Mactaggart

Bernie Sanders speaking at the 2017 Rage for Justice Awards

Phillip Burton Public Service Award

2025 CA State Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Nalleli Cobo] (opens in new tab) [Leoda Valenzuela on behalf of Sen. Gonzalez] (opens in new tab)
2022 Tom Morello [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Lisa Ling & Dr. Paul Song] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab) [Tom Morello performs ‘The Ghost of Old Tom Joad’] (opens in new tab)
2017 Bernie & Jane Sanders [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by RoseAnn DeMoro] (opens in new tab) [Jane’s speech] (opens in new tab) [Bernie’s speech] (opens in new tab)
2017 Jackson Browne [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Bruce Broillet] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2015 Al Franken [bio video] (opens in new tab) [intro by Wylie Aitken] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2011 Tom Steyer [bio video] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2009 CA Senator Sheila Kuehl [speech] (opens in new tab)
2009 Dennis Quaid [intro] (opens in new tab) [speech] (opens in new tab)
2008 U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer [speech] (opens in new tab)
2007 Elizabeth Edwards [speech part 1] (opens in new tab) [speech part 2] (opens in new tab)
2006 Rose Ann DeMoro [Intro by Warren Beatty and Speech] (opens in new tab)
2004 Warren Beatty [speech] (opens in new tab)
2003 Betty and Stanley Sheinbaum
2002 Hon. John Burton

Consumer Watchdog Year in Review

Our 2025 Videos: [Jamie Court Introduction] (opens in new tab) [Consumer Watchdog Board Member Ellen Snortland] (opens in new tab) [40th Anniversary Video Part 1] (opens in new tab) [40th Anniversary Video Part 2] (opens in new tab)[Consumer Watchdog 40 years Highlights] (opens in new tab) [Rep. John Garamendi speech] (opens in new tab) [Carmen Balber recognizes Consumer Watchdog Heroes] (opens in new tab)
Our 2023 Videos: [CWD Highlights] (opens in new tab) [The 35th Anniversary of Prop 103] (opens in new tab) [Harvey Rosenfield Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Prop 103] (opens in new tab) [Celebrating California’s New Gasoline Price Gouging Penalty] (opens in new tab)
Our 2022 Videos: [CWD Highlights] (opens in new tab) [Honoring the Heroes of the Fight Against MICRA] (opens in new tab)
Our 2019 Videos: [CWD Highlights] (opens in new tab) [Healthcare Fights Retrospective] (opens in new tab) [Privacy Fights Retrospective] (opens in new tab)
Our 2018 Videos: [CWD Highlights] (opens in new tab) [Prop 103’s 30th Anniversary] (opens in new tab) [Harvey Rosenfield on Prop 103’s 30th] (opens in new tab)
Our 2017 Videos: [Rage Highlights] (opens in new tab) [CWD in Action] (opens in new tab) [CWD Exposes] (opens in new tab) [CWD Humor] (opens in new tab)[Remembering Kathy Olsen] (opens in new tab)
Our 2015 Videos: [A Look Back] (opens in new tab) [Then and Now] (opens in new tab) [Consumer Watchdog : Change] (opens in new tab)
Our 2011 Videos: [2011 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2009 Videos: [2009 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2008 Videos: [2008 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2007 Videos: [2007 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2006 Videos: [2006 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2005 Videos: [2005 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2003 Videos:[2003 Video] (opens in new tab)
Our 2002 Videos: [2002 Video] (opens in new tab)