Around a dozen protesters were removed from a Georgetown ceremony at the Kennedy Center on Monday afternoon after interrupting the proceedings for several minutes in a demonstration against a recipient of a university award.

The demonstrators interrupted University President John J. DeGioia as he introduced Ethiopian first lady Azeb Mesfin, one of three dignitaries honored with Georgetown’s John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award. The demonstrators objected to what they considered human rights violations by Mesfin’s husband, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The Legacy of a Dream Award, given annually by Georgetown on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, was also presented to Jeannette Kagame and Maureen Mwanawasa, the first ladies of Rwanda and Zambia, on behalf of their work for the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS.

DeGioia paused for several minutes amid the shouts of the protesters, unable to begin his speech above the uproar, then elevated his voice in an attempt to quiet the crowd.

“In the spirit in which this evening is being conducted — please,” DeGioia said.

He continued his remarks after several protesters were removed, but security personnel continued to remove boisterous attendees for several minutes as his speech proceeded.

Earlier in his comments, DeGioia praised Mesfin and her group as exemplars of King’s character.

“Tonight we honor an organization that embodies the spirit of Dr. King and the grace in which he lived,” DeGioia said.

Many of the protesters held up posters depicting violent images from Ethiopia. Fliers distributed to attendees seated in the balcony encouraged them to “expos[e] the crimes committed by the regime in Ethiopia,” Kaffa Ayalew, chair of the Va.-based Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy, said in an e-mail.

Ayalew said that the protesters were Ethiopian-Americans and Ethiopians, primarily from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, representing numerous civic and political action groups.

Ayalew said that civil rights have broken down in Ethiopia in recent years. He added that Ethiopia lags behind most nations in development, poverty prevention and gender equality.

“Civic society representatives, university students and journalists are currently facing trial for treason and genocide for demanding democratic changes and simply attempting to voice their concern,” he said. “Georgetown University’s outrageous recognition … defames the name and legacy of Dr. King by honoring representatives to regimes that are responsible for enormous misery to over 70 million people in Ethiopia alone.”

University spokesperson Julie Bataille said that Mesfin and the group were worthy honorees of the award because of their efforts in combating HIV/AIDS in Africa.

“This year, building upon Georgetown’s role convening several conferences on HIV/AIDS, it was fitting that an organization who works tirelessly in Africa to address this crisis was recognized for its ongoing humanitarian efforts,” Bataille said.

Nominees for the award were selected by members of the university community and outside groups, Bataille said. The final recipients were selected by a small committee in collaboration with DeGioia and former Georgetown basketball Head Coach John Thompson Jr., for whom the award is named, based on their efforts to “further social justice.”

Asari Aniagolu (COL ’07), president of the African Society of Georgetown, said that her organization is proud that the university honored the group of first ladies, including Mesfin.

“The African Society is overjoyed to congratulate these remarkable women for their vision and compassion,” Aniagolu said. “In the true spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, the organization transcends national boundaries in a collective campaign against such a devastating pandemic.”

The ceremony proceeded as planned after the disruption. Each of the three honorees spoke about her plans for the future of the organization.

Mwanawasa, the organization’s chair, pledged to continue the group’s efforts to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in Africa.

“The situation in Africa has to change. It will change. It is changing,” she said. “We decided to move beyond compassion to action.”

The event also featured a speech by D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, as well as musical performances from Vanessa Williams, Brian McKnight and contemporary violinist group Nuttin’ But Stringz, among others.