Honoring Rev. Joseph E. Lowery: Students Enthralled in Debate that Argues Legitimacy of Kneeling to Protest Police Brutality

“This house believes that kneeling is a legitimate form of protest against police brutality.” That was the debate resolution at the 16th Rev. Joseph E. Lowery Lecture Series on Civic Engagement, held Thursday, Oct. 18, at Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School in honor of the 97-year-old Civil Rights living legend.

Hundreds of high school students from across the District were enthralled by arguments in the affirmative from Morehouse Speech and Debate Team as well as arguments in the negative by the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE) Limited. A true highlight of the program, APS students were allotted time to put debate teams in the hot seat, directing comments and posing questions to JADE and Morehouse debaters.

Though Rev. Lowery was unable to attend, his daughters, Karen and Cheryl, were among the honorary guests. Cheryl Lowery, CEO/president of the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights, encouraged eligible students to register and vote in upcoming elections – Rev. Lowery’s 97th birthday wish.