Dialogues
Law Day Contest Winners
Law Day Displays
Law Week Co-chair Greg Moore of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; the Hon. Elaine Palmer of the 215th District Court; and Scott Bernstein, a law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, with students at Bellaire High School during one of 10 “Dialogues on Freedom” the HBA conducted as part of its Law Day education programming, reaching 828 high school students this fall.
The HBA recognized the winners of its Law Week Poster, Essay and Photography Contests at the Houston Young Lawyers Association/Houston Young Lawyers Foundation Law Day Luncheon on May 10. First place winners are pictured here with some of the contest sponsors. From left: Mike Peyton of 3b Studio, Inc. and Blake Pratz of Icon Wealth Partners, LLC; Adyasha Pradhan, K-2nd grade poster; Heba Badat, 3rd-5th grade poster; Mateo Oviedo-Cardona, 6th-8th grade poster; Rolando Vera, 9-12th grade photo; Kala Pham, 9-12th grade essay winner; and Brando Palazzo from Icon Wealth Partners, LLC. Thanks also to sponsor Stratos Legal.
Posters from the HBA Law Week Contest were displayed at various locations downtown in April and May. Posters shown here were displayed at the Harris County Law Library.
First Place: Houston Bar Association Law Day Essay Contest:
“Steps”
By Kala Pham, DeBakey High School for Health Professions
W
e raised our signs above our heads. Arm in arm, we stood strong as we walked towards City Hall step by step. March 24, 2018 - The March for Our Lives. In both an abstract and physical sense, this was the march for our lives. Protesting against gun violence and advocating for a safer school system, students spoke in public and to the press about their goal to promote stronger gun violence prevention measures. We spoke to protect our lives. This day mirrored a day nearly 49 years ago when the freedom of speech and freedom of the press were demonstrated citywide and nationwide. In 1965 as a protest against the Vietnam War, about ten students in Des Moines wore black armbands to mourn the deaths of those in the war. Five students were suspended. Three took the case to court. On February 24, 1969, the Supreme Court ruled that students possess fundamental rights which States must respect. Tinker v. Des Moines established a precedent leading to student empowerment and social justice. Armed with the freedom of speech and freedom of the press, students are unafraid to advocate for stricter gun regulations. The courage—the ability—to speak out extends not only to students. Women fearlessly protect each other in Time’s Up and Me Too. Cultures unite in Blacks Lives Matter and Muslim Ban. Today’s society comes together in sustained activism and urges for the public consciousness to take a stand. The freedom of speech enables students, women, and those op-
pressed to find their voice, to share their stories, and to change the future. The freedom of the press provides the breadth and coverage necessary to enact action and push for improved policy. These freedoms are a podium—a microphone that gives individuals a chance to speak who never before could. Arguably, more important than fortifying those oppressed with a microphone, the freedom of speech and press strengthen those around the world. Knowing there are individuals who share their ideas and are taking action, thousands around the world find support and work to improve their own situations. Freedom propels a movement, a current of activism. It is the ultimate peak of triumph as we as society speed towards progress and moral righteousness. The freedom to express opinions and the freedom to spread those opinions through effective media outlets is one that has become a right throughout time. Without these two freedoms, today’s society fails to be anything more than stagnant. The freedom to speak and communicate guarantees evolution. We walked back towards our school, feelings of satisfaction and humility heavily saturated the air. Engraved in our minds is the image of Emma Gonzalez speaking on the steps of City Hall. We too took a step today. We take steps every day. We step into our school with the intent to learn and protect ourselves and those around us. We use our sacred freedom of speech and freedom of the press to amplify our voices. We are the generation of change. thehoustonlawyer.com
May/June 2019
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