THE 2018 DELAWARE BARRISTERS' 

dr. martin luther king, jr. drum major for justice

high school advocacy competition

The Delaware Barristers' Association is proud to announce that our 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice High School Advocacy Competition ("the Competition") is now open for applications from juniors and seniors from Delaware high schools!

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Advocacy Topic

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The DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act is a piece of legislation first introduced to Congress in 2001 that grants a pathway to citizenship to young people who were brought to the United States as children without documentation. A DREAMer is a young person who qualifies for citizenship under the DREAM Act. In 2010, Congress failed to pass the DREAM Act but in 2012, President Obama announced a program allowing Dreamers to come forward, pass a background check, and apply for work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and work legally without fear of deportation. The Trump Administration rescinded the DACA program in September 2017.

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If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive, would he support the Trump Adminstration’s rescission of the the DACA program?

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Please discuss why or why not.

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Basic Requirements:

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• Complete the online application (link to application is here)*

• Submit a 1,000 Word Essay according to requirements in Competition Rules on or before Friday, April 20, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.**

• Participate in an Oratorical Presentation on the Essay Topic on April 28, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) at Fox Rothschild LLP, 919 N. Market Street, Suite 300, Wilmington, DE 19801

 

Competition Rules

 

• Please access the Competition Rules by clicking the PDF icon to the right -  

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Prizes

There will be a 1st Place Prize ($300)***, 2nd Place Prize ($150), and 3rd Place Prize ($50) presented at the Competition. 

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Legend

* - An official high school transcript (sealed) and passport style headshot photograph will need to be brought to the Oratorical Competition on April 28, 2018 

** - Essays must be e-mailed on or before the time and date indicated above to ; If sent via US Mail, essays must be sent to ATTN: Delaware Barristers' Association, P.O. Box 1487, Wilmington, DE 19899, and postmarked by April 20, 2018.  No late submissions will be accepted. 

*** - The first place winner will be eligible to represent the Delaware Barristers' Association at the Regional Competition on May 5, 2018 for another opportunity to win even more scholarship funds!