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03.26.08
Student Honored for Protection of Civil Liberties
Cleveland Youth Leader Wins National Award
for Commitment to Justice
 CLEVELAND- The American Civil Liberties Union has named Shaw High
School student Jonathan Lykes as a winner of the 2008 Youth Activist
Scholarship contest. The award honors 15 students across the country who
have protected the civil liberties of others, particularly the rights of
other youth.
Lykes said, “I always use the quote from Martin Luther King Jr.,
‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ I wanted to
start my efforts with the future of this country—youth… I will continue
to fight for justice for all people until I am dead. There is no greater
calling to live for.”
Jonathan is committed to educational equality, voters’ rights and
increased opportunities for all students, regardless of their
socio-economic background. Jonathan helped found a statewide action
group that promotes student political activism, Youth Voices for
Justice, and has traveled across Ohio educating young people and
lawmakers alike on complex issues ranging from increasing the minimum
wage to educational equality.
Additionally, Jonathan helped the ACLU of Ohio launch their Student Poll
Worker Initiative. He worked with ACLU staff and the media to share his
experience as a student poll worker and to urge other students to join
in. Jonathan’s participation in the initiative was critical in working
with county Boards of Elections to do a better job of getting young
people involved in the election process.
Jonathan is also a talented spoken word artist, whose many poems
celebrate civil liberties, inspiring his peers to take a more critical
look at their own rights.
“Jonathan is a wonderful example of a young person who is committed to
making his community a better place,” said ACLU of Ohio Executive
Director Christine Link. “He has inspired countless young people to be
involved and to care about issues that truly matter. It is people like
Jonathon that will help bring justice and equality to a new generation.”
Each winner receives a $5,000 college scholarship in recognition of
their outstanding contributions. The ACLU began the Youth Activist
Scholarship contest in 2000.
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