John F. Kennedy Profile In Courage Award Goes To ‘The People Of The Twin Cities’ And Jerome Powell

Source: The Hill, Sarah Davis
Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

This year’s John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is a tie between “the people of the Twin Cities, Minnesota” and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The prestigious annual honor has been awarded since 1989 by the Kennedy family to celebrate people demonstrating “political courage.” A bipartisan panel reviews the nominations and selects winners each year.

The announcement on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum website commended the Fed chair for withstanding “years of personal attacks and threats from the highest levels of government.”

Although the website does not name President Trump, the president and Powell have repeatedly clashed during his tenure leading the central bank. Trump has nominated former Fed board member Kevin Warsh to replace Powell.

“Over multiple years, he faced repeated attacks from elected officials, partisan criticism from both sides of the aisle, and an investigation threatening criminal charges, yet he refused to let political forces dictate monetary policy,” the award committee wrote about the Fed chair’s leadership.

Trump appointed Powell to the role in 2018, but he has grown increasingly critical of the Fed chair’s decision to not lower interest rates as frequently or substantially as preferred by Trump during his second term in the White House.

“Powell stood firmly in executing the Federal Reserve’s responsibilities, defended the institution’s integrity, and publicly affirmed his resolve to serve the American people with principle and independence,” the award committee wrote. “In doing so, he safeguarded one of the country’s most essential apolitical institutions and demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of sustained personal and professional risk.”

The committee also recognized Minnesota residents who protested the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the state earlier this year. The Department of Homeland Security came under heavy scrutiny after federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

“The people of the Twin Cities responded with extraordinary courage and resolve,” the committee wrote. “Tens of thousands took to the streets to peacefully protest federal overreach and threats to immigrant families and constitutional protections, while others documented enforcement activity and alerted neighbors to federal agents’ presence.”

Previous recipients include former Vice President Mike Pence, former President Obama, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), “COVID Courage” and the leaders of South Korea and Japan.

John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg, will host the award ceremony at the end of May. Schlossberg is a Democratic candidate to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) in New York’s 12th Congressional District.

https://thehill.com/homenews/5792730-kennedy-profile-courage-powell-twin-cities