Norman Siegel has been one of the formost civil rights lawyers in America for 40 years, starting with the American Civil Liberties Union's Southern Justice & Voter Law Project in 1968. More recently he was executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. His resume of fighting for American freedoms is impressive.
Throughout that 40 years, Norm Siegel has read the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, its Amendments with an emphasis on the Bill of Rights on July 4th, usually in public parks. This year he will be at Central Park's Strawberry Fields along with NYS Senators Bill Perkins and Eric Adams, Reverend Billy, the Granny Peace Brigade and Grandmothers Against the War. Come celebrate America and America's freedom with one of the modern champions of those freedoms. Details below.
From Norm Siegel's website:
NORMAN TO HOST ANNUAL JULY 4th CELEBRATION IN CENTRAL PARK
NYS Senators Bill Perkins and Eric Adams, Reverend Billy, the Granny Peace Brigade and Grandmothers Against the War to join in public reading of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights at 12 Noon, Strawberry Fields, Central Park.
Come join Norman and friends for this annual July 4th celebration of the anniversary of US Independence and the birth of our civil rights and civil liberties. In addition to the actual text of these historic documents, Norman invites everyone to add their comments and observations to the mix. In years past, this has provided a spirited and memorable way to kick-off the July 4th festivities. Come join us and start your Fourth of July with Norman, Eric Adams, Bill Perkins, the incomparable Reverend Billy, New York’s famous peace-loving grannies and your New York neighbors.
Norman writes a column called "Civil liberties and U" for a group of WestchesterWeekly newspapers. Read his latest column: Fourth of July Message from Norman.
An excerpt from Norm Siegel's July 4th message:
Two hundred thirty two years ago, 55 men from 13 Colonies signed our "Declaration of Independence" and so began our United States of America. I consider the 4th of July to be the most important American holiday because it celebrates the principles upon which our nation was founded.
The Declaration begins with the explanation that "When in the Course of human Events...", it becomes necessary for people to separate themselves from despots and declare their independence and freedom, it is necessary to set forth the reasons why they are compelled to take such action. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Those immortal words begin the second paragraph of the Declaration. Equality, Unalienable Rights such as Life , Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness thus became our nation's raison d'etre...
Today, as we approach our 232nd birthday, it is important for all Americans to reflect on our heritage and to appreciate our constitutional system. Although they have some serious flaws, these documents collectively set forth wonderful and fundamental principles and values that our nation needs to adhere to more consistently. My mentor, Charles Morgan, Jr., a superb civil rights lawyer from Alabama, and a great American said in a speech " the Constitutional System–we should try it sometime." Morgan's theme was that if we only adhered to the principles and values in our constitutional system, our nation would be much better. He believed that no matter what problem arose, these American landmarks provided the guidelines for resolving them as a nation. Morgan was correct...
Happy 4th of July. Happy Independence.