July 4th Freedom Fest: Celebrate and Defend Our Constitution
Sponsored by multiple area organizations
*The Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation is an additional sponsor to this event.
The first-ever “July 4th Freedom Fest: Celebrate and Defend Our Constitution” will celebrate our rights and freedoms under the U.S. Constitution while providing an entertaining outing in Lawrence on Independence Day.
The July 4th Freedom Fest will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, July 4, at the East Shelter in Centennial Park, a half-block west of Iowa and Ninth streets.
The highlight of the free festival will be a public reading of selected portions of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights by local community members at 11:15 a.m. Amii Castle, a University of Kansas law professor, will act as emcee for the 20-minute program.
“The Constitution provides that we are a democracy and guarantees us certain rights,” said Pat Willer, co-organizer of the July 4th Freedom Fest. “Our democracy, and many of our rights, are under attack. So, we thought on this Fourth of July, let’s speak and hear the words of the Constitution in a family-friendly environment.”
“July 4th Freedom Fest is the result of a broad coalition of community groups and individuals who are concerned about the erosion of our democracy,” Willer added. “With this event, we are joining together to celebrate and defend the rights of our families, friends and all members of our community.”
The Constitution reading will be preceded by a spoken-word performance by Barry Washboard Barnes at 11 a.m. Other entertainment includes “Imagine” and “For What It’s Worth,” performed by Mike Yoder and Terry Moore; storytelling by Priscilla Howe; and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” a singalong led by Ardys Ramberg. Robin Olson will provide ASL/English interpretation.
Kid-friendly activities will be available throughout the festival, including face painting, a bubble station and button making. Onsite food trucks include J.B.’s Tacos and Main St. Scoops and Sweets. An information fair will feature tabling by social justice organizations and political candidates running in the upcoming election for city commission and school board seats across Douglas County.
Sponsors for the July 4th Freedom Fest are Arc of Justice; Lawrence Indivisible; League of Women Voters — Lawrence Douglas County; Douglas County Democrats; Lawrence Branch NAACP; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence; We the People; Women for Kansas; Lawrence Community Nursery School; and Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation. Additional sponsors are welcome.
To join as a sponsor or for more information about the festival or tabling, contact Pat Willer at ppwiller@gmail.com.
