Law Day, U.S.A., 2004

Proclamation 7778 of April 30, 2004

Law Day, U.S.A., 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The theme of this year's Law Day, ``To Win Equality by
Law: Brown v. Board at 50,'' celebrates the 50th
anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in
Brown v. Board of Education.

The Declaration of Independence declared the equality
of each person before God and the responsibility of
Government to secure the rights of all. However, it was
not until ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868
that the equality of all citizens under law was
guaranteed by the Constitution. Still, for decades
afterwards, millions of African-American citizens were
subjected to shameful discrimination, and in many
public school systems, students were segregated by
race. Finally, in the 1954 Brown decision, the Supreme
Court ruled that segregating students in our public
schools violated our Constitution.

Our Nation is grateful for the brave men and women and
boys and girls who challenged segregation and helped
make equal justice under law a reality for all
Americans. We remember Thurgood Marshall, the heroic
lawyer who represented Linda Brown and fought for her
rights and the rights of all African Americans. We
remember the nine justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States who helped America begin to make equal
justice under law a reality for African Americans.

Nearly 50 years after Brown, we appreciate the progress
America has made, but we also recognize that there is
still work to be done to ensure that our country lives
up to the founding principle that all of God's children
are created equal. As we observe this Law Day and
commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of
Education, I encourage all Americans to celebrate the
great distance we have traveled as a Nation and to
continue our work to promote equality and opportunity
for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, in accordance with Public Law
87-20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2004, as
Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all the people of the
United States to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities. I also call upon Government
officials to display the flag of the United States in
support of this national observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand four, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B