[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 25287-25288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10368]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 5, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 25287]]


                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.

[[Page 25288]]

                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

[FR Doc. 04-10368
Filed 5-4-04; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P