[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 19 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Pages 720-721]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7778--Law Day, U.S.A., 2004

 April 30, 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.

[[Page 721]]

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.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 4, 2004]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 5. 
This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate 
issue.