Law Day

[Doug Henwood]

[Not only is it Loyalty Day, it's Law Day!]

                               THE WHITE HOUSE
                        Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                           April 28, 2000



                            LAW DAY, U.S.A., 2000

                               -  - - - - - -

              BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                               A PROCLAMATION


The freedom of America's citizens is sustained by American law. In 
crafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, our Nation's 
founders wisely understood that liberty and law are equally important 
to ensuring human rights and preserving human dignity. Law without 
freedom becomes tyranny; freedom without law becomes chaos.

The theme of this year's Law Day observance, "Speak up for Democracy 
and Diversity," reminds us of the vital role that the law and 
America's legal community have played in protecting our freedoms and 
extending them to an ever-widening circle of Americans. Many signal 
victories for civil rights have been won in the courts by men and 
women of conscience whose commitment to the Constitution and the rule 
of law compelled them to speak out against bigotry and 
discrimination. Many Americans have found champions among the legal 
profession to defend their rights and to uphold our Nation's promise 
of equality and justice for all. From the War for Independence to the 
War Between the States, from emancipation in the 19th century to 
women's suffrage and the civil rights movement in the 20th century, 
courageous Americans have risen to the challenge of improving upon 
our laws and extending their protections to all of our citizens.

Today, thanks in large measure to the efforts of our Nation's legal 
community, people of all backgrounds, races, and religions are 
working, living, and learning side by side. The doors of opportunity 
are open wider than ever. But despite the advances we have made, we 
still see in our society stubborn obstacles to true freedom and 
justice --- obstacles such as poverty, unemployment, and lingering 
discrimination. That is why I have called America's legal community 
to action once again to lead the fight for equal justice under law. 
Whether promoting racial diversity in our judicial system and the 
legal profession, using their knowledge of the law to help 
underserved communities increase homeownership and entrepreneurship, 
or providing skilled representation to low-income Americans to ensure 
the protection of their rights, our Nation's lawyers can make 
important and lasting differences in preserving justice and promoting 
freedom and equality.

I encourage all Americans to observe Law Day by reflecting on the 
impact that our Nation's laws have had upon the quality of our lives 
and the strength of our democracy. From the promise of a more perfect 
union prescribed in the Preamble to the Constitution to the daily 
rulings of our modern-day justice system, our Nation's system of laws 
has made real our founders' vision and sustained their fundamental 
values. As we continue to work for a more just society for all, let 
us celebrate our legal heritage and reaffirm our reverence for the 
rule of law, which has safeguarded our liberty and preserved our 
democracy for more than 200 years.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States 
of America, in accordance with Public Law 87-20 of April 7, 1961, do 
hereby proclaim May 1, 2000, as Law Day, U.S.A. I urge the people of 
the United States to consider anew how our laws protect our freedoms 
and contribute to our national well-being. I call upon members of the 
legal profession, civic associations, educators, librarians, public 
officials, and the media to promote the observance of this day with 
appropriate programs and activities. I also call upon public 
officials to display the flag of the United States on all government 
buildings throughout the day.

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

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

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