JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
On the first day of May every year, Law Day is celebrated to focus on the principles of justice and the practice of law. This year's theme celebrates the upcoming 50TH Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Law Day allows all Airmen and citizens to understand who laid the foundation for these historical pieces of legislation, why voting laws are important, and how to best participate in our democracy.
Five decades ago, in the shadows of President Abraham Lincoln's memorial in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech during the March on Washington. The speech, now known as "I Have a Dream" speech, articulated Dr. King's dream to unite this great country based upon faith in humanity and justice.
In his speech, King mentioned justice or injustice nine different times.
He stated, "nd that is something that I must say to my people who stand on the worn threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."
Dr. King described a palace of justice, which encompasses each fundamental right outlined in our Constitution. Most importantly, citizens of the United States have a fundamental and inherent right to vote and participate in democracy. King advocated that Americans, who felt injustice or experienced blockades at voting booths, must maintain a faith that justice would one day prevail - that each citizen could exercise their right to vote. His speech illustrated his faith in the principles of our country and dream that justice would one day serve all citizens.
According to Black's Law Dictionary, justice is the "fair and proper administration of laws." In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the horizon of the Capitol building to advocate that the laws of our Constitution be administered fairly and properly to all American citizens. The next year, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and in the following session passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Congress intended both pieces of legislation to open up the ability to vote fairly and properly to all citizens of our nation.
The Constitution states that every citizen of this country has the right to vote and participate in our democracy. As Airmen, we are sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. We have a duty to protect the principles of the Constitution and a concurrent duty as citizens to exercise our ability to vote and participate in the process of democracy. For decades, millions of fellow Americans fought vigorously alongside Dr. King to gain access and participate in our democracy. You have a natural right to vote for representation in our government and your fundamental right should be cherished and exercised.
Register to vote in your home state or domicile, send absentee ballots in and do all that
you can to participate in our democracy. Several states have recently enacted new legislation requiring voters to have an ID in order to vote. Ensure that you are in compliance with your home state or domicile's laws.
For more information, The American Bar Association is hosting several events in the Washington D.C. region on 30 April and 1 May 2014 to celebrate Law Day. If you are interested in finding out more, visit http://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2014/04/law_day_2014_focuses.html