Protectors of Democracy
On September 17, 2022, the 235th anniversary of the day in 1787 when the Framers signed the U.S. Constitution, Attorney General Merrick Garland administered the oath of allegiance to 200 immigrants in the Great Hall at Ellis Island, the place where more than 12 million immigrants have stopped as part of their journey to the United States.
In his introduction Garland spoke as the grandson and son-in-law of those fleeing religious persecution who came to the U.S. for the protection of our laws.
“The protection of law – the Rule of Law – is the foundation of our system of government,” he said. Garland stated that the Rule of Law means the same laws apply to all of us regardless of whether we are the newest citizens of this country or our families have been here for generations. The Rule of Law means that the law treats each of us alike. It means we are all protected to exercise our civil rights, our freedom of worship, and the peaceful expression of our opinions, our beliefs, and our ideas.
Garland explained that the Rule of Law is fragile and requires constant effort and vigilance to protect it. It is the duty of each generation to protect the Rule of Law.
He asked the people in the room to share a promise “that each of us will protect each other and our democracy,” that “we will uphold the Rule of Law and seek to make real the promise of equal justice under law,” and that “we will do what is right, even if that means doing what is difficult.”
The mid-terms are only 20 days from the date of this post!
I urge everyone who reads this post to remember Garland’s request to the new citizens of this country and the words of the late John Lewis:
“The vote is the most powerful non-violent tool we have to preserve our democracy!”
Vote! Be a Protector of Democracy!