"Protect Our Bill of Rights": theme of July 4 parade entry
By Susan Epstein
The Santa Barbara Bill of Rights Defense Committee sponsored a float in the annual Santa Barbara Independence Day parade on downtown State Street. The float was a giant reproduction of the Bill of Rights made by local artist Nancy Tunnell. Over the Bill of Rights was a sign "Protect Our Bill of Rights" and underneath it was a larger sign "Is the 'Patriot' Act Patriotic?" About 70 people, including 15 children, walked along behind a large "Protect Our Bill of Rights" banner. Everyone wore red, white, and blue and carried American flags. The song "This Land is Your Land" played on the float and the participants encouraged the spectators to sing along.
1700 brochures were passed out to spectators as the float approached; the brochures contained quotes from our nation's Founding Fathers on civil liberties, the full text of the Bill of Rights, quotes of prominent conservatives opposed to the USA PATRIOT Act, a link to the 3 ACLU California affiliates' automated email program to oppose "Patriot II" (http://ga1.org/campaign/aclucaliforniaPATRIOT2 ), the lyrics to "This Land is Your Land" including Woody Guthrie's original last verse with "Is this land still made for you and me?", and a relevant political cartoon on civil liberties from the national ACLU website.
The parade reviewing stand announced the group with "The Santa Barbara Bill of Rights Defense Committee aims to protect the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. They monitor federal legislation to work against the erosion of civil liberties. Please sing along with them. With liberty and justice for all!"
The group was very well received by the spectators, and was loudly cheered by spectators on many of the blocks. A lot of the spectators joined in the singing. SB-BORDC's email list received a lot of new "subscribe" requests in the days immediately following the parade. The float got positive coverage on the local FOX TV news; the reporter described SB-BORDC's concern about recent federal legislation eroding civil liberties, and included a sound-bite from the SB-BORDC founder on why the group chose to participate in the July 4 parade.
One participant emailed SB-BORDC the following day: "My husband and I want to thank all who put so much effort into the 4th of Julyfloat, handouts, musicand procession. Thetone was set to attract attention, inform and develop a sense of unity for support of the Bill of Rights. We were glad to walk with you."
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