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We the People

Why the First Amendment Matters Today

We the People

National Constitution Center

News Commentary, News, History

4.61.1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2022

⏱️ 86 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On today’s very special episode, we share the exciting events that happened at the National Constitution Center earlier this week. To celebrate the unveiling of the First Amendment tablet—once featured on the facade of the Newseum in Washington, D.C., now at its new home in the Grand Hall Overlook of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia—free speech defenders Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School, former ACLU President Nadine Strossen of New York Law School, and Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education join for a discussion of why the First Amendment matters today. A dedication ceremony with remarks from the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, former judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum; and Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, follows. This program was presented in celebration of the newly installed First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center donated by the Freedom Forum, which works to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. The design and installation of the tablet was made possible by the Honorable J. Michael Luttig and Elizabeth A. Luttig.   Watch the program video here: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/town-hall-video/why-the-first-amendment-matters-today Read Jeff's remarks here: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/remarks-from-the-first-amendment-tablet-ceremony Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.  Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr.  Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello friends. I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center.

0:09.0

I'm so excited to share today's episode with you on both of our podcasts, We the People, and

0:16.1

live at the National Constitution Center. On May 2nd, the National Constitution

0:20.8

Center dedicated the First Amendment tablet, 45 sacred words of the

0:26.0

First Amendment inscribed in 50 tons of marble. The tablet was installed at the New

0:32.2

Museum in Washington, D.C. and has now been transported to the NCC where it will shine forever in our hallowed space overlooking Independence Hall.

0:41.0

The dedication ceremony began with a panel of free speech heroes on why the First Amendment

0:46.7

matters today.

0:48.3

You'll hear from Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School.

0:52.1

Nadine Strassen, the former president of the ACLU,

0:55.4

and Greg Lucianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights

0:58.6

and Education.

1:00.1

And you'll then hear the dedication ceremony itself,

1:02.8

with remarks from Jan New hearth, the chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum,

1:07.4

and Judge J Michael Ludick, a former judge on the US Court of Appeals

1:12.3

for the Fourth Circuit.

1:14.0

Both Judge Lutig and Jen New hearth made possible

1:18.0

the installation of the tablet at the NCC,

1:21.0

and we end with my thoughts on the connection between the First Amendment,

1:25.4

the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.

1:28.7

Friends, it was such a meaningful day of constitutional consecration and I'm thrilled to share it with you now.

1:41.6

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the National Constitution Center.

...

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