"To Win Equality by Law: Brown v. Board at 50"

The 50th anniversary of the landmark school desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education, will be the theme of Law Day 2004. In addition to the 2004 planning guide, which is being written and edited now, the ABA is preparing teaching materials and speech/discussion topics that will be available shortly. Some of these are available now on the special Brown website. In addition, you'll want to check the Law Day website for regular updates on Law Day activities.

No milestone in America's long march toward equality is more important than the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. The culmination of a long line of court cases brought by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Brown not only struck down laws segregating public schools, but also sounded the death knell for government-sanctioned segregation generally, made all Americans more aware of our Constitution's promise of equality, and helped launch the civil rights movement.

By commemorating the Court's decision in Brown, Law Day can help illuminate the meaning of equality in our democracy and the role of law, advocates, and courts in establishing and protecting our rights.

FREE Booklet on Brown v. Board of Education

May 17, 2004, marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's great landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. This case was the death knell for government-sanctioned segregation. Its anniversary is the theme of Law Day 2004.

In commemoration of the anniversary, the ABA has produced a brief guide to the case to serve as the basis for dialogues with students. The publication looks at the facts of the case, the decision, and the case's historical legacy. It also includes suggestions for starting the dialogue with students, and strategies for approaching a number of the issues raised by the case.

If you want to view it online and download it as a .PDF , simply access the Brown section of the ABA website. If you want to order FREE printed copies of the eight-page booklet (you can get enough copies for distribution to classes of students, to participants in community forums, etc.) simply call 800-285-2221 and ask for product code 317-0357. Act now, because supplies are limited.

Mark Your Calendars

In 2004, May 1—Law Day—is on a Saturday. So what day should you celebrate Law Day on? What about Law Week?

The choice is yours. May 1 is the official date, but we assume that bars, courts, schools, and others will celebrate Law Day/Week whenever it works best for them. Many Law Day celebrations extend a week or more, as Law Day planners find creative ways to reach out to schools and the community.