Free For All

06/04/2023

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

05/31/2023

Don't give up your freedom by failing to vote. And remember that local elections can have even more impact on your life than state or federal elections. Local elections can directly shape schools, libraries, police and fire protection, and other public services you depend on daily.

05/31/2023

Engraving of the Four Freedoms at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC.

05/31/2023

Illinois knows that banning book violates the First Amendment protection of Freedom of Expression.

Governor JB Pritzker expected to sign bill that would block state funding for public libraries and schools that ban books

05/29/2023

Norman Rockwell's image of Freedom From Fear depicts a family during wartime, but fear comes in many forms. No one should be afraid to go shopping or to school or to a place of worship or to a social club or to walk or drive down a public street. No one should face fear because of who they are. There is just one species of humans now living on earth and they should never have to feel fearful of other humans anywhere or any time.

05/26/2023

Memorial Day was established by Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic John A. Logan in 1868 to honor the memory of Union soldiers who died during the Civil War defending freedom for all Americans following the rebellion of southern Confederate states that were opposed to the end of human slavery.

Lincoln's Gettysburg address is often recited at Memorial Day ceremonies, beginning with the words, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

05/25/2023

By claiming our freedom, we must also allow everyone else to be free. That's how freedom works.

05/25/2023

Norman Rockwell's Freedom of Speech painting highlights a traditional New England Town Meeting. It also implies that being able to vote is a most important American ideal. Every effort should be made to make it as easy as possible for everyone to vote. And voters should exercise that freedom by going to the polls whenever important decisions must be made.

05/25/2023

In 2018, Norman Rockwell's iconic "Freedom of Worship" was reimagined to include more diversity to better reflect President FDR's vision that every person in the world be free to worship in their own way.

“Freedom of Worship,” 2018. Credit: Hank Willis Thomas, Emily Shur, Eric Gottesman and Wyatt Gallery

05/25/2023

The First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits banning books.

05/24/2023