LWV, History Museum to celebrate democracy at 'Constitution Square'

By Kathy Voigt

The League of Women Voters of Appleton-Fox Cities will be stepping out and lifting up the Preamble to the Constitution this summer in a special partnership with the History Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the League will welcome people of all ages to "Constitution Square" on the lawn of the Museum most Saturdays in June, July, and August during the Downtown Farmers Market hours of 9 a.m. until noon. The official first date will be June 27.

To lead off the celebration, League members, families, and friends will march in Appleton's 75th Flag Day Parade on Saturday, June 13 carrying a "We the People" banner, and signs highlighting the rights and freedoms professed in the Bill of Rights. Expect "Lady Liberty" to make a return appearance!

At Constitution Square on the Museum lawn, a banner will be unfurled on the Museum facade and extensions of the banner will provide space for the public to sign the Preamble. 

A walk through the Garden of Rights & Freedoms will lead to the banner as well as games and activities for all ages, including the League's popular civics wheel. Visitors may write a special message of what democracy and freedom mean to them and hang it on the Art Flag.

Members of the League's Voter Services team will provide information on how to register to vote and upcoming election details. League members will be on hand to answer questions about the League's nonpartisan work, and membership for anyone interested.

The summer-long activities are a project of the Arts & Visibility Committee, one of four action teams formed within the local League as part of LWV's "Unite & Rise 8.5" initiative. Unite and Rise 8.5 is a nationwide advocacy and civic mobilization initiative launched by the League of Women Voters (LWV) in response to what the organization characterizes as a constitutional crisis. It aims to engage and mobilize 8.5 million people to protect our democracy through civic education and action.

According to LWVAFC President Jan Quinlan, the project affords people a way to "do something" to restore an inclusive democracy in light of actions by the executive branch. After collecting input from other community influencers on how to engage the public in meaningful action, three other teams also were formed: Coalition Building, Civic Education & Gaming, and Media & Storytelling.

For updates and highlights of Constitution Square, visit the League's Facebook page.

To learn more about the League, visit lwvappletonfoxcities.org or email info@lwvappletonfoxcities.org Visit the History Museum at the Castle website at myhistorymuseum.org