WASHINGTON - August 27 - On the evening of September 1st, 2004, People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF) will sponsor a reading of the U.S. Constitution, free to the public, in the historic Great Hall of Cooper Union. Some of the country’s leading figures from the worlds of film, art, politics, theater, music and sports will participate in reading portions of our founding document. Also participating are community activists and representatives from New York Police Department and New York Fire Department. It is sure to provide one of the most memorable sights of the convention week.

Attendees will also have the extraordinary opportunity to see up-close an exceedingly rare edition of the U.S. Constitution, a first printing of the third edition from 1787. Also available will be both House and the Senate versions of the Bill of Rights from the same time period.

“At a time when many of the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution are under attack, this reading and viewing will help to remind the country and our leaders of their responsibility to uphold the principles that guide us as a nation,” said Barbara Handman, PFAWF Senior Vice President and the lead organizer of the event. “We are not just gathering celebrities here, we are trying to make this document live.”

Cooper Union is a particularly apt location for this event. In addition to being just blocks away from the site of the RNC convention, it is also where President Lincoln gave an 1860 speech against slavery that helped thrust him into national prominence. By adhering to principle and arguing that the Constitution gave the federal government the power to prohibit the expansion of slavery, Lincoln demonstrated his willingness to risk his own political fortunes to stand up for the highest constitutional ideals.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 1, 2004 beginning @ 5 pm

WHERE: The Great Hall at Cooper Union in New York City

Entrance on 7th Street & 3rd Avenue

WHO:

Alec Baldwin

Judge Jack Weinstein

Richard Gere

Walter Cronkite

Victor Navasky

Kathleen Turner

Blair Brown

Joel Grey

Bob Balaban

John Guare

Bill Irwin

Khalia Ali

Martina Navratilova

Congressman Robert Menendez

Chuck Close

Mandy Patinkin

Roger Rosenblatt

Walter Bernstein

Senator Robert Byrd

James Naughton

Sidney Lumet

Christine Baranski

Sam Waterston

B.D. Wong

Aasif Mandvi

Officer Tim Duffy

More Speakers T.B.A.

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