Nashville’s First Amendment Center, situated on the campus of Vanderbilt University, is helping lead a new national campaign to help bring public awareness to the freedoms of the First Amendment.
Beginning tomorrow, July 1, the nonpartisan campaign will unveil a series of advertisements — featuring the likes of comedian Ellen DeGeneres, musician John Mellencamp and journalist David Gregory — to shed light on the importance of free speech.
The initiative is dubbed “1 for All.”
“The First Amendment is not a dusty document or a footnote to history,” said Ken Paulson, president of the Newseum and First Amendment Center. “It is instead a vibrant part of every American’s life every single day. Every time a person expresses a point of view, enjoys the arts, prays or posts a message online, the First Amendment is at work.”
Organizers of “1 for All” say the campaign is the first of its kind to market the First Amendment to the public. Using an approach geared toward youth, the ads will celebrate the freedom to tweet, rock, write, read, sing, worship, assemble and petition.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Newseum, McCormick Foundation, American Society of News Editors, First Amendment Center and Gannett Foundation have provided initial funding and resources, and have now been joined by more than 1,000 news organizations, religious groups and educational institutions in support of the First Amendment.