"FirstAmendmentFest" to rally on State House lawn December 18

On December 18, the final day of Chanukah, supporters of the U.S. Constitution will gather at the Vermont State House lawn at noon for the first in a series of rallies to celebrate the rights enshrined Bill of Rights, starting with the First Amendment:

free exercise of religion
freedom of speech
freedom of the press
right of peaceable assembly
right to petition the government with grievances

"We can no longer take our constitutional freedoms for granted, we must stand up now to protect these sacred rights. Come out and show your support for our great state and the constitution that makes our free society possible," said John Klar of Brookfield, one of the event organizers.

The first event in the series is scheduled at the ending of Chanukah (a festival honoring the free exercise of religion), the gathering welcomes those of every faith, supporters of free speech and the freedom of the press, freedom of peaceable assembly and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

Organizers are planning speakers, the singing of the National Anthem, ringing of handbells and waving of Vermont and US flags.  They ask participants to avoid political flags in order to emphasize unity around the Constitution.

Additional events are being planned for January and February, details forthcoming. 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." – First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.