Liberty and Justice for ALL? or Just Some!

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

With these words, the authors of the Declaration of Independence outlined a bold vision for America, a nation in which all people would be free and equal. More than two hundred years later, it has yet to be achieved. Though generations of civil rights activism have led to important gains in legal, political, social, employment, educational and other spheres, the forced removal of indigenous peoples and the enslavement of those of African descent marked the beginnings of a system of racial injustice from which our country has yet to break free. From public educational institutions where students of color are too often confined to racially isolated, underfunded and inferior schools, to a criminal justice system that disproportionately targets and incarcerates people of color, to anti-immigrant legislation that codifies racial discrimination, and housing starkly segregated by race and class. The dream of full equality remains an elusive one.