Law Day 2024: Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration

Taking place on May 1^st each year, Law Day is a national day established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to mark the nation’s commitment to the rule of law. Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.

The 2024 Law Day theme is “Voices of Democracy” Resources provided by the American Bar Association (ABA) are available for schools, state and local bar associations, civic organizations, and others to plan programs, lessons, and activities for a variety of public audiences, in-person and virtually.

In honor of #LawDay, America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members:

• American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ): Specializing in constitutional law, the ACLJ is dedicated to the concept that freedom and democracy are God-given inalienable rights that must be protected. Every donation helps the ACLJ work to protect religious freedom in courts across the United States and beyond, enabling the ACLJ to effectively fight for liberty, the sanctity of life, and for persecuted Christians worldwide.
• American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU): Principled and nonpartisan, the ACLU is the nation’s foremost defender of civil liberties. Combining litigation with public education, media outreach, advocacy, and lobbying, the ACLU works at the local, state, and federal levels to effect change in the courts and legislatures, as well as in the court of public opinion. The ACLU tackles a vast array of issues, including national security and human rights; free speech; reproductive freedom;  women’s rights; separation of church and state; racial justice; equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; voting rights; immigrants’ rights; criminal justice reform; and ending the death penalty. The ACLU has participated in more cases at the U.S. Supreme Court than any other nongovernmental organization. A gift of $100 will help support ACLU advocates on the ground across the United States defending the rights of vulnerable people.
• NAACP Foundation: Since its inception, the strategy and implementation of NAACP programs, has been to ensure a society in which all individuals are treated fairly and are afforded access to opportunity, without regard to race, gender, creed, religion or sexual orientation.  Through its 2,200 units in communities nationwide, programs focus on the protection and advancement of civil rights by eliminating disparities and advocating for access to quality education, health care, economic opportunity, housing, youth services, an equitable criminal justice system, environmental justice, legal redress, and emergency relief. A $10 donation will purchase 100 pieces of youth development, health, environmental and climate justice or education advocate training materials.
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF): LDF is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Working in the four interconnected areas of Criminal Justice, Economic Justice, Education, and Political Participation, LDF seeks to: 1) eliminate racial discrimination from the criminal justice system; 2) achieve full African-American civic engagement and participation in the democratic process; 3) increase equity in education and eliminate tolerance for schools that fail students; and 4) increase fairness and African-American participation in all aspects of economic life.
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): The mission of the NAD is to preserve, protect, and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The vision of the NAD is that the language, culture, and heritage of deaf and hard of hearing Americans will be acknowledged and respected in the pursuit of life, liberty, and equality. For more than 136 years, the NAD has engaged in public policy advocacy to obtain and maintain the rights of deaf and hard of hearing people.
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): The Southern Poverty Law Center is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking leadership in seeking justice for the most vulnerable in our society and fighting hate in courtrooms and classrooms throughout the nation. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality. A donation of $25 will ensure that one teacher can receive a one-year subscription to our Teaching Tolerance magazine! Remember that Teaching Tolerance is distributed free of charge to every school in the nation.

How to Join Us for Law Day:

• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as we share how our members’ specific programs are working to protect free speech, free press, and free society.
• Donate & raise money for these nonprofits. America’s Charities is proud of the work our member charities do in these respective areas. One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name above to learn more about their work, and to make a donation now!