Petition for Redress

Public Petitions Already Underway

• Boycott the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival ↗ — a change.org petition asking musicians, music fans, and civically engaged adults to boycott the festival until it restores a public reading of the Declaration to its Fourth of July program.
• Tracking spreadsheet for emailed petitions — coming soon — a running log of open letters sent to event organizers and officials, with their responses and status. Placeholder until the spreadsheet is published.
• "White Liberal Blues" — a poetic petition to the organizers of the Waterfront Blues Fest and the St. Paul Rodeo, asking them to restore the Declaration's reading to their Independence Day programming.
• Running your own petition? Add a link to it here — see the About page for how to reach us.

Petitioning Local and State Government

1. Identify the organizer and their timeline. Check the event's website, social media, or city parks & recreation page for a contact name, email, or phone number — and find out when the program gets finalized. Event programs are often locked in weeks or months out, so reach out as early as possible, ideally before April for a July event.
2. Send a specific, helpful request. Use the template letter below: who you are, what you're asking, and why it's easy to do (a ten-minute reading needs only a microphone and a willing reader). Offer to find a reader, supply printed copies, or handle logistics — removing barriers increases the odds of a yes.
3. If the event is city-sponsored, bring it to your city council. Attend a council meeting during public comment and make the request on the record; council members can direct city staff to include the reading. See the second template letter below.
4. Share, recruit, and follow up. A petition with many local signers carries more weight than a single letter — share our online petition and bring signature sheets to community events. If you don't hear back within two weeks, follow up once, politely.

Template Letter to an Event Organizer

Dear [Organizer Name / Event Director], My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [City]. I have attended [Event Name] for many years and greatly value the community it brings together. I am writing to make a simple request: please consider adding a public reading of the Declaration of Independence to this year's Fourth of July program. The Declaration — the founding statement of American ideals — takes approximately ten minutes to read aloud. A reading requires only a microphone and a willing speaker, and it would give our community a shared moment of reflection on the values the holiday was created to honor. I would be glad to help arrange a reader, provide printed copies, or assist in any other way. I am also happy to discuss this further at your convenience. Thank you for the work you put into making [Event Name] a meaningful celebration. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Email / Phone] [City, State]

Template Letter for City Council Public Comment

Good evening, Mayor [Name] and members of the Council. My name is [Your Name], and I live at [address or neighborhood]. I am here during public comment to make a request regarding our city's Fourth of July celebration. The Declaration of Independence is the reason we celebrate July Fourth. Yet our city's Fourth of July [event/festival/parade] does not include a public reading of this document. A reading takes ten minutes and requires only a microphone. I respectfully ask the Council to direct city staff — or the event organizer receiving city support — to include a public reading of the Declaration of Independence as a standard part of our annual Fourth of July program. This is a small act with large meaning. I would be glad to assist in making it happen. Thank you.

Ready to take the first step? Sign the petition to add your name to the growing list of Americans who want the Declaration restored to the holiday.