The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, provides that all citizens shall enjoy the equal protection of the laws, and is arguably the most important principal in our country’s legal system. With music and narration, TOWARD JUSTICE tells the story of its origin, history and evolution.
Concerts
Media & News
Interview with WGTD’s The Morning Show with Greg Berg – July 29, 2024
Julia Nowicki and Ben Woods talk about the new work “Toward Justice” that will be performed Tuesday, July 30th at 6 p.m. at the Civil War Museum.
Listen here >>
Snyder, Liz. “Civil War Museum in Kenosha to host free program marking 14th Amendment.” Kenosha News, 30 July. 2024.
The Civil War Museum is hosting a free, two-hour program Tuesday, July 30, to mark the 156th anniversary of the Equal Protection Clause and the ratification of the 14th Amendment.
Read the full article >>
About Toward Justice
The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, provides that all citizens shall enjoy the equal protection of the laws, and is arguably the most important principal in our country’s legal system. With music and narration, TOWARD JUSTICE tells the story of its origin, history and evolution.
You will hear about the two key United States Supreme Court cases associated with its history. In Plessey v. Ferguson, 1894, the Court stated that the Jim Crow concept of separate but equal met the requirements of the Amendment; however, it included a stirring dissent by Justice Harlan stating the opposite, asserting that the Constitution is colorblind. Then in 1954, the Court in Brown v. Board of Education finally agreed with Justice Harlan, declaring that separate (in that case schools) never could be equal.
Quotations from Abraham Lincoln begin and end the piece, first from his Address Before the Young Man’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois in 1838 and the second from The Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.
The primary inspiration for this piece came from the constructive actions taken by so many citizens in Kenosha in the aftermath of the disheartening events in Kenosha four years ago. The Prairie String Quartet thought it was a good idea to write a piece featuring the strengths of the United States Constitution, and in particular, the Equal Protection Clause.
The piece is organized in six short movements: Calm and Noble, Triumphant, Harsh and Relentless, Ominous, Assured Fluent, and Hymn. It is nine minutes in duration.
The libretto was written by Julia Nowicki, with substantial assistance from the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, the United States Constitution and the United States Supreme Court. The composer has decided to remain anonymous at this time.
The Prairie String Quartet 