NCJW Praises Rejection of Flag-Burning Amendment

June 28, 2006, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today applauded the Senate's defeat of a proposed amendment to the US Constitution that would have banned the burning or desecration of the American flag. NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"As we look forward to celebrating Independence Day, we are relieved that the US Senate has failed to muster the two-thirds vote to pass a constitutional amendment that would ban flag-burning. Amending the Constitution in this way would have threatened healthy civic debate, personal freedom of expression, and our fundamental democratic values. As a symbol of our nation, the United States' flag represents our unique democracy and basic freedoms. However, we must not protect this symbol at the expense of weakening the rights it represents.

"Our nation and our flag have survived 230 years without using flag desecration to justify desecration of the First Amendment. In 1989, the Supreme Court rightly overruled legislation seeking to punish free expression. Congress ought to realize the wisdom of that decision and proceed to other pressing business."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide.

Contact:
Vanessa Schnaidt
212 645 4048 x179; vschnaidt@ncjw.org