Remember Will Phillips? He's the West Fork fifth grader who got in a spot of trouble— but held his ground — for refusing to join Pledge of Allegiance exercises, as is his constitutional right.
Liberty and justice for all means all, Will believed. And that included gay people. He and his family had gay friends. He was dismayed by those who wanted to make them second-class citizens.
Said Will, then 10:
“I've always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer,” Will said. “I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all.”
The story drew national attention. He was featured on national TV. The ACLU honored him.
Now, BREAKING NEWS:
On the heels of the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional, Will Phillips, now 13, will end his “sitting” for equality by standing and reciting the pledge of allegiance following the Northwest Arkansas Pride Parade on Saturday, June 29, 2013.Speaking about his decision to stand and recite the pledge, Phillips said, “This is a one-time event to honor the steps we have taken toward ‘liberty and justice for all.’”
The NWA Pride Parade will begin at 10 am, and proceed from East Avenue on to Dickson Street, heading west, to the Walton Arts Center parking lot where Phillips will recite the pledge.