The First Amendment, Five Freedoms, and Three Things
- Sarah O'Connell
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Our Right to Learn is our Right to Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness
Free expression is a human right.
The Asylum Theatre is a partner for those who make theatre to introduce new plays to audiences, and artists to each other. Whether through a fresh piece of writing or an innovative approach, our artists are dedicated to quality, diversity, and ingenuity in our collaborations.
The Asylum Theatre believes that art belongs to everyone. We are a haven for artists' voices committed to nurturing an inclusive community that celebrates, values, and advances diversity. The more diverse the voices and perspectives in and around our work, the more empowering and democratizing the arts become as a tool to inspire individuals, unite communities, and nourish the human experience.
The First Amendment in the US Constitution grants all residents Five Freedoms: Belief, Speech, Press, Peaceful Assembly, and to Petition Government.
Learning is how we pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights signed by the US in 1948 reaffirms the inalienable rights of all people first declared in the US Declaration of Independence:
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
All people have a right to the knowledge humanity has created so that we can decide for ourselves how best to thrive in our own skin, and as a country. All people have a right to seek asylum from their fellow humans when their lives and security are under threat.
Culture is the legacy and reflection of Humanity.
The current US Administration has issued executive orders to threaten libraries, schools, theatres, museums, and parks that hold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion with investigations, and cuts.
Events, books, and programs have been banned at federally funded local arts programs across the country, and right here in Nevada which hurts communities, and violates our right to Free Expression and Academic Independence as 501 (c)3 organizations and American artists.
The power of three.
For the past three years, The Asylum has proudly presented FREE TO READ at the public library's request to highlight Banned Books Week. This documentary theatre piece presents actors reading excerpts from banned or challenged books alongside transcripts of public comments from library and school board meetings around the country.
It only takes three things to commit an act of theatre: an actor, a witness, and a shared space. Theatre is the embodiment of the First Amendment; speaking Truth to power, assembled peacefully in a public space. You can assert a belief in diversity, provide education, defeat censorship and commit your own act of theatre, just grab a favorite banned book and start reading out loud!
Do it at your local library, in book clubs, at the bus stop, in a park, or walking down the street. Would you like to present FREE TO READ in your own community? We welcome you to use our script and powerpoint with visuals. Just be sure to credit "Created by Sarah O'Connell and The Asylum Theatre" in your P/R and include our website asylumtheatre.org. Email director@asylumtheatre.org with any questions. We are here to support you.
We are all FREE TO BE and FREE TO READ!
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