Freedom is a Constant Struggle: The Fight for Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment
April 14, 5:00-6:30pm
This event hosted by the UMD Honors College was a way to bring awareness to Equal Protection Laws under the 14th Amendment. By watching this hour long Netflix documentary Amend, we were able to hear about stories and the historical and legal battles surrounding civil rights in America. The documentary featured interviews with people who took their grievances to court. The film shifted legal cases into deeply personal stories of challenges and success.
A notable moment was when the film interviewed Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. His story began when he sued because he was unable to list his name on his late husband’s death certificate. This refusal portrays the lack of support for gay marriages during that time. Learning about his success was eye-opening, as it emphasized how hard people have to fight for their basic rights.
After watching the documentary, the participants then had a discussion on what they learned, what they were surprised about, and how they can apply this new knowledge to their current lives. I believe that the main points the documentary aimed to convey were convincing. While the Honors College did a great job at planning this event, I wish there were more attendees so that there could have been more depth in the conversations. Despite this, the event successfully fostered a much deeper understanding of the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality.
Additionally, I was able to learn that this documentary is actually part of a larger series, where each episode focuses on a specific topic under the 14th Amendment. After learning this, I went and watched a few episodes on my own. Learning about these stories and how these laws came to be has been a good experience and pastime. Despite the lack of attendees, the Honors College did a good job at organizing this event and sharing their interest for Equal Protection.