Students For Liberty is currently accepting applications for $100 Constitution Day Activism Grants to help you bring conversations about the Constitution to your campus this Constitution Day! This week and next, we’ll be sharing ideas for creative events and activism centered around the Constitution. Here’s one from SFL’s North American Programs Intern, Nicholas Mejia.

Congressman Ron Paul once said, “Demanding domestic security in times of war invites carelessness in preserving civil liberties and the right of privacy. Frequently the people are only too anxious for their freedoms to be sacrificed on the altar of authoritarianism thought to be necessary to remain safe and secure. Nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties while defending ourselves from their threat.” Just weeks later, on October 26, 2001 The Patriot Act was passed bringing into the law the very things Paul was afraid of. Fourteen years later, with an ongoing War on Terror, many of our civil liberties lay in a graveyard, all in the name of security.

This coming week is Constitution Day (September 17, 2015) and it’s the perfect time for college activists to bring the civil liberties graveyard to campus. What is a Civil Liberties Graveyard? It is a great way to put into perspective what we have lost over the last decade. Young Americans for Liberty and the Leadership Institute have both engaged in these events so if you need some inspiration look no further.

What you’ll need: 

1. Wood, Styrofoam, or cardboard (and relevant tools to craft these into tombstones)
   
2. Paint
3. Halloween material such as skeletons, spider web, and a costume

What to do:

• Find out your school’s campus codes. You may need to apply for use of a grassy area. Make sure the area chosen is a high foot traffic area.
• Use the wood, styrofoam, or cardboard to make the tombstones. (Here’s a detailed explanation of how to make the cardboard version.)
• Paint the tombstones grey and write the civil liberties of your choice on them. Here are just a few examples you can use:

Free Speech: Tackle the issue of Free Speech Zones or other speech restrictions if these exist on your campus. The ENTIRE campus should be a free speech zone!

Habeas Corpus: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) enables the Federal Government to arrest you WITHOUT being charged with a crime and to be held INDEFINITELY without access to a lawyer or a speedy trial.

Privacy: The Patriot Act allows Federal Agents to spy on your phone calls, e-mails, web searches, text messages and library books. All WITHOUT a search warrant.

Right to Vote: Numerous states including Louisiana take away the right to vote from prisoners and convicts even after they have carried out their sentence to a full term.

Once you’ve got everything in place, get your halloween on and dress up in a grim reaper costume, put out fake skeletons, and spider webs. Basically make it as creepy as possible and have fun with it!