Rep. Brennan Leads Bipartisan House Reading of the Declaration of Independence to Commemorate America's 250th Anniversary
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) today announced the completion of a bipartisan reading of the Declaration of Independence by members of the Ohio House of Representatives, a project he conceived and organized to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Produced in partnership with the Ohio Channel, the special presentation features Democratic and Republican legislators each reading a portion of the Declaration of Independence, underscoring the timeless principles that unite Americans across political differences. Rep. Brennan, a veteran American History and Government public school teacher, opens the presentation with introductory remarks before reading the historic preamble.
"A quarter of a millennium ago, fifty-six brave patriots pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to a revolutionary idea: that all people are created equal and possess certain unalienable rights," Rep. Brennan said. "As we mark this historic semiquincentennial, may we remember that our nation has endured not because we always agree, but because generation after generation has chosen liberty over tyranny, self-government over monarchy, and unity over division. Today, as Ohioans and Americans, we honor not only the courage of our Founders, but also our shared responsibility to preserve and strengthen the democratic republic they entrusted to us."
Rep. Brennan developed the project and invited members from both caucuses to participate, assigning each legislator a portion of the Declaration so that the entire document could be read collaboratively. He worked with the Ohio Channel to coordinate the recording and production of the program as one of the Ohio House's contributions to the nation's semiquincentennial observance.
"As we prepare to celebrate America's 250th birthday, I wanted to create an opportunity for members of both parties to set politics aside to honor our nation's founding document," said Rep. Brennan. "The Declaration of Independence belongs to every American, " said Rep. Brennan. “At a time when our politics can often be divided, it is important to remember that our democracy is built on shared ideals—liberty, equality, representative government, and the belief that our rights come not from government, but from our Creator."
"I am grateful to my colleagues for embracing this idea and trusting me to bring it to life," Rep. Brennan concluded.
The bipartisan reading is available on the Ohio Channel and serves as an educational and civic resource as Ohio and the nation commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.