Fine Speechifying for the 4th

Claremont's annual Speakers' Corner, a 4th of July celebration of free speech, carries its tradition on today from 10:30am to 3:30pm in Memorial Park.

According to the map in the Claremont Courier's 4th of July insert, the Speakers' Corner podium will be set up along Indian Hill Blvd. just south of 10th St.

The Courier insert listed the speakers' schedule. Speakers are limited to 10 minutes, and some of the speakers had not listed their topics as of the Courier's press time. There are also some unprogrammed blocks.

Girl Scouts beware! Claremont Mayor Ellen Taylor speaks at 10:50am. And Councilmember Sam Pedroza follows with a speech titled "The Government You Can Touch" (and which touches you back, we might add - IN THE POCKETBOOK!).

Citzen Michael John Keenan, Democratic congressional candidate Russ Warner, former Preserve Claremonster and retired United Church of Christ pastor Butch Henderson, and League of Women Voters leaders Marilee Scaff and C. Freeman Allen are also scheduled:

SPEAKERS' CORNER - 10:30AM TO 3:30PM

10:50am - Ellen Taylor
Welcome to Claremont's Independence Day Celebration

11:00am - Sam Pedroza
The Government You Can Touch

11:10am - Michael Keenan
Not Determined

11:20am - Marilee Scaff
Save Water and Welcome a Park [and spend $32 million]

11:30am - Freeman Allen
Sustainabiliy: Something New or Business As Usual

11:40am - Butch Henderson
Not determined

11:50am - Charles Doskow
Not Determined

Noon - Dave Laybourn
Not Determined

12:10pm - Dave Never
Why Obama Will Improve Our Politics and Our Government

[NOTE: This may actually be Dave Nemer. The Courier had him listed as "Never," so we faithfully reproduced it. Of course, a copy editor might have left out a punctuation mark or two: "Dave? Never!" ]

12:20

12:30pm - Russ Warner
My Candidacy for the 26th Congressional District

We've got a more complete list of today's festivities here.



Left: William Jennings Bryan speaking at Claremont's 4th of July Speakers' Corner in 1908 during Mayor Ellen Taylor's forgotten first term.

(Click image to enlarge.)