A live reading of the Declaration of Independence drew around 100 participants to the Newberry Library in Chicago on Wednesday as part of a global event commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The gathering was one of more than 1,000 simultaneous readings worldwide at 5 p.m. local time, organized to mark the historic document’s first public presentation in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

Sponsored by the Hawai’i America250 Commission, the “Sharing the Spirit of America” program aimed to inspire reflection on the founding principles of the nation, including equal rights, government accountability, and Illinois’s role in American history. Across Illinois, events were held at various cultural institutions such as the American Writers Museum and Pullman National Historical Park, as well as public sites including courthouses.

Participants at the Newberry Library read aloud from pocket-sized booklets distributed statewide by the Illinois America 250 Commission. Among them were Ellyn Robinson, 61, a lifelong Chicago resident, and 22-year-old recent Yale graduate Isabella Barboza. Both described the event as an opportunity to engage with the country's ideals despite recognizing ongoing challenges.

“We’re a beacon for the world — hopefully — still,” Robinson said, expressing hope that the nation could rise to meet its foundational promises amid recent social and political difficulties. Barboza acknowledged disparities in equal treatment across the United States but emphasized the importance of aspiring to the Declaration’s principles.

The library’s exhibit, “Free and Independent: The Declaration of Independence and the Words That Made the United States,” featuring a rare early copy of the document, provided additional context for the event. Eric Slauter, curator of the exhibit and deputy dean of the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago, opened the reading. He noted that the Declaration contains language reflective of its 18th-century origin, including passages offensive by modern standards. Attendees were advised to skip a derogatory term aimed at Native Americans, though some overlooked this instruction.

Slauter highlighted that the Declaration’s assertion that “all men are created equal” has been interpreted in varied ways over time—eliciting hope, skepticism, and critique alike. He pointed out that important figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr. invoked its words in later struggles for civil rights.

For many participants, the event fostered a sense of patriotism and communal reflection. Kevin Connors, 52, of River North described the experience as deeply moving, praising the historic library setting and expressing pride in his city and country.

“There is a lot for us all to reflect on — to think about how we got here and what role we all have to play going forward,” said Jill Austin, Newberry Library’s vice president for public engagement. She emphasized the importance of coming together to consider the nation’s past, present, and future as the country marks this milestone anniversary.