Rep. Raskin visits PSU and shares views on justice with Portland

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., visited Portland State University on Feb. 18 to serve as guest speaker for the 21st Annual Gus and Libby Solomon Memorial Lecture. His speech, "Church and State, Politics and Faith: Why We Need the Constitutional Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson and the Ethical Wisdom of Rabbi Hillel Today," was delivered to an audience of about 250 members of the PSU and broader Portland community.

PSU President Ann Cudd welcomed the audience, calling Raskin “a tireless advocate for civil rights” and noting that “his dedication to truth, justice, and the rule of law exemplify the values that Gus and Libby Solomon championed throughout their lives.” Additional introductory remarks were provided by David Bowman, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Natan Meir, chair of the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies.

Raskin began his talk by reflecting on what he called “justice lawyers,” lawyers committed to advancing progress and justice in our society and to promoting the common good. He argued that Americans must return to the founding principles of the framers, including a wall of separation between church and state and bulwarks to protect the freedoms of thought and expression, which are under attack today.

At the same time, he said faith has an important role to play in our democracy: Many Americans’ political principles are rooted in faith, and many of our most important political and social movements have been motivated by religious conviction.

Though serious, his lecture was not devoid of humor. At one point he recounted a story where another representative in the House referenced a landmark Supreme Court case, stating incorrectly that the “court banned prayer in the public schools.” Raskin corrected him, stating that “ . . . as long as there are pop math quizzes, there will be prayer in the public schools. Anybody can pray whenever they want. The Supreme Court only said the government can’t compel children to participate in it against their conscience.”

Raskin frequently referenced the life and values of Gus J. Solomon as provided in the biography by Harry H. Stein. He connected the themes of Solomon’s life, especially social justice and the rule of law, directly and poignantly to our present moment in history.

Raskin reminded the audience of the recent efforts to resist authoritarianism by the people of Minneapolis, concluding, “That’s the way to do it! That’s how you fight authoritarianism in your own society.”

The lecture was recorded and will be published in the coming weeks on the Judaic Studies playlist of the YouTube channel managed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.