With Americans almost evenly divided along party lines, Bradley Blackburn has found a nonpartisan group focusing on the fundamentals of what binds us.

New York

A group of individuals has gathered at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn to handwrite the U.S. Constitution, an initiative designed to encourage direct engagement with the nation's founding text. The event, hosted monthly by Maggie Weber, invites participants to copy the document by hand, offering a quiet, nonpartisan experience that aims to deepen understanding and appreciation of constitutional rights.

The concept was created in 2017 by artist Morgan O'Hara and has since spread to other locations across the United States and internationally. Participants describe the process as peaceful and enlightening, with many noting that it provides a unique perspective on the historical context and significance of the Constitution. Surveys cited during the event indicate that most Americans have never read the Constitution, highlighting the importance of such initiatives.

Group meets to handwrite the U.S. Constitution

In the Old Stone House in the heart of Brooklyn, this group has come from far and wide for a shared mission. Choose the document of your choice and you can get started writing. They grab printouts of the U.S. Constitution and start copying by hand, word for word. You don't have to have a constitutional attorney interpret it for you. You can pick up a copy and read it for yourself. Maggie Weber hosts the free events monthly. This historic house is on the site of the Battle of Brooklyn, a key moment in the Revolutionary War. So what happened on this ground is a big reason there is a constitution. Correct. The concept was created in 2017 by artist Morgan O'Hara. She was concerned about the direction of the country, but says this practice is not partisan. We don't talk about anything. It's not a discussion group. After all the time, I see that's really what makes it work. Since then, dozens of sessions have been held across the country and around the world, copying the U.S. Constitution and other human rights texts. It calms you down. It's a peaceful experience. And you're just having these aha moments every once in a while. Surveys show a majority of Americans have never read the Constitution, let alone written it. And many cannot name even a single right guaranteed by these words. For every person, the quiet experience is unique. It gives you a sense of perhaps what they were thinking or a sense of time and place and ambition or hope. And it works muscles, literally. My hand is hurting, my arm especially. Denise Gray from Los Angeles sees a stark reminder that words have power only when people uphold them. It's hard to read these words and know that they apply in some places and not others, including this country. A simple act that speaks for itself by inking a connection to the country's founding documents. Bradley Blackburn, CBS News, New York.

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