FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 215-409-6687 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-409-6645 [email protected]
THE HONORABLE ANTHONY M. KENNEDY TO RECEIVE
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER’S 2019 LIBERTY MEDAL
National Constitution Center to present annual award to
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on October 27, 2019, in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA (July 1, 2019) – Today, the National Constitution Center announced it will award its 31st annual Liberty Medal to the Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, for his efforts to preserve, protect, and defend liberty by inspiring Americans of all ages to learn about the Constitution through civic education and civil dialogue. The National Constitution Center will award Justice Kennedy the Liberty Medal on Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 5 p.m. in a public ceremony at the National Constitution Center across from historic Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The Liberty Medal, established in 1988 and hosted by the National Constitution Center since 2006, recognizes individuals who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. Recent recipients have included President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush for their support for veterans, U.S. Representative John Lewis for his civil rights legacy, Malala Yousafzai for her work on behalf of young women, and many other distinguished honorees.
“It’s an honor for the National Constitution Center to award Justice Kennedy the 2019 Liberty Medal for his tireless commitment to inspiring the next generation of Americans to preserve, protect, and defend the constitutional values that unite us,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “Like the National Constitution Center, Justice Kennedy believes that the future of liberty and democracy across America and around the globe depends on promoting civic education and civil dialogue.”
“It is an honor to join the National Constitution Center in this celebration of liberty,” said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. “The National Constitution Center teaches that it is more essential than ever for our youth to understand the meaning of our constitutional heritage, and to know the meaning of the freedom it secures. You cannot preserve what you do not revere, you cannot protect what you do not understand, you cannot defend what you do not know.”
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy has advanced the cause of civic education throughout his life. He was born in Sacramento, California, July 23, 1936, and received his B.A. from Stanford University and the London School of Economics and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School. After a career spanning private practice, public service, and academia—teaching constitutional law at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law—he was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1975 and was nominated as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987. He served from February 18, 1988, until he retired on July 31, 2018. Justice Kennedy has repeatedly emphasized the importance of civic education and has worked to foster such education whenever possible. He has lectured and taught at universities and professional associations both here and abroad.
PLEASE NOTE: Credentials are required for press entry to this event. Press interested should visit constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal/media-info for more information.
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About the Liberty Medal
The Liberty Medal was established in 1988 to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution. Given annually, the medal honors men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe. A full list of all past recipients is available here: constitutioncenter.org/liberty-medal/recipients.
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling our congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
