The National Constitution Center and Liberty Medal Committee decided earlier this year to award the Liberty
Medal to Mikhail Gorbachev in September. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is none other than former
president George H.W. Bush. In view of Gorbachev's media comments supporting the invasion of Georgia, we
feel that the award should be rescinded.
Attached is a petition which can be altered to suit your community/organization/etc.
We need to act on this immediately. You can also call or email your displeasure.
We also ask that you pass this on to other ethnic groups which might support our petition, like Georgians, Poles,
Hungarians, etc. Canadians can get involved as well.
Ihor Kusznir
UCCA Philadelphia Branch
SAMPLE LETTER
To: National Constitution Center / Liberty Medal Committee
I am a member of the Ukrainian-American community and firmly believe that the decision to award
Mikhail Gorbachev the prestigious Liberty Medal should be reconsidered. Your own published
criterion clearly states that “the Liberty Medal is awarded annually by the National Constitution
Center to men and women of courage and conviction who have strived to secure the blessings of
liberty to people the world over.”
However, due to the extremely disturbing tone of Mr. Gorbachev’s recent statements on CNN and in
the New York Times concerning the Russian invasion of Georgia, a sovereign nation, I believe his
views to be dangerous, controversial, and in direct contradiction to the values embodied by the
Liberty Medal. His support of military action to crush a fledgling democracy is not something that
deserves praise or accolades.
I am expressing my deep concern in this matter and request that Mr. Gorbachev's Liberty Medal be
rescinded by the National Constitution Center.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Joseph M. Torsella
President and CEO, National Constitution Center
ceo@constitutioncenter.org
Ashley Berke
Senior PR Manager, National Constitution Center
215-409-6693