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General News    H2'ed 8/13/13

Whistleblower Summit Success: Groups Demand Investigations of USDA & EEOC for Cooking the Books on Discrimination Claims

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Whistleblowers and their advocates descended on Capitol Hill last week for the Whistleblower Summit for Civil and Human Rights. Previously known as Washington Whistleblower's Week, this three-day event featured Awards Presentations, Plenary Session, Workshops and Panel Discussions, Press Conference at the National Press Club, National Whistleblower Appreciation Day Luncheon and Welcome Reception, Book Signing and Film Screening, and Solidarity Dinner.

Rob Kall receives prestigous Pillar Human Rights Award
Rob Kall receives prestigous Pillar Human Rights Award
(Image by Margo Rush)
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I want to thank  Pacifica for continuing support of the Whistleblower Summit on Civil and Humans Rights. The Summit was held July 29-31 in Washington, DC.  I am happy to report that this years Whistleblowers Summit  was a huge success. Our partners are increasing, growing stronger and  more diverse.  Their commitment to supporting Whistleblowers and First Amendment Rights advocates is strengthening.  

Gloria Minot, WPFW Public Affairs Director  has continued her excellent moderating again this year and helped us achieve so much by running tight panels.  We have expanded our media  participants to include  a major Hollywood consortium which  produced   The Fifth Estate  to Russian Television.  Russian Television's Abby Martin, host of RT's     Breaking The Set , participated on one of the  panels and invited a fellow panelist, Tom Devine, on her program for an in depth interview.



The Whistleblower Summit on Civil and Human Rights officially ended on July 31st.  However, many of our attendees stayed on to contact members of Congress and Senior Members of the Obama Administration.  A group of USDA Whistleblowers, Black and Native American Farmers, and  Employees carried on very effectively contacting many senior members of the of the USDA administration. We even supported a resolution to eliminate the racially offensive term "Red Skins" from usage within the federal government.



Below is a partial list of highlights from the  Whistleblower Summit.  


   WB Summit on Civil and Human Rights-Highlights 
  •   Whistleblower and Civil Rights activists came together from across the country: Standing room only attendance .
  •   Raised public awareness and placed Whistleblowing in its proper historical context i.e., an act of  patriotism sanctioned by the Continental Congress.
  •      Met with Senator "Chuck" Grassley during the week he introduced new legislation dedicating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.
  •     Congressional Black Caucus Chair,  Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH)  Pillar Human Rights Award. 
  •      Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) (possible presidential candidate) personally accepted our Pillar Human Rights Award. 
  •     Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Pillar Human Rights Award. 
  •      Posthumous Pillar Human Rights Award presented to the family of a beloved author, journalist and award-winning radio host, Ambrose Lane
  •      First ever Pillar Award presented to New Media publisher and Bottom-Up advocate for pioneering work in social media, Ron Kall  OpEdNews.com
  •   Documentary Film Crew covered the conference to submit to Sundance. 
  •   Major Hollywood Film Studio which aired a trailer for the new Julian Assange film "The Fifth Estate" participated at National Press Club.
  •     Direct participation by an International Television Network, Russian Television. 
  •     Premier of Whistleblower  Program "The Fifth Estate" on Pacifica 
  •      Whistleblower Book Signing and Film Screening of "War on Whistleblowers" at Busboys and Poets.
  •     Participation by the "Free Bradley Manning Campaign".
  •       Announced new strategies for implementing the Whistleblower Protection and Enhancement Act (WPEA).
  •      Presented EEOC Obstacles to Employment rebuttal report. 
  •       Requested OIG (Office of Inspector General) investigation of USDA and EEOC for Civil Rights violations.
  •    U.S. Office of Special Counsel panel participation.
  •       Held National Whistleblower Appreciation Day Lunch and Welcome Reception.
  •        Enjoyed Whistleblower Solidarity Dinner on Waterfront.
  •       Day of Action: Demonstration on the National Mall.

During the Whistleblower Summit FEW/LEF, the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees and Coalition For Change (C4C) supported an investigation of official misconduct in administratively closing over 3,000 previously unprocessed claims at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and possible complicity by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

 

---------------------------

Letter To USDA and EEOC Inspectors General

 

July 30, 2013

 

 

Phyllis Fong, Inspector General

USDA--Office of Inspector General

Room 117-W Jamie Whitten Building

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Michael McCray is a public interest advocate who combats racism and corruption in the government and other institutions which deprive individuals of their basic civil rights, human rights and constitutional liberties. McCray is co-chair (more...)
 

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