Over the last eight years members from the Make it Safe Coalition (MISC) have arranged an assembly of whistleblowers in Washington, DC each year for an annual conference originally known as Washington Whistleblower's Week. ACORN 8 (www.ACORN8.com) will host and the Brown Center for Public Policy (www.Whistlewatch.org) will co-host this year's Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights on July 28-31, 2014. Code Pink (www.codepink.org) and the Black Law Student Association at Georgetown University Law Center will join us in support of whistleblowers and whistleblower protections this year.
We are proud to announce that corporate / business sector champions will be included as Pillar Award recipients this year. Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Senator Ronald Wyden (D-OR) were honored with a Pillar Human Rights Award for International Person's of Conscience last year. We also recognized broadcasters/journalists with previous Pillar Awards; Rob Kall was recognized for OpEd News (New Media category) and a posthumous award went to Ambrose Lane (Broadcaster). The Pillar is awarded to notable civil and human rights champions; previous recipients include Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
"There is no freedom of the press without news sources. There can be no congressional oversight without government informants. Whistleblowers are the Fifth Estate protecting freedom and liberty from government overreach and corporate abuses." --Michael McCray
Founded over 60 years ago to support Free Speech and First Amendment Rights, the Pacifica Foundation (www.pacifica.org) has fought for and vigorously defended these rights all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. A staunch supporter of unfettered free speech, the Pacifica National Board voted unanimously to support legislation that would protect Whistleblowers and Free Speech in 2010.
Consequently, the Pacifica Radio Network was the first national media organization to formalize its support for Whistleblowers. Once again, as in previous years, the Pacifica Foundation will actively participate and support this years Whistleblower Summit in Washington, DC. The conference theme this year is--Is It Right?
"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but we must take it because our conscience tells us that it is right." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I am so excited about co-hosting the Whistleblower Summit this year. We will discuss state of international whistleblower protections and the state of whistleblower protections in the U.S."--Evelynn Brown, J.D., LL.M the Chief Executive Officer for the Brown Center for Public Policy a 501(c)3 nonprofit, public benefit corporation.
The public and all whistleblowers and their advocates, as well as the entire civil rights community are invited to participate, from Black Farmers and USDA employees who report "pink slim" in our food supply, to NSA whistleblowers reporting domestic surveillance on the American people. The Government Accountability Project (GAP), the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) and the Pacifica Foundation will continue their support of whistleblowers and this event. Gloria Minott, Public Affairs Director for WPFW will moderate this year's event. The Whistleblower Summit will include workshops and panel discussions;
Celebrating National Whistleblower Appreciation Day
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