Whistleblower Summit
Civil & Human Rights Conference
May 21-23, 2012
The ACORN 8 and the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees will co-host this year’s Whistleblower Summit—Civil & Human Rights Conference in Washington, DC. Over the last six 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. As usual the MISC and the media are always invited, but we are proud to announce that MSNBC Host Dylan Ratigan has agreed to participate and that Free Speech TV (FSTV) and the PACIFICA Radio Network have committed to broadcast the historic event this year.
The MISC is as assortment of various public interest/advocacy groups including the Government Accountability Project, the International Association of Whistleblowers, the American Federation of Government Employees, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Project On Government Oversight, the No FEAR Coalition, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Voices for Corporate Responsibility, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters; which focus on significant areas of public concern and individual rights, such as First Amendment, federal workforce, medical safety, national security, judicial reform, etc.
WB Summit / Conference Themes
- Obama’s War on Whistleblowers
- Workplace Violence in the Federal Government—Obama’s War on Women
- Count-It-Up—Adding the total costs to American Taxpayers due to discrimination and retaliation.
Schedule of Events
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May 21, 2012 |
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9:00—11:00 |
Registration & Check-In The Mott House 122 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002
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12:30—1:30 |
Opening Plenary Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Room 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Panel discussion on strategy for passing new important whistleblower legislation (WPEA, No FEAR II, CDA, etc.). Followed by a symbolic “Empty Chair”welcome honoring courageous whistleblowers who cannot be present due to retaliatory imprisonment, untimely death or increased prosecution under the Obama Administration, or Obama’s War on Whistleblowers. The USDA Coalition will ask President Obama to promptly intervene and bring this long history of widespread discrimination to an end. Also violence in the federal workplace, or Obama’s War on Women, and Count-It-Up calculating the total costs of discrimination and retaliation to American taxpayers. Welcome by Marcel Reid, Pacifica Foundation.
Pillar Human Rights Award Presentation
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2:00—4:00 |
WB & New Media Panel Discussion Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Room 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
First Amendment, Blowing the Whistle with Public Radio and using Public Radio for community organizing and activism.Brief history of the Pacifica Network and panel conversation with members of the Pacifica Foundation and/or local board and staff. Tapping the Power of Media “How can we use the power of story, and new internet media, to promote social justice?” Moderated by MSNBC Host Dylan Ratigan
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5:00—7:00 |
Welcome Reception The Mott House 122 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002
The Government Accountability Project will sponsor a wine and cheese reception followed by a “Silent Auction.” Recognition awards will be given to notable whistleblowers and advocates who have demonstrated strength, courage and fidelity to our cause.
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May 22, 2012 |
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11:30—12:30 |
Peace & Justice Press Conference National Mall at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial 1964 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20001
Press conference on the National Mall at the Martin Luther King Memorial. The USDA Coalition will ask President Obama to promptly intervene and bring this long history of widespread discrimination to an end. We want USDA top officials held “accountable,” and the USDA Office of Civil Rights —administration and process— put into "receivership."
No FEAR Awards / Report Card Presentation
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12:30—2:00 |
Citizen Testimonials National Mall at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial 1964 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20001
No FEAR Award given at the press conference on the mall. An annual awards presentations for notable First Amendments, Civil Rights and Human Rights champions. No FEAR Report Card. This event will serve to commemorate the historic tenth year anniversary of the passage of the No FEAR Act, the first civil rights bill of the 21st century.
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3:00—5:00 |
Legislative Lobby Training The Mott House 122 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002
A Legislative History and Training Session hosted by the Government Accountability Project (GAP) concerning the pros and cons important pending legislation affecting Whistleblower and their advocates, e.g., Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA), No FEAR II, and Congressional Disclosure Act (CDA).
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4:00—6:30 |
Whistleblower Book Signing Busboys & Poets (14th & V Street) 2021 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009
A panel discussion with distinguished authors of whistleblower books who will be present to autograph and discuss their books, followed by a film screening of “The Invisible War” the winner of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for best Documentary and the true story about the Tail-hook Whistleblower. Book exhibits will be set up and available for viewing during conference. Book-TV (C-SPAN2) has been invited.
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6:30—8:00 |
Whistleblower Film Screening Busboy’s & Poets (14th & V Street) 2021 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009
In-house film screening of “The Invisible War” the winner of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for best Documentary and the true story about the Tail-hook Whistleblower. Book exhibits will be set up and available for viewing during conference. |
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May 23, 2012 |
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11:00—12:30 |
Civil & Human Rights Roundtable The Mott House 122 Maryland Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002
Two part panel discussion challenging the Obama Administration’s War on Women and War on Whistleblowers.
Panel I—Obama’s War on Woman
The USDA Coalition of Minority Employees is requesting Secretary Vilsack to speedily and properly address the decade long racism, sexism, sexual assaults, bullying, racial epithet (hangman's nooses, use of the "N" word, the justifying of a monkey doll award to Black employees), reprisals, intimidation, hostile work environment. Also violence in the federal workplace, or Obama’s War on Women.
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1:00—2:30 |
Panel II—Obama’s War on Whistleblowers
A frank discussion about imprisonment, untimely death or increased prosecution under the Obama Administration, or Obama’s War on Whistleblowers. Strategies for effectively utilizing Social Media, Public Radio and Non-traditional Broadcast Outlets.
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3:00—5:00 |
Congressional & Administrative Meetings (To Be Determined)
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6:00—8:00 |
Whistleblower Solidarity Dinner (Tentatively)
The Dubliner at the Phoenix Park Hotel 520 North Capitol Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
This semi-formal dinner is the capstone event of the conference to promote solidarity within the public interest community.
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