A coalition named “Stop Watching Us,” made up of over 100 public advocacy groups, is organizing “The Rally Against Mass Surveillance” planned for Saturday, October 26, 2013 and meeting in front of Union Station in Washington, DC. Among the speakers will be Government Accountability Project (GAP) National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack, who will read a statement that former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden asked her to read on his behalf. Snowden publicly expressed his support for the event in a statement published by the ACLU yesterday.
Other speakers include NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake, noted security technologist Bruce Schneier, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), Khalilah Barnes from EPIC, Laura Murphy from the ACLU, former Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and many other prominent thought leaders, public servants, and entertainers. Together, they will deliver a petition to Congress signed by more than 500,000 people opposed to NSA policy.
“It’s clear we now live in a surveillance state and this simply cannot stand,” observed GAP Executive Director Beatrice Edwards. “There must be a place for national security whistleblowers to go without being harassed, terminated, investigated, or prosecuted. Whistleblowers are necessary to revitalize our democracy, but they must have a safe place to bring their concerns. Last year, when Congress enacted the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, it left out national security whistleblowers. Including them now is essential.”
The Government Accountability Project champions government and corporate accountability and transparency by advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering citizen activists. Since its founding in 1977, GAP has fought to make large bureaucratic institutions accountable through the effective exercise of conscience.
Douglas Kim is External Relations Officer for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leadingwhistleblower protection and advocacy organization.