Prominent Civil Rights Leaders Condemn EPA’s Unethical Retaliation

Washington, D.C. July 13, 2006.   The National Whistleblowers Center announces the establishment of a defense fund for Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, a nationally recognized whistleblower employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”).

After winning a major trial in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in which the jury found EPA guilty of illegal discrimination against her, Dr. Coleman-Adebayo became the leading force behind the passage of a major civil rights-whistleblower protection law, the “No FEAR Act of 2002.”

Unfortunately, EPA’s highest managers have continued to harass Dr. Coleman-Adebayo. In order to force her resignation from the Agency, the EPA has refused to provide necessary medical accommodations for Dr. Coleman-Adebayo

A national defense fund has been formed to provide Dr. Coleman-Adebayo the resources necessary to continue her fight for civil rights and whistleblower protections for all federal employees.  The fund can accept donations online on our Donate Now page or by mail at P.O. Box 3768, Washington, D.C 20027.

Stephen M. Kohn, President of the National Whistleblowers Center, issued the following statement:

Dr. Coleman-Adebayo led the successful efforts for the first civil right and whistleblower protection law passed in the 21st century. The Administrator of EPA has attempted to unethically use Dr. Coleman-Adebayo’s medical condition to force her resignation from federal employment. One word describes this conduct: despicable. 

The Center announced the formation of the fund at a demonstration led by the Reverend Walter Fauntroy Jr., joined by other leading whistleblower and civil rights activists, at EPA Headquarters.