BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - More than a dozen protestors gathered in front of the Federal Building in Bangor Wednesday to speak out against the firing of federal whistleblowers.
Organizers say two civil rights attorneys and a supervisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were fired last year shortly after raising concerns about the department’s actions.
More than 1,600 people, including over 100 Mainers, signed a petition regarding the so called “Fair Housing Three.”
It alleges the whistleblowers were trying to outline how HUD Secretary Scott Turner was dismantling civil rights enforcement and violating federal law.
“These whistleblowers are standing up for all of us. They’re standing up for people who might be discriminated against in housing based on their race, gender, religious orientation,” said Jack McKay, President of the Eastern Maine Labor Council.
“And I think more important than that is that when whistleblowers are fired -- these are our public servants; they work for us -- and when they’re fired, that means anyone who stands up for us is at threat,“ said McKay.
The group delivered the signed petition to Senator Susan Collins’ office.
They’re calling on Collins to do what she can to rectify the situation.
Their demands include accountability from Secretary Turner and rehiring the three fired HUD employees.
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