National Whistleblower Day on July 30 is a significant commemorative occasion for the defence and sanctity of the United States. Any society or industry can be weakened and destroyed by corruption and unlawful activities. Usually, when such occurrences go unreported or unnoticed, they continue to develop. Whistleblowing, which is the act of reporting or exposing illegal deeds to the authorities, is crucial for safeguarding the rights of the public and the sovereignty of the nation. After a revolutionary event involving whistleblowers in the 1700s, the American Congress enacted a resolution to protect the whistleblowers involved. Since then, the day has been commemorated to encourage whistleblowers to speak out.
The background of National Whistleblower Day
During the American Revolution, on July 30, 1778, the Continental Congress passed the first law protecting whistleblowers. After ten whistleblowers exposed a superior officer in the Continental Navy, the landmark legislation was passed. The atrocities committed by Commodore Esek Hopkins against British prisoners were heinous. Lieutenant Richard Marven and midshipman Samuel Shaw reported Hopkins to the authorities after learning of his actions. The courageous act of Marven and Shaw is recognised as the first whistleblowing act in the United States. Each year, the National Whistleblower Centre, which was founded in 1988 by attorney Stephen M. Kohn, conducts an annual celebration. During President Richard Nixon’s re-election, a significant event involving disclosure occurred. Mark Felt, an FBI agent from 1942 to 1973, assisted “Washington Post” reporters Bob Woodard and Carl Bernstein in investigating and exposing the Watergate scandal.
In addition to government agencies, corruption occurs in industries such as commerce, health care, and finance, and in such agencies, employees and customers typically serve as whistleblowers. In collaboration with the Tuskegee Institute, the Public Health Service conducted a study on the corruption of health-care professionals. It was disclosed that penicillin was not administered to patients even when it was readily available. In a separate instance, an NYPD detective raised the alarm when he discovered that corruption was occurring within his department. The Founding Fathers of the United States envisioned a nation where whistleblowers are protected and encouraged to expose corruption and unlawful activities.
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5 WHISTLEBLOWER FACTS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
In contrast to media stereotypes, whistleblowers are widely admired and esteemed for their actions.
In 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States reported more than 3,000 whistleblowing requests.
The United Kingdom has reported a 38% increase in whistleblowing.
Approximately sixty percent of whistleblowing involves people’s concerns about general regulatory actions.
Fraud and manipulation occurring in the corporate and political sectors are the most frequent types of whistleblowing complaints.
NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 30 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 30 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 30 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 30 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 30 | Friday |
