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    The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice
    The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice
    The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice
    Ebook143 pages1 hour

    The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice

    By Cathy Harris

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    About this ebook

    Susan B. Anthony's leadership and courage led to the rights for women to have the right to vote.

    Courage was Harriet Tubman's only friend as she returned to the plantations of the antebellum south to free people who were scared to live and afraid to die.

    Speaking truth to power and challenging a government infrastructure that thrives on the ignorance and fear of the people require uncommon courage. That same spirit of determination, courage, and conviction is what keep and sustain Cathy Harris as a modern day suffragist for human rights.

    Cathy Harris has fought and continues to fight for the rights of international travelers, many of whom are African American women, who have been abused and violated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees and other federal agencies.

    Like Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman, Cathy has been despised and persecuted for her ideas and her advocacy. As a U.S. Senior Customs Inspector/Officer, she was threatened by management, unjustly disciplined and ostracized by her peers.

    Although Cathy has continually bore the consequences of her convictions, she continues to press on by bringing to the public’s attention the many ways that U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) officials have violated the human rights of international travelers and their own employees.

    In 1998, Cathy Harris was instrumental in exposing the racial profiling practices of Customs and Border Protection to Congress and to the public. Legislation was introduced and international travelers have more legal protections and stronger avenues of recourse if abused by U.S. Customs officials.

    The price Cathy has paid has been great! In the Federal Government too often those who work for the government are the public's first hope of being protected from practices that harm or violate the rights of - we the citizens.

    Government entities like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection do whatever they can to discredit people of conscious like Cathy Harris who speak out against unethical and immoral practices.

    We the American public should take a stand and support Cathy Harris and all her efforts in challenging the practices of the federal government especially the Department of Homeland Security.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCathy Harris
    Release dateDec 11, 2012
    ISBN9781301382309
    The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower's Victorious Journey to Justice
    Author

    Cathy Harris

    Cathy Harris is an Empowerment and Motivational Speaker, Health and Wellness Expert, Business Coach and the self-help author of 18 books. She is an expert on many different topics including health, business, writing/publishing, workplace discrimination, whistleblowing, law enforcement, domestic and international traveling, politics, community relations, family empowerment, and media. Her books and articles are full of content-rich material to help anyone get back into the driver’s seat.

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      Book preview

      The Cathy Harris Story - Cathy Harris

      OTHER BOOKS BY CATHY HARRIS

      The Failure of Homeland In-Security

      Flying While Black

      Police Interactions 101

      Domestic and International Traveler’s Survival Guide

      Recession Survival Guide

      Workplace Survival Guide

      Discrimination 101 (Volume I & Volume II)

      How To Write A Book

      My Hair, My Crown, My Glory

      Politics 101

      Cancer Cures

      A Woman’s Guide to Buying a New or Used Vehicle (Part I & II)

      A Self-Help Guide to Empowering Your Family and the Entire Community (Series 1)

      A Self-Help Guide to Starting Your Own Business (Series 2)

      A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days (Series 3)

      THE CATHY HARRIS STORY:

      A Whistleblower’s Victorious Journey to Justice

      by

      Cathy Harris

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      PUBLISHED BY:

      Angels Press on Smashwords

      Angels Press

      P.O. Box 5288

      Atlanta, GA 31107

      http://www.AngelsPress.com

      info@AngelsPress.com

      The Cathy Harris Story: A Whistleblower’s Victorious Journey to Justice

      Copyright 2012 by Cathy Harris

      All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

      Smashwords Edition License Notes:

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Dedication

      Preface

      Disclaimer

      Chapter 1. When Giving Your Best is Not Enough

      Seeking a Career in the Federal Government

      Challenging Duties of a Customs and Border Protection Officer

      The High Cost of Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer

      Chapter 2. Persecution at the Ports (El Paso, Miami, Atlanta)

      Mexican Border: The Exploitation of Women

      Miami: Drug Infestation and Harassment

      Port of Atlanta: The Spirit of a Warrior Emerges

      Chapter 3. Whistleblowing: A Life-Altering Experience

      An Unwilling Eyewitness

      Time to Make a Stand

      Steps I Took to Expose the Agency

      Chapter 4. Disparities in Policies and Practices

      Hate Crimes Against Women Employees

      Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA)

      Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

      Chapter 5. New Legislation and Reforms

      Outcome of Special Investigative Reports

      Changes in Reporting Misconduct

      Harsh New Table of Offenses

      Disciplinary Review Boards (DRB)

      Chapter 6. Acknowledged Vindication

      Appendices

      Appendix A: Other Disturbing Customs Practices in the Port of Atlanta

      Appendix B: Comments During Sexual Harassment Investigation in Port of Atlanta

      Appendix C: Customs Discipline Review Board (DRB) Questions and Answers

      Acknowledgements

      Author Comments

      Reader Comments

      About the Author

      DEDICATION

      This book is dedicated to my two lovely daughters who are business owners and future leaders of America. Both of you have made me very, very proud. Keep moving forward!

      It is also dedicated to other trailblazers seeking a better world. Always have the courage to stand up for your beliefs and remember that the truth is still the most powerful political weapon on this planet.

      PREFACE – NOTE TO THE READER

      Courage is that rare trait that requires the unusual strength to do what is right - not what is popular in the face of personal harm and at great risk. Susan B. Anthony had the courage to guide thousands of women through that era of U.S. history when women were treated as second-class citizens despite the threats to her personal safety. Her leadership and courage led to the rights for women to have the right to vote.

      Courage was Harriet Tubman's only friend as she returned to the plantations of the antebellum south to free people who were scared to live and afraid to die.

      Speaking truth to power and challenging a government infrastructure that thrives on the ignorance and fear of the people require uncommon courage. That same spirit of determination, courage, and conviction is what keep and sustain Cathy Harris as a modern day suffragist for human rights.

      She has fought and continues to fight for the rights of international travelers, many of whom are African American women, who have been abused and violated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees and other federal agencies.

      Like Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman, Cathy has been despised and persecuted for her ideas and her advocacy. As a U.S. Senior Customs Inspector/Officer, she was threatened by management, unjustly disciplined and ostracized by her peers.

      Although Cathy has continually bore the consequences of her convictions, she continues to press on by bringing to the public’s attention the many ways that U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) officials have violated the human rights of international travelers and their own employees.

      In 1998, Cathy Harris was instrumental in exposing the racial profiling practices of Customs and Border Protection to Congress and to the public. Legislation was introduced and international travelers have more legal protections and stronger avenues of recourse if abused by U.S. Customs officials.

      The price Cathy has paid has been great! In the Federal Government too often those who work for the government are the public's first hope of being protected from practices that harm or violate the rights of - we the citizens.

      Government entities like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection do whatever they can to discredit people of conscious like Cathy Harris who speak out against unethical and immoral practices.

      We the American public should take a stand and support Cathy Harris and all her efforts in challenging the practices of the federal government especially the Department of Homeland Security.

      WARNING - DISCLAIMER

      The publisher/author has attempted to make this book as complete and accurate as possible. However, with a subject as broad as international travel, specific situations and details can change quickly. Therefore, this book should be used only as a general guide and not as the ultimate source of information.

      Readers should always seek out other information sources to confirm the material in this text before planning or engaging in international travel. The publisher/author shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity for any damage, injury, or loss resulting from any information or advice contained in this book.

      In this book -- U.S. Customs Service (USCS) (the old Customs Service under the Department of the Treasury) became the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (www.CBP.gov) under the Department of Homeland Security in (http://www.DHS.gov) in 2003 -- so the names are interchangeable.

      CHAPTER 1: WHEN GIVING YOUR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH

      Whoever would have thought that one day, a girl from rural Georgia, would change a whole nation. I became a Federal Whistleblower in October 1998. The sweeping effect of my actions has forever altered the United States Customs Service (now called the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)) . . . and me.

      Let Me Start from the Beginning

      I was the sixth of nine children born to parents whose primary livelihood came from farming. My father worked in a factory to pay the bills. My mother was a housewife who stayed home to raise her children and tend the farm. She cleaned other peoples’ houses sometimes for extra income. After her children were older, my mother also went to work at one of the local factories.

      Even though my childhood could be described as underprivileged, I always felt rich because of the upbringing and values instilled in me as a child. My mother always taught me to treat others the way you want to be treated. Always respect others, especially the elderly, she said. I remember her wise words, If you must choose between right and wrong, choose right. Her advice would serve me well later in my life.

      I was a good student in school, and I always tried to be kind and treat others fair. When I was in the seventh grade, schools in the South were desegregated. I adapted well to my new environment and graduated in the top tier of my high school class.

      I wanted to attend college, however, I didn't go. My classmates encouraged me, but I had no mentor in my life to provide direction about obtaining college financial aid and scholarships.

      At the time, I knew my parents could not afford to send me to college. So, after high school graduation, I started working in the factories like my parents and their parents before them.

      Right away, I realized that factory work was not the life for me. My dreams and aspirations were much broader. From

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