The Torch – 03.19.17

Jeff Ruch is Executive Director of Public Employees for Environmental
Responsibility – PEER. Prior to that Jeff was the Policy Director and
a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project representing
whistleblowers from both the public and private sector. PEER advocated
against the political manipulation science, defending whistleblowers,
protecting public health and shielding scientists from interference in
the public sector.
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Ruthie Epstein is deputy advocacy director at the New York Civil
Liberties Union. She lobbied for reforms to the criminal justice and
immigration systems, as well as coordinating the organization’s
response to the 2014 Central American refugee crisis at the southern
border. From 2005 to 2013, she worked at Human Rights First in New
York City, advocating for protections in the U.S. refugee and asylum
systems.