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Brandon Man Picked for Injustice Panel
Date of Release: 05/12/2010
By: YVETTE C. HAMMETT
Army National Guard veteran Michael Keller has been named by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
Keller, 32, who lives in Brandon with his wife Kendra, 2-year-old daughter Morgan and 5-year-old son Trent, will fill an unexpired term ending in September, at which time he will be eligible for reappointment.
"We are so pleased to welcome Michael Keller to the commission," said Derick Daniel, executive director of the commission. "His expertise will be a great addition to the commission and we are looking forward to working with him in serving the people of Florida."
Keller, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, has written and published a memoir of his experience, "Torture Central: Emails from Abu Ghraib." His special interests are in human trafficking and detainee operations.
Keller said he saw first-hand torture being used on detainees at Abu Ghraib, even after media was reporting the practices had stopped. He said he helped to end those practices.
"What I bring to the commission is my experience with human rights violations," said Keller, technology officer for the International Direct Selling Technology Corp. in Tampa.
"And I?m very interested in the problem of human trafficking. Florida is the third largest destination in the United States for human trafficking," Keller said. It involves children, young women and workers. "That is an area I am hoping to focus on. I hope to get policies implemented to help stop it."
Most victims of human trafficking never make it back home, he said. The problem of human trafficking is not just international, he said. There are also domestic kidnappings, where young women are sold into human slavery.
The Florida Commission on Human Relations consists of 12 commissioners of various racial, religious, ethnic, social, economic, political and professional groups within the state, all appointed to four-year terms by the governor, subject to senate approval.
The Florida Legislature created the commission to investigate and resolve discrimination complaints in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and Florida?s Whistle-blower?s Act.
http://brandonnews2.tbo.com/content/2010/may/12/br-brandon-man-picked-for-injustice-panel/
