The City of West Hollywood’s HUMAN RIGHTS SPEAKERS SERIES presents a panel discussion:

The Crusade Against Child Abuse 

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 | 7:00pm – 9:00pm 

Approximately 5 children die every day because of child abusers and over 3.6 million cases of child abuse are reported every year.

Join us for a crucial panel discussion with some of California’s fiercest child abuse prevention advocates and leaders, aiming to raise awareness of child abuse - a human rights issue that directly impacts millions of children across the nation each year.

The panel will include discussion surrounding existing laws and practices, available programs and services, the risk factors, and the long-term impacts of child abuse - on the victims, their families and our society - to help raise awareness on this important human rights topic. 

West Hollywood City Council Chambers
625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 

Free Admission. RSVP Required:
https://HRSS-2023Apr11.eventbrite.com 

SPECIAL GUEST PANELISTS:
Jonathan Hatami, Child Abuse Prosecutor
Brian Knappenberger, Director, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
Bethel Cope-Vega, Deputy District Attorney, Child Abuse
Dawn McCoy, TV Host, Writer & Child Abuse Prevention Advocate - Moderator 

SCHEDULE:
6:30PM - Doors Open
7:00PM - Opening Remarks - Mayor Pro Tempore John M. Erickson, Ph.D.
7:10PM - Panel Discussion
8:15PM - Q&A 

Community members may view this event live on WeHoTV on Spectrum Channel 10 within West Hollywood or on City’s WeHo YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv. It will also be live-streamed on services such as AndroidTV, AppleTV, FireTV, and Roku. Digital streaming platform viewers can find programming by searching for “WeHoTV.” Details about WeHoTV are available at www.weho.org/wehotv.

Jonathan Hatami is a 17-year veteran prosecutor of the Los Angeles CountyDistrict Attorney’s Office. Hatami is currently assigned to the Complex ChildAbuse unit as a senior trial attorney. He has handled thousands of child physicaland sexual abuse cases and has prosecuted over 70 felony jury trials including thefour-month trial of the torture and murder of Gabriel Fernandez. He is featuredin the six-part Netflix true crime documentary “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez”released in 2020.

Brian Knappenberger is an Emmy nominated, award winning director of documentaries and series including TURNING POINT: 9/11 and the War on Terror, Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press and The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. His film The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, won a WGA award for Best Documentary Screenplay and was shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His recent film Church and the Fourth Estate was nominated for an Emmy. He runs the Los Angeles based production company Luminant Media.

Bethel Cope-Vega holds the distinction of being the sole child abuse prosecutor in Orange County.  Her cases include abusive head trauma in infants, torture, and a recent spike in casualties of fentanyl.   It is her honor to fight for the most vulnerable of victims.   

Prior to graduating law school in 2009, she taught high school in Compton, CA for five years.  When one of her students was shot and killed, she witnessed both the grief and wariness his murder brought.  She was inspired to work relentlessly toward accountability for those who break the law, integrity by those who enforce it, and justice for all victims.  

Bethel was recently elected to the board of the association for inclusion, diversity, and equity in her office.  She loves mentoring young people interested in law, playing with her ever-growing children, and she recently learned how to ride a motorcycle. 

Dawn McCoy is a tv host, actor, writer and heads her namesake media company. The mother of a child abuse/traumatic brain injury survivor, she is also the founder of Loving Way - a child abuse prevention and awareness organization - named in honor of her son, Waylon. Dawn also proudly serves on the board of Holton’s Heroes, an organization that supports pediatric traumatic brain injury survivors and their families.


Validated parking will be available at the adjacent 5-story West Hollywood Park structure, limited to availability. 

For more information, please contact Joy Tribble at jtribble@weho.org.