Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hypocrisy and misogyny have long been hallmarks of the response from professional sports organizations when it comes to sexual assault committed by their players. As the just released investigation by the USA Today Network documents, the NCAA is a repeat offender when it comes to putting profits over people. They have continued to let college athletes charged with assault off the hook, with at least 28 current and former athletes allowed to stay in the NCAA despite being disciplined or even convicted for a sexual offense at another college.

Like the NFL—or, for that matter, Hollywood, Wall Street or anywhere #MeToo truths are being told, the NCAA must be held accountable for excusing, enabling and perpetuating a culture of sexual misconduct and victim-blaming.  NOW is working to stop U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from tilting the scales of justice even farther away from survivors and allowing athletes convicted of violent sex crimes to stay in multi-million dollar sports programs.

No one is above the law, and no institution is above accountability for patterns of criminal behavior and violence against women.  The NCAA must institute rigorous and enforceable codes of conduct that prevent teams from monetizing sexual abuse. This predator pipeline must come to an end. Enough is enough.

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement by Chair of NOW PAC Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While the Nov. 20th debate finally included questions on paid family leave and #MeToo, an updated analysis by the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) found that of the 470 questions asked of the Democratic presidential candidates so far, only a handful addressed topics most important to women voters. 

In a detailed review of every debate held so far, NOW PAC found: 

• 14 questions about education – but zero were about sexual assault on campus. 
• 34 questions about gun control, but zero questions about domestic violence, despite the fact that 52 women each month are shot and killed by an intimate partner.  
• Only one question asked to one candidate about LGBTQIA+ rights – even though the Supreme Court is currently hearing historic cases on LGBTQIA+ job protections. 
• 42 questions about immigration – but zero about violence against immigrant women. 

 NOW PAC hand-delivered our analysis to Politico, which will co-host the next debate, as well as a “Decisive Dozen” suggested questions that are not “niche issues” or “identity politics,” but urgent topics that are on the minds of millions of Americans.  We also submitted these questions to co-host PBS NewsHour.  

Additionally, NOW supports the nationwide #AskThemMore campaign about the issues that face women and their families and launched a social media campaign to encourage the moderators to ask the candidates about these concerns. 

The sixth debate, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 19th, will be one of the last before the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. In early stages of the primary, candidates like Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris had to proactively bring up issues like abortion and equal pay – and their voices will be extraordinarily missed on the debate stage. 

Our message to the moderators: Get the candidates on the record on the issues that women and families live with, worry about, and have to overcome each and every day. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The $25 million settlement that Harvey Weinstein and executives from his bankrupt film studio reached with some of the women who accused the producer of rape, sexual harassment and other criminal conduct must not be a “get out of jail free” card for Weinstein.   

The payout for the survivors participating in the lawsuit would come from insurance companies representing Weinstein Co., meaning the alleged attacker himself will not pay a dime of his own money. Furthermore, Weinstein will not have to admit fault and take responsibility for these horrific crimes. This is yet another egregious example of a system that is designed to protect abusers, rather than women.  

A settlement does not change the fact that Weinstein is a sexual predator who is facing harassment and assault claims from nearly 100 women. A criminal trial still lies ahead, and justice demands that he be held accountable for these crimes.

Enough is enough.  

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745