Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Fifty years after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his legacy endures in the daily work of countless movements, organizations and organized protests. We in the women’s movement, like so many others, draw inspiration from Dr. King’s example of peaceful protest, passionate advocacy and positive solutions.

When Dr. King marched with workers, he marched with women who were being paid horrifically low wages. When Dr. King spoke out against oppression, he was heard by women who were denied equality.

And when we in the women’s movement have marched on Washington, we march alongside Dr. King.

We honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King and rededicate ourselves to the cause of equality and justice he so revered.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

When the House voted on the recent omnibus spending bill, lawmakers included language to support survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination. But when it got to the House, Mitch McConnell said, “never mind,” and removed provisions that would have finally brought accountability and transparency to Congress’ sexual harassment reporting process.

As Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said, “It begs the question: Who are they trying to protect?”

We know who. Every woman knows who. We know how men who harass women are protected and the sexual harassers are enabled. The indifference of Senator McConnell echoes the mistreatment and neglect of hundreds of women who have been abused in spaces of power.

“Sexual coercion knows no party lines,” states Toni Van Pelt, President of the National Organization for Women, “in order to end sexual harassment and assault in all workplaces, we must begin with our leaders. It is time for our representatives on the hill to be a part of solution instead of perpetuating the problem.”

It’s time for a change. NOW supports the initiative taken by all 22 female Senators, Republicans and Democrats alike, to amend the 23-year old law that governs employment complaints in Congress. The current Congressional Accountability Act places an unfair burden on survivors requiring that they undergo counseling, mediation and a month-long “cooling off” period before filing suit against their harassers. Policies like these protect predators and leave survivors vulnerable to further abuse. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) reports that 75% of survivors experience retaliation when they report their abuse.

The House of Representatives did the right thing in taking the necessary steps to change the culture of sexual harassment on Capitol Hill. The Senate needs to step up as well. Harassers must be held accountable for their actions, survivors deserve justice, and our nation’s leaders must begin to vote with the moral integrity they claim to hold dear. Enough is Enough.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The Washington Post is reporting that the Humane Society of the United States is resisting making broader changes in the wake of the resignation of CEO Wayne Pacelle, who’s been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. After a law firm was hired to investigate the claims, the board of directors shut down the inquiry without taking any action, falsely claiming that the probe found “no credible evidence” of harassment. Two hours after that statement was issued, Pacelle resigned.

Now, donors are asking new CEO Kitty Block to replace the board chair, Eric Bernthal, launch a new investigation into past complaints of harassment, and apologize to the women who felt unsafe at work. These are all good steps, but they should be only the beginning.

The Humane Society has said it will consider another inquiry, and has committed to “a comprehensive culture change initiative” and a “board governance review” to be conducted by outside experts. These are promising words, but they need to be followed by concrete actions.

Here’s a suggestion. Instead of hiring more lawyers and management consultants, why not go to the experts on sexual harassment and workplace culture. There are many groups hard at work today to transform the culture of sexual harassment and assault to one that respects women and values them as equals. If the Humane Society really wants to bring about change for women, they should invite women’s groups who have professional expertise in this area to be part of the transformation.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241