PRESS RELEASES
National Organization for Women - NYS Demands Removal of Senator Monserrate from Position of Power
January 31, 2009 |
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Press Statement by Marcia Pappas
“Today, we, the National Organization for Women-NYS and advocates dedicated to ending violence against women, stand before you to say it is time for every lawmaker in New York State to denounce violence against women and to finally, once and for all, tell the truth. That truth is that violence against women is a “hate crime.” Opponents of this truth would ask the foolish question “What if he only does it once?” I ask those opponents, would we be asking that same question if the violence was targeted towards any other groups of people? Women make up over 52% of the population, and yet, at least one in every 4 women will be the target of a hate crime (beatings, rapes and other crimes). Further, these are crimes against women simply because they are women. Two out of three of those victims are targeted by those who supposedly love them.
This press conference was inspired by recent media reports regarding Senator Hiram Monserrate who was arrested for allegedly beating his girlfriend. Several news reports said that the victim received twenty stitches and stated at the hospital that Monserrate had abused her. As many such victims do, she later retracted her accusation.
In spite of pending charges, NY State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has appointed Monserrate Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee. Although there was probably no legal bar to Monserrate’s being seated in the NY Senate, his elevation to a leadership position is a slap in the face for every woman in New York State. He must be asked to step down.
The NYS Legislator, including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senator Malcolm Smith, and Governor Paterson, must stand up and say NO to Violence Against Women. Democrats hold a majority in our State government and they must use the power of their pens to stop violence against all women, both through strengthened legislation against these crimes, and through passage of laws that will punish perpetrators for all sorts of Violence Against Women and girls.
Why do law makers devalue the seriousness and magnitude of violence against women as something that only happens at home? These crimes are wrongly conveyed as a harmless lovers spat? These crimes against women are “hate crimes.” New York State Law loosely defines domestic violence as a “family offense.” If a man were to shove a woman, it does not rise to the level of a crime and is often seen as merely an act of familial violence. But if a man where to shove a police officer, this would be considered a real crime. Further, when a case comes before a civil court, the assumption is that someone has broken the law. BUT, when it goes into family court, the situation is seen as a spat between two equal adults who couldn’t get along. This could not be further from the truth. Domestic violence is a hate crime, and we should tell the truth about these injurious actions towards women.”
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