Standing up for survivors
When my daughter went off to college, I gave her a strong whistle and we had a conversation about staying safe. She thanked me and said, “you’re talking to my brother about this too, right?”
Sexual assault and domestic violence are a disturbing reality we have to address, and it starts with awareness and prevention.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and people across our country are discussing domestic violence in many contexts – even in the presidential campaign. Unfortunately, one candidate's attitude toward women and comments about sexual assault are offensive and alarming. No one – especially our elected officials and candidates for President – should joke or brag about sexually assaulting women.
Let's be loud and clear: leadership means standing up for survivors.
Together we can make a difference, and let’s start by putting an end to assaults on college campuses. Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, and I are supporting the Campus Accountability & Safety Act to help universities prevent sexual assault while enforcing the law and respecting the privacy of victims.
We can also protect survivors by closing the background check loopholes that allow stalkers and abusive ex-partners to access guns.
We have some healing to do as a country, and we can start that right now.
Thank you for standing with me.
Suzanne