Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is preparing new policies on campus sexual misconduct that turn the government’s response to assault, harassment and rape upside down. She wants to shred the Obama Administration’s guidelines for rightfully and aggressively holding schools accountable for complaints of sexual harassment and rewrite the rules to limit the definition of sexual harassment and favoring the rights of students accused of assault.

Under the Obama guidelines, schools could rely on the lowest standard of proof, or the “preponderance of evidence” when deciding whether or not an alleged perpetrator should be punished for sexual misconduct. But in Betsy DeVos’ upside-down land, schools could decide which level of evidence to rely on when investigating misconduct, narrow the definition of sexual harassment, and only be accountable for complaints which are formally filed.

Betsy DeVos sees no evil, hears no evil and speaks no evil against sexual predators on campuses across the country. Instead, she joins her partner-in-crime Donald Trump in railing against bureaucracy and standards of evidence that support survivors of sexual assault.

The new rules will not require congressional approval to be enacted, but lawmakers are not off the hook. Congress must call on Betsy DeVos to explain why she gives more weight to the feelings of the perpetrator and short shift to the survivors of the horrific crimes of sexual assault, harassment, and rape. Congress should strengthen the laws dealing with campus sexual violence and hold the schools and perpetrators accountable rather than covering up these crimes and letting schools and predators off the hook.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The observance of 2018 Women’s Equality Day in the U.S. is inseparable from the history of the fight for women’s right to vote. In honor of this important day, I will join Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and other supporters to ring the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Tuesday, August 28.

We have to remember that it was Jim Crow laws that kept most black women and men from voting. It wasn’t until passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 that the right to vote was extended to all adult citizens. However, those rights are under siege. Women’s Equality Day is a special reminder that we must protect women, particularly women of color, from the onslaught of voter suppression laws that can tilt the balance of elections.

For the first time, this year a woman has been named to lead the NYSE. Just over 30 years ago, there wasn’t even a ladies’ room on the 7th floor – where the men’s only lunch club occurred. Although the role of women at many of the companies traded at the NYSE has changed for the better over the years, there is still a long way to go. Many companies still need to make improvements – such as pay equity and more women executives – and there is more work to be done to achieve true equality.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to read “What’s unequal about Women’s Equality Day” to learn more about how much I appreciate Women’s Equality Day. Let us not forget how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

His tweet calling Omarosa Manigault Newman a “dog” is only the latest example of one of Donald Trump’s favorite topics—his low opinion of people of color, especially Black women.

In fact, dehumanizing language was the first thing we heard from candidate Donald Trump, who rode down that golden escalator with hate speech about Mexican rapists in his pocket.

Since then, Trump has referred to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) as “low IQ” seven times this year, often before cheering crowds who also roar their support for his attacks on African American athletes and journalists.  And Trump loves to tweet about “illegal immigrants” that “infest” our country.

We all know what Donald Trump left unsaid when he called his former top-ranking African American advisor a “crazed, crying lowlife” and “that dog.”

We’re likely to hear even worse language from Donald Trump before long.  This is not news.

What’s important is this: what do we do about limiting the damage Trump can do while he remains in office?  How can we protect and defend women, and expand women’s rights?

The answer is three months away.  Our focus must be on Election Day.

NOW is calling on voters to stand up to Donald Trump’s hate speech and dehumanizing language in the next election.  Your vote is your voice–use it!

Contact

Brittany T. Oliver, comms@now.org, 202-628-8669