Florida NOW

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There’s the bottom of the barrel, and then there’s Steve King. 

The Congressman from Iowa, who defended white supremacy, has now come out with a defense of rape and incest.   

It’s beyond obvious that Steve King has to resign his seat in politics, apologize to the people of Iowa and find something to do that doesn’t involve thinking, talking or being with other people. 

But Steve King isn’t the only Republican who repeats—or retweets—offensive, ignorant sexist and racist views.  His idiotic statements are part of a spectrum of intolerance, hate speech and bigotry that the House Republican Conference enables through its silence. This language damages the work being done to change our culture to one that respects women as equals and listens to their truths, their stories, their bodies. 

NOW calls on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to require House Republicans to attend gender and racial bias training conducted by independent experts and trainers.  

NOW would be happy to provide some recommendations.   

Contact

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

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The white nationalist who killed twenty people in El Paso targeted more than innocent shoppers and families from both sides of the border. He was aiming to promote the racist, hateful views of a toxic online community that’s been emboldened by what they hear from Donald Trump and his enablers on cable news and online. 

Before committing his act of domestic terrorism, the Texas gunman made sure to explain his actions on an alt-right website.  

“If we can get rid of enough people, then our way of life can be more sustainable,” he wrote. “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.” 

There’s not much daylight between these views and the open racism Donald Trump embraces against immigrants from Latin America at his rallies and on Twitter.  

NOW calls on Twitter to ban Donald Trump from the platform for violating its policies on hateful and abusive content. NOW also joins the call for Mitch McConnell to call the U.S Senate back in session to vote on meaningful gun control. Thoughts and prayers are never enough and they’re not enough today. We need action – NOW. 

Contact

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

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The fix is in to elevate General John E. Hyten to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military’s second highest position, despite credible accusations of sexual assault made by an officer under his command. Col. Kathryn Spletstoser has told investigators and the media about Gen. Hyten’s repeated sexual advances, but she is not being allowed to testify at Hyten’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee today. 

The U.S. Senate proved during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings that it has no interest in investigating charges of sexual assault against Trump’s nominees and feels no responsibility to defend a woman’s right to a safe workplace, or to hold accountable predatory men who treat women as sex objects.   What’s more, this case exemplifies the need to remove these investigations from the military chain of command.  This administration continues to exemplify a toxic culture of powerful men protecting other men – and those who continue to abuse their positions of power. We need to end the culture of sexual abuse, criminality and cover-up.  Justice has been denied too long for survivors like Col. Spletstoser. NOW calls on the Armed Services Committee to let Kathryn Spletstoser testify, and to reject Gen. Hyten’s nomination. Enough is enough. 

Contact

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