FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 28, 2018
CONTACT:
Becky Carroll Becky@cstrategiesllc.com
Caroline Wellford Caroline@cstrategiesllc.com
STATEMENT FROM MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-HARASSMENT, EQUALITY, AND ACCESS PANEL REGARDING THE KAVANAUGH HEARINGS
CHICAGO, IL - A day after the Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel released its roadmap to combating sexual harassment in campaigns and political organizations, we witnessed an appalling spectacle in Washington, D.C. that should never have happened.
One of the Panel’s central recommendations is to get more women elected to public office. In Illinois, women make up just 35.6 percent of the legislature and on the Federal Level, a meer 20 percent. Imagine if an equal number of male and female senators sat on the Judiciary Committee. Would the committee have proceeded with a truncated hearing BEFORE an FBI investigation of claims was undertaken?
We need greater female representation in elected office throughout Illinois and the country to fix the broken culture and male-dominated thinking that breeds sexual harassment and puts women like Dr. Ford in a position to out herself as a survivor to defend the integrity of our judicial system.
Today’s decision to belatedly commission an FBI investigation is a small step in the right direction. However, this hardly makes up for the dismissive attitude shown to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford evidenced by comments from some elected officials right up to the President. The male hierarchy apparently has learned few lessons in the 27 years since the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings. A thorough and unrushed investigation is what Americans deserve.
We stand with Dr. Ford and commend her bravery in sharing her painful experience. Furthermore, we believe that Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination has become a referendum on how to address allegations of sexual assault. His nomination should be withdrawn from consideration to America's highest court.
The Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel is a non-partisan panel led by Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, State Senator Melinda Bush (31st District, Grayslake), and State Representative Carol Ammons (103rd District, Champaign-Urbana)