STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to Allegations of Criminal Behavior of Sexual Prevention Officer at Fort Hood
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2013 Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com
*** STATEMENT ***
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS LATEST ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE COORDINATOR APPALLING
WASHINGTON, DC – This evening the Pentagon revealed that there are new allegations of criminal behavior against a sexual assault prevention and response coordinator, a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class who was stationed at Fort Hood. This comes on the heels of the chief of the Air Force’s sexual assault prevention and response branch being arrested for sexual battery.
Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish released the following statement:
“These latest allegations of criminal behavior by yet another sexual assault prevention and response coordinator are appalling, if true and show the need for fundamental reforms.
The Pentagon is responsible for failing to effectively govern its personnel. The problems are so long standing and pervasive that, at a minimum, it constitutes gross negligence on the part of the leadership and actually reflects, albeit informal, countenancing of a culture of violent abuse.
The reporting, investigation and adjudication of sexual assault must be taken out of the chain of command.”
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Bloomberg: Obama Vows Action After Air Force Sex-Assault Chief Charged http://www.sfgate.com/
Talking Points Memo: VA Prosecutors Not Handing Over Case Of Air Force Officer To Military Authorities
http://livewire.
Washington Post: General’s promotion blocked over her dismissal of sex-assault verdict
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
LA Times: Military sex crime record should bring shame
http://www.latimes.com/local/
Arizona Republic: Protest planned over base transfer of sex-scandal figure
http://www.azcentral.com/news/
Wired: Air Force Chief of Sexual-Assault Prevention Arrested on Sexual Battery Charges
http://www.wired.com/
Protect Our Defenders petition Calling on Sec. Hagel to Remove Lt. Gen. Franklin and Lt. Col. Wilkerson: http://www.causes.com/aviano
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/
Protect Our Defenders partners with Attorney Susan Burke, Burke PLLC to advance lawsuits filed against the DoD and service academies for repeatedly ignoring rape, sexual assault and harassment, failing to prosecute perpetrators and retaliating against the victim.
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