MEDIA ADVISORY: Protect Our Defenders to Join Senator Barbara Boxer for LA Press Conference on Sexual Assault Legislation
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:
May 30, 2013
Contact: Peter True (202) 224-8120
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
TOMORROW
BOXER TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES ON LEGISLATION TO FIGHT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY
Senator Will Be Joined By A Survivor of Military Sexual Assault Who Will Speak Out for the First Time
Washington, DC – On Friday, May 31st at 11:30 a.m. PT, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will hold a press conference to discuss her bipartisan legislation with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to address the epidemic of military sexual assault by ensuring that decisions to prosecute these heinous crimes are made by trained military prosecutors – not senior commanders. At the event, Senator Boxer will be joined by Stacey Thompson of San Clemente, a Marine Corps veteran and sexual assault survivor who will share her story for the first time.
The Department of Defense estimates that more than 26,000 incidents of sexual assault or other sexual crimes occurred in the military last year. Only 3,374 of these crimes were reported, resulting in just 238 convictions. The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing next week on legislation to combat military sexual assault, including the bill sponsored by Senators Boxer, Gillibrand and Collins.
Senator Boxer has long fought to strengthen the military’s response to sexual assault, including calling for a full investigation and justice for the nearly 100 women and men who were harassed and assaulted at the Tailhook Association convention in 1991. Last year, Congress passed Boxer’s legislation to ban anyone convicted of a felony sex crime from joining the military. In March, the Senator testified before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel on the need for a comprehensive response to sexual assault in the military.
At the press event, Senator Boxer and the other speakers will make brief remarks and then take questions from the media.
WHO:
Senator Barbara Boxer
Stacey Thompson, Marine Corps Veteran and Survivor of Military Sexual Assault
Brian Purchia, Protect Our Defenders
WHEN:
Friday, May 31
11:30 a.m. PT
WHERE:
California Women’s Law Center
5670 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Note: Parking for the media is available in the garage behind the building; the entrance is on Hauser Blvd.
RSVP: Media interested in attending the event should RSVP to Zachary Coile at Zachary_Coile@boxer.senate.gov
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