News-Story

Michael Allen reports for Opposing Views: According to the Associated Press, about 50 people demonstrated for 45 minutes outside the...

Group Protest Airmen’s Transfer to D-M

Kevin Adger reports for Tuscon News Now: Read the accompanying article.

PRESS RELEASE: Outside Tucson Base Victim’s Family Call for Pilot Convicted of Sexual Assault be Removed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2013  Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com Tucson Contact: Max Wertheimer, 415-302-1584, max@protectourdefenders.com  *** PRESS RELEASE ***   OUTSIDE TUCSON BASE VICTIM’S...

AP: Rally Held to Protest Air Force Officer’s Transfer

Jacques Billeaud reports for The Associated Press: Protect Our Defenders issued a response to Franklin’s letter Tuesday, saying Franklin’s account...

Panel Guts Bill Easing Veterans Sexual Assault Claims

Rick Maze reports for Navy Times: A House panel Thursday gutted a bill that would have ordered the Veterans Affairs...

Air Force Plans to Investigate New Allegations Against Wilkerson

Nancy Montgomery reports for Stars and Stripes: That decision by Franklin triggered a storm of protest from groups representing victims...

Senator Puts Hold on Air Force 3-Star’s Promotion

Donna Cassata reports for The Associated Press: In February 2012, Helms rejected the recommendation of legal counsel and overturned the...

AP: Rally Held to Protest Air Force Officer’s Transfer

Jacques Billeaud reports for The Associated Press on Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders, which advocates for military members who...

Video: Family of Sexual Assault Victim Opposes Transfer of Air Force Pilot to Tucson

KGUN 9 Tuscon reports: Read the accompanying article.

Video: Air Force Sex Assault Case Lands at DM – and Outrages Family

KGUN 9 Tuscon reports: Read the accompanying article.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Tucson Family Protests at Base Where Pilot Convicted of Sexual Assault Transferred

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2013  Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com Tucson Contact: Max Wertheimer, 415-302-1584, max@protectourdefenders.com  *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***   VICTIM’S FAMILY AND SEXUAL...

Sen. McCaskill: I’m Fighting to Give Victims Of Sexual Assault in the Military Their Day in Court

Sen. Claire McCaskill writes for PolicyMic: I’ve held the hand of hundreds of survivors. Their experiences — and their courage...

STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls for Pilots to be Dismissed from US Military

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 25, 2013  Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT ***   PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS FOR AIR FORCE PILOTS...

AP: Woman Stunned by Reversal of Officer’s Conviction

Jacques Billeaud reports for the Associated Press: “They could send him to a number of places,” said Stephen Hanks, an...

CBS News: Transfer of Air Force Officer Accused of Sex Assault Outrages Alleged Victim’s Family

CBS News reports on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: “They are incentivized to sweep these cases under the rug....

NBC News: Convicted of Sex Assault – Then Cleared – Fighter Pilot Sparks Protest at Tucson Base

Bill Briggs reports for NBC News on Protect Our Defenders: The conviction’s reversal and Wilkerson’s subsequent transfer to Tucson prompted...

Air Force to Probe New Allegations in Sex Assault Case that Roiled Military Justice System

Nancy Montgomery reports for Stars and Stripes: Air Force Secretary Michael Donley wrote in an email to an official in...

Reuters: Ex-Air Force Instructor Gets Six Months for Role in Sex Scandal

Jim Forsyth reports for Reuters on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: “Survivors of rape and sexual assault encounter numerous...

Ex-Lackland Instructor Gets 6 Months for Abuse

Sig Christenson reports for The San Antonio Express-News: A former Air Force basic training instructor who faced 33 years for...

AZ Star: AF Officer Given Clemency in Sex-Assault Case is at D-M

Stephanie Innes reports for The Arizona Daily Star on Protect Our Defenders: A national group that supports survivors of military...

Former MTI Gets 6 Months; is 17th Court-Martialed in Lackland Sex Scandal

Kristin Davis reports for Air Force Times Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: A former military training instructor convicted of...

Sexual Assault Advocate Wants Air Force General Fired

Courtney Coren for Newsmax on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: According to [POD President Nancy Parrish], Franklin’s letter “provides...

Politico: A Call to Fire General in Sexual-Assault Dismissal

Juana Summers reports for Politico on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: Parrish argued that Franklin’s decision to overturn the...

Group Seeks Firing of 3-Star Who Overturned Sex Assault Conviction

Kristin Davis reports for Military Times on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: Parrish accuses Franklin of using “failed and...

Protest Planned Over Base Transfer of Sex-Scandal Figure

Dennis Wagner reports for The Arizona Republic on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: “In every case, the facts in...

Ex-Lackland Instructor Not Guilty in Rape

Sig Christenson reports for the San Antonio Express-News: A former Air Force basic training instructor was exonerated today of raping...

Demand Sec. Hagel Remove 2 Air Force Pilots Following Aviano Sexual Assault Scandal

Causes.com posted about our petition: A Lt. Col. in the Air Force was convicted of aggravated sexual assault. But now...

More Female Servicemembers Reporting Sexual Abuse

Gregg Zoroya reports for Stars and Stripes: Roughly one out of five military women say they were victims of unwanted...

Politico: Air Force Secretary Defends Aviano AFB General

Politico reports on Protect Our Defenders: One of the two in which Franklin intervened sparked a backlash in Washington: Franklin...

Military Culture and Sexual Assault

Lois Kazakoff writes for the San Francisco Chronicle: The 49-year-old victim came forward and reported the assault. Instead of seeing...

Politico: Advocates Call for AF General’s Ouster

Juana Summers reports for Politico on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: Parrish argued that Franklin’s decision to overturn the...

PRESS RELEASE: Letter to Sec. Hagel Shows Commander Unjustly Overturned Sexual Assault Conviction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2013  Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com *** PRESS RELEASE ***   LT. GEN. FRANKLIN HAD NO RATIONAL BASIS...

Airman Woke Up As He Was Being Raped

Apr 22 2013

Sig Christenson reports for the San Antonio Express-News: “He says he felt like, in a split second he had two...

Sex Assault Clemency Surprised Prosecutor

Apr 22 2013

Navy Times reports: “I turned to [him] and said, ‘We just lost military justice,’” the prosecutor recalled in a recent...

MEDIA ADVISORY: Victim’s Family to Protest Outside Tucson Base Where Pilot Convicted of Sexual Assault Transferred

Apr 19 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2013  Contact: Brian Purchia, , brian@protectourdefenders.com  *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***   VICTIM’S FAMILY AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS TO PROTEST...

Daily Beast: Cracking Down On Military Rapes

Apr 19 2013

Marjorie Morrison reports for Daily Beast on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: Nancy Parrish, President of Protect Our Defenders...

Rep. Patrick Meehan: End Court-Martial Loophole

Apr 19 2013

Rep. Patrick Meehan writes for Philly.com: Granting a single commander the ability to overturn decisions that were made by a...

Cohen: Not-So-Friendly Fire

Sam Cohen reports for Yale Daily News: But because sexual assault is so underreported and stigmatized, there is often no...

The Bandana: Senior Military Officer Misconduct

Charles Haddis writes for And Magazine: I commend General Dempsey for recognizing he has a problem. I am sure that...

Military Sexual Assault Victims Share Heartbreak as Lawmakers Renew Push

Jennifer Hlad reports for Stars and Stripes on Protect Our Defenders Honorary Chair Rep. Jackie Speier: While the legislation was...

Politico: Pressure is on DoD to Combat Sexual Assault

Juana Summers reports for Politico: “A change in culture comes from knowing there are consequences — which we’re focused on...

Ex-Air Force Training Instructor Found Guilty

K-SAT San Antonio reports: Thornberry’s court-martial is the 15th military trial held in a series of allegations against military training...

People: Jennifer Beals Takes on Sexual Assault in the Military in Web Series “Lauren”

Maggie Coughlan reports for People Magazine: Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals are taking on a very serious issue: sexual assault...

Records: Army Allowed Police Shooter to Resign

Martha Mendoza reports for The Associated Press: Records show the Army commander of a former soldier who gunned down two...

ABC News: Rep. Speier Continues Campaign to Combat Sexual Assault in Military

John Parkinson reports for ABC News on Protect Our Defenders Honorary Chair Rep. Jackie Speier: “This bill fixes the problem,”...

Jury Seated in Court-Martial of Former Lackland AFB Drill Sergeant

Karen Nelson reports for the Sun Herald: Bass faces up to life in prison. If convicted, he will join 13...

Speier Bill Would Revamp Military Justice for Rape

Josh Richman reports for Contra Costa Times on Protect Our Defenders Honorary Chair Rep. Jackie Speier: “Victims of rape and...

Congresswoman Reintroduces Bill To Combat Military Sexual Assault Epidemic

Paul Szoldra reports for Business Insider on Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish: If passed, the STOP Act will likely...

PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Applauds Bill to Create Independent Office for Military Sexual Assault