News Blog

Remarks from Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen at the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces

Mar 24 2021

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 25, the United States Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing...

STATEMENT PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS PENTAGON’S NEW CIVILIAN-LED COMMISSION ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT

Feb 26 2021

Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon announced the formation of a civilian-led commission to address the epidemic of military sexual assault. The...

STATEMENT SURVIVOR WHO HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT IN VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO RELEASES OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Feb 24 2021

Updated March 3, 2021 Washington, DC – Last Friday, a TikTok video in which a distraught Marine expresses her grief after finding out the servicemember...

STATEMENT NEW RAND REPORT FINDS ODDS OF LEAVING THE MILITARY DOUBLE AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT

Feb 09 2021

Washington, DC – The Rand Corporation has released a new report that found sexual assaults and harassment in a single year were associated with...

Speier, Wexton Urge Tighter Security Clearance Protocols to Screen for Ties to White Supremacist Groups

Feb 09 2021

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence...

Join POD’s Don Christensen for a conversation about the military’s racial disparities

Jan 26 2021

Tonight at 7:30PM eastern time. See invite info below.

GILLIBRAND APPLAUDS BIDEN ORDER OVERTURNING BAN ON TRANSGENDER MILITARY SERVICE

Jan 25 2021

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration announced an executive order overturning a Trump-era rule that barred additional transgender people from serving openly in...

Biden Secretary of Defense Nominee Lloyd Austin Asked About POD Pledge

Jan 21 2021

Washington, D.C. – At his Senate confirmation hearings on January 19, 2021 President Biden’s Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin was...

Celebrate Survivor Heroes

Jan 18 2021

Watch a panel of survivors discuss their experiences… with a special surprise at the end.

Survivors Speak Out About the Work of Protect Our Defenders

Jan 17 2021

Hear what survivors of military sexual assault have to say about Protect Our Defenders. Donate to POD here.

STATEMENT SUPREME COURT RULES MILITARY RAPE CASES HAVE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN 8-0 VERDICT

Dec 10 2020

Washington, DC –Today, in a 8-0 decision regarding U.S. v Briggs, the United States Supreme Court voted that a five-year statute of limitations does not...

DECLARACIÓN LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE FORT HOOD ENCUENTRA UNA CULTURA “PERMISIVA” DE AGRESIÓN Y ACOSO SEXUAL; 14 LÍDERES DEL EJÉRCITO DESPEDIDOS O SUSPENDIDOS

Dec 09 2020

Washington, DC – Hoy, una investigación independiente sobre una serie de muertes en Fort Hood en los últimos meses, incluido...

STATEMENT FT. HOOD INVESTIGATION FINDS “PERMISSIVE” CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT; 14 ARMY LEADERS FIRED OR SUSPENDED

Dec 08 2020

Washington, DC – Today, an independent investigation into a number of deaths at Fort Hood in recent months, including the tragic murder of Vanessa Guillén,...

Gillibrand Statement on Army’s Report on Command Culture at Fort Hood

Dec 08 2020

Washington, DC – Addressing the release of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee’s (FHIRC) report, which found significant failures with how the Army...

STATEMENT PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FILES AMICUS BRIEF BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE FERES DOCTRINE; PROVIDE PATH TO JUSTICE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS

Dec 02 2020

Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the national organization dedicated to ending the epidemic of sexual assault and racial disparity in the...

Vice News: The U.S. military is facing its own #MeToo moment

Nov 20 2020

“Rape in the military is a huge problem. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to take a hard line, saying he’ll support...

Speier, Gillibrand Demand Explanation for Delayed Investigation Into Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against Former Navy Auditor General

Nov 19 2020

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of...

STATEMENT EXCLUSIVE CBS SERIES DIVES DEEP INTO MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT DOCUMENTING PENTAGON’S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM

Nov 17 2020

Washington, DC – Tonight, CBS Evening News will launch a four-part investigative series that details a year-and-a-half long investigation into the epidemic of sexual assault...

KERA News: Military Justice Reformers Pushing Senate Candidates To Pledge To Support Guillén Bill

Oct 08 2020

Published by KERA News (PBS & NPR affiliate for North Texas), by Bret Jaspers. LISTEN: The legislation would remove sexual...

* PRESS RELEASE * Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Senate Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault