PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Receives $1,000,000 Gift & Matching Grant from Delores Barr Weaver
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2013 Contact: Brian Purchia, ,brian@protectourdefenders.com
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PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RECEIVES $1,000,000 GIFT AND MATCHING GRANT FROM DELORES BARR WEAVER; SUPPORTS EFFORTS FOR FUNDAMENTAL REFORM TO THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
Jacksonville, FL philanthropist Delores Weaver donation to Protect Our Defenders supports national efforts for an independent and impartial justice system
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Protect Our Defenders (POD) announced that Jacksonville, FL philanthropist Delores Barr Weaver has donated $500,000 and pledged $500,000 more in matching funds to the non-profit. With this extremely generous support from Ms. Weaver, Protect Our Defenders has expanded its pro bono legal network, launched a national grassroots campaign to fight for victims of rape and sexual assault in the military, opened an office in our nation’s capital, and brought on more staff. POD is the only national human rights organization solely dedicated to eradicating harassment and sexual assault in the U.S. military, ending retaliation against victims, and ensuring justice and support for survivors of this epidemic.
Mrs. Weaver was driven to help the cause after watching the Oscar nominated film “The Invisible War,” which features many Protect Our Defenders members, including Jacksonville resident and Tailhook Whistleblower, Paula Coughlin. The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, which administers the Delores Barr Weaver Advised Fund, connected Mrs. Weaver with the non-profit.
“We are on the cusp of fundamental reform in the way our military handles rape and sexual assault cases,” said Delores Weaver. “I am proud to stand with Protect Our Defenders and the victims who are on the frontlines of this battle, pushing for an independent and impartial military justice system. I am supporting this amazing organization because of their unwavering commitment to the victims of these reprehensible crimes, and their tireless work to fix a broken system that continues to fail our brave men and women in uniform.”
Last month, Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board Member Paula Coughlin kicked off the “Educate Your State” initiative. The grassroots effort has survivors, their families, and supporters of victims of sexual assault in the military asking their elected officials to support the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA), soon to be introduced as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in the Senate for a vote. This common sense legislation would move the decision to prosecute and adjudicate sexual assault cases from an often-biased chain of command — a step toward creating an independent and impartial military justice system.
MJIA, introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has widespread bipartisan backing, with 46 senators publicly supporting the bill, including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Senator Ted Cruz (D-TX), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). On the House side, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) has introduced the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention Act (Stop Act). This bill removes authority for handling these cases from the chain of command. The legislation currently has 148 co-sponsors. In March 2013, Rep. Speier introduced the Military Judicial Reform Act, which prohibits a convening authority (the person taking action on the findings of a court-martial), from modifying the courts findings or sentence. Delores Weaver said, “We cannot stop here. We must go to the top….the President and First Lady.”
“Delores Weaver’s support for fundamental reform to our military justice system has been a game changer. It could not have been more perfectly timed,” said Nancy Parrish, President of Protect Our Defenders. “With her help, we have greatly expanded our capacity to share with the nation stories of service members who were not only victims of rape within the military, but were often retaliated against by their chain of command. Sharing these stories with our fellow Americans, the media and members of Congress is why today, the United States Senate is on the verge of passing historic legislation – a critical first step to create an independent and impartial justice system to protect victims of sexual assault in our military.”
“Given Mrs. Weaver’s passion for this issue, we were confident that connecting her with Protect Our Defenders would open the door to attain maximum impact for her support,” said Nina Waters, president of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. “Connecting donors with nonprofits, and helping them direct and structure their giving is at the core of what we do.”
Since its launch nearly two years ago, Protect Our Defenders has organized a robust network of survivors all across the country, won YouTube’s annual Nonprofit Video Award,and has been leading the fight for fundamental reform to the military justice system by exposing numerous scandals. Last year, Protect Our Defenders led efforts to force Congress to hold an open hearing into the ongoing sexual abuse scandal at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Protect Our Defenders has also testified at House and Senate Armed Services committee hearings on sexual assaults in the military. At a hearing this past March, Advocacy Committee member Brian Lewis called on Congress to “eliminate the bias and conflict of interest inherent in the military justice system.” In June, President Nancy Parrish testified that “taking responsibility and authority for administering the legal process out of the chain will increase accountability.”
Protect Our Defenders has also worked closely with the victim of the sexual assaultscandal at Aviano Air Base Italy. The victim’s attacker, Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, was convicted of aggravated sexual assault at the base last year. As his punishment, Wilkerson was dismissed from the Air Force and sentenced to one year in jail. However, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin then overturned the conviction and freed his fellow pilot, reinstating him back into the Air Force against the recommendation of his own legal counsel. The national organization brought the victim to meet with elected officials ahead of the March Senate hearing. Wilkerson was reassigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where many of Wilkerson’s victim’s family reside. Protect Our Defenders has also launched a campaign demanding President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel remove both Franklin and Wilkerson. The organization also protested outside Davis-Monthan – calling for the removal of the two officers.
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Find out more about the “Educate Your State” initiative here
Florida Times-Union: Delores Barr Weaver backs national effort to support victims of military sexual assault
Politico: Military sex assault bill stalled by Syria
http://www.politico.com/story/
San Antonio Express-News: Hagel misses important opportunity
New York Times: Revisiting the Military’s Tailhook Scandal
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/
McClatchy News: Senators differ on role for military brass in sexual assault cases
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Stars & Stripes: Emails show general warned against reversing Wilkerson verdict
http://www.stripes.com/news/
Protect Our Defenders Point by Point Rebuttal of Gen Franklin’s 18 Reasons for Overturning Col Wilkerson’s Sexual Assault Conviction
Associated Press: Air Force Officer Transfer Draws Protest
http://bigstory.ap.org/
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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