FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, 16 May 2013
CONTACT:
Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com
As Military Leaders Gather at the White House, Over 45k Urge Hagel to Support the STOP Act to Prevent Rape
** http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/Hagel_military_rape **
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 45,000 people have joined with CourageCampaign.org in urging Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to support the Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention (STOP) Act which takes prosecution, reporting, oversight, investigation and victim care of sexual assault out of the normal military chain of command.
LINK: http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/Hagel_military_rape
According to estimates from the Department of Defense (DOD), 26,000 service men and women were sexually assaulted while serving in the United States military last year.
“Secretary Hagel has expressed a willingness to consider ‘all options’ to stop the rampant sexual abuse occurring in our military, but there really is only one option,” explained Rick Jacobs, founder of CourageCampaign.org, “We need legislation that will take take the prosecution, reporting, oversight, investigation and victim care of sexual assault out of the normal military chain of command. We need the STOP Act.”
A series of high-profile military sexual misconduct and rape cases, including the conviction and dismissal of Air Force Lt. Col. James Wilkerson, and a widespread investigation at Lackland Air Force Base that resulted in the dismissal of several basic training instructors, have brought public and political attention to the issue and highlighting the importance of removing the prosecution of rapists out of the normal military chain of command.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130513/NEWS/305130032/Hagel-open-all-op
For interviews with CourageCampaign.org, please contact Brett Abrams at 516-841-1105 or by email at brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com.
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CourageCampaign.org is an online organizing network that empowers more than 750,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. As a leading multi-issue advocacy organization, Courage Campaign’s work is supported by thousands of small donations from our diverse community.