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Huff Post: Lawmakers To Bring Sexual Assault Survivors And Activists To State Of The Union

January 28, 2018
In the News

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By Alanna Vagianos

At least eight members of Congress plan to bring sexual assault survivors or activists to the State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Many of these lawmakers said the Me Too movement, which has shed light on sexual harassment and other gender-based misconduct across various industries, had inspired them to invite their guests.

"I have never seen such an extraordinary opportunity to change the culture of society in my lifetime," Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) told HuffPost. "I will use every opportunity to underscore how important it is for us to stay on this issue and clean up the mess that has been impacting women in the workforce for decades."

Others said they hoped to remind viewers that at least 21 women have accused President Donald Trump of sexual harassment or assault.

In addition to Speier, Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) have invited activists or survivors to join them at the State of the Union. Several female Democratic lawmakers also plan to wear black Tuesday night to show support for movements protesting sexual harassment and assault.

Speier said she's bringing Travis Moore, who advocates to Congress on behalf of survivors of sexual harassment and violence.

"I hope [Travis' presence] sends a strong message to survivors that we believe them, we respect them and we are going to take action against persons who engage in sexual harassment in the workplace and hold them accountable for their conduct," Speier said.

Coleman is to be accompanied by Rose Gunter, niece of the late Recy Taylor. Taylor was a black woman who reported six white men for gang-raping her in 1944.

Lawrence plans to bring Danielle McGuire, whose 2011 book, At The Dark End Of The Street: Black Women, Rape, And Resistance, told the story of Taylor's life and legacy. Coleman, Lawrence and some of their colleagues have said they will wear red "Recy" pins during the address.

Frankel has invited Laura Germino, an anti-trafficking activist and co-founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a human rights organization that promotes safe and fair conditions for farmworkers.

Issues:Equality