Statement on Racist & Sexist Questioning of Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence condemns the racist and sexist questioning and disrespectful behavior that marred the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a nominee who is eminently qualified for the United States Supreme Court. Behavior of this form occurring in institutions and from leaders of our country upholds the very clear message – a Black woman can work hard, excel, and be the best in her field, but she will still be disrespected and her worth and character questioned.

Senators asked Judge Jackson a number of racist questions that have not in the past been asked of white nominees, including:

• Questions about her personal beliefs related to critical race theory, attacks against which are used as a proxy to challenge any assertions that racism continues to exist in the United States.

• A question misrepresenting the content of a children’s book: ‘“Do you agree . . . that babies are racist?”

• Questions implying that she has a “hidden agenda” to remake the United States legal system to impose lesser sentences on people of color than on white people.

• A question minimizing the very real existence and harm of white privilege, describing it as “so-called white privilege.”

• Statements implying that tough but fair questions would be called “racist.”

Moreover, some senators acted inappropriately and disrespectfully towards Judge Jackson through disruptions, theatrics, unsupported political grievances, and social media posts that had nothing to do with her qualifications or judicial temperament.

Not only was this an oppressive and disrespectful way to treat a nominee who is a role model for so many, it sent a terrible message to and has had a painful impact on the Black community, particularly Black women and girls who were watching. Many are survivors of gender-based violence needing a response from their government that respects, supports, and protects them. The racist and sexist rhetoric present during the hearings is incredibly harmful and unacceptable and must be interrupted as we all go forward to dismantle oppression and white supremacy and its harmful effects on victims, survivors, colleagues, and public policy.

For more information, please contact Terri Poore at terri@endsexualviolence.org, Monica McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@nnedv.org, or Rachel Graber at rgraber@ncadv.org.

NTF Celebrates VAWA's Passage and Signing into Law

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) celebrates the passage and signing into law of S.3623, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, as part of the omnibus appropriations bill. S.3623 reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) until 2027 and includes a number of enhancements to increase access to VAWA-funded programs and improve VAWA’s responsiveness to the needs of survivors.

The NTF began the reauthorization process in 2016, doing field assessments to determine what changes needed to be included in a VAWA reauthorization bill well in advance of VAWA’s original expiration date of October 1, 2018. S.3623, and its companion bill, H.R.1620, are the outcome of six years of bipartisan negotiation. We thank Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and their staff for their leadership. We also thank all of the victims, survivors, advocates, and others who reached out to their members of Congress to urge them to support this bill. This is their victory!

Please contact Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org), Dorian Karp (dkarp@jwi.org), Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org), and Terri Poore (terri@endsexualviolence.org) with any questions.

Take Action:

Celebrate VAWA’s reauthorization with these social media posts

Statement and Action in Support of the Senate Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) applauds Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for introducing the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022. This important bill reflects a bipartisan consensus that the government needs to do more to prevent and to respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill addresses the many needs identified during extensive engagement with the domestic violence and sexual assault fields. A summary of the Senate bill can be found here.

The House of Representatives passed their version of this bill, led by Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), last March. The NTF encourages the Senate to swiftly pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and send it to the House for a vote.

TAKE ACTION!

Organizations and individuals: Join the NTF in urging your senators to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill. Just click here to automatically send an email! You can find social media posts and graphics here.

Organizations only: In addition to the actions above, please use this form to sign onto the NTF’s letter in support of this bill by Monday, February 14.
Please reach out with any questions to Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org), Dorian Karp (dkarp@jwi.org), Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org), and Terri Poore (terri@endsexualviolence.org).

Action Alert: Day of Action for VAWA with Lead Senators and Angelina Jolie

On January 19, join the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Angelina Jolie, and Senate sponsors of the upcoming Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization for a policy day of action to ask Senators to co-sponsor and pass the bipartisan consensus bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

On December 16, 2021, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced they had reached a deal on a framework to reauthorize VAWA with key improvements and protections to better meet the needs of abuse survivors. They plan to introduce the bill this month. While they are finalizing the bill, they need our help to build support among Senators so they can introduce the bill with as many bipartisan sponsors as possible.

VAWA is a central way the Federal government responds to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. First signed into law in 1994, VAWA creates grant programs to provide services and housing to victims and survivors and training to improve the legal response to gender-based violence. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 is based on extensive work with survivors, direct service providers, and other stakeholders, and is the first reauthorization since the pandemic, which has exacerbated domestic violence and sexual assault.

VIRTUAL RALLY: Join us, with VAWA lead Senators and international human rights and children’s rights advocate Angelina Jolie at 12:15 ET/9:15 PT HERE

TWITTER STORM: Then, join us at 1:00 ET/10:00 PT for a Twitter storm!

CALL YOUR SENATORS: Before, during, or after the rally, call your senators (202-224-3121) or email them through their websites.

This toolkit includes a call script, an email template, sample social media posts, and graphics. It even includes template op-eds and letters to the editor!

Please reach out to Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org), Dorian Karp (dkarp@jwi.org) and Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org) with any questions or if you have an op-ed or letter to the editor placed.

NTF Statement on VAWA Reauthorization by Senate

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) appreciates Senators Feinstein’s, Ernst’s, Durbin’s, and Murkowski’s ongoing commitment to swiftly reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with key enhancements as expressed in their December 16 press release and on the Senate Floor. This lifesaving legislation cannot wait, and a Senate bill must, as the Senators stated, be introduced in January, including the provisions described in the published framework. The NTF will continue to work with the Senate, the House, the White House, the sexual assault and domestic violence victim advocacy communities, and victims and survivors nationwide to expeditiously strengthen and reauthorize VAWA.

Action Alert: Senate Day of Action on October 20th

More than six months ago, the House passed H.R.1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, with strong bipartisan support. The Senate is currently negotiating their own bipartisan reauthorization bill.

We appreciate Senators Feinstein’s, Ernst’s, and Durbin’s leadership in developing a strong bipartisan bill that meets the needs of survivors and that does not include any rollbacks. In order to ensure VAWA is able to pass both Chambers of Congress and be signed by the President before the end of the year, senators must swiftly introduce and pass a bipartisan bill built on H.R.1620.

Join us on October 20 to tell the Senate to introduce and pass a bipartisan bill that meets the needs of survivors and communities ASAP! A Senate bill must be bipartisan, must build on H.R.1620, and must maintain protections for LGBTQ survivors and advocates and other vulnerable populations. It must also:

○     Increase funding for culturally specific organizations;

○     Invest in prevention;

○     Affirm Tribes’ inherent authority to prosecute non-Native rapists and others who prey on Native women on tribal lands;

○     Take meaningful action to address adjudicated domestic and dating abusers’ access to firearms;

○     Improve access to housing for survivors;

○     Promote economic security for survivors; and

○     Address the criminal-legal system’s revictimization of survivors.

Call your senators (202-224-3121) or email them through their websites on October 20. In addition, join our 2:00 EDT Twitterstorm! This toolkit includes a call script, an email template, sample social media posts, and graphics. It even includes sample op-eds and letters to the editor, if you want to go the extra mile!

Please reach out to Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org) and Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org) with any questions.

SAVE THE DATE: VAWA Senate Day of Action on October 20

SAVE THE DATE!

WHAT: VAWA Senate Day of Action

WHEN: All day on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 with a 2:00 pm EDT Twitter storm

WHY: The House of Representatives passed H.R.1620 more than six months ago, but the Senate has yet to introduce a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that builds on H.R.1620 and includes all survivors.

Please use the hashtags #VAWA4All and #VAWA21 for the 2pm EDT Twitterstorm and in all social media activity.

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS: Spread the word about the day of action on October 20 using the unbranded alert template in this toolkit. Then, use the templates in the toolkit to write and submit letters to the editor and op-eds in advance of (or on or after) the day of action - it’s very easy! The toolkit will be updated periodically with graphics and other materials for the day of action.

Please send published op-eds and letters to the editor to Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org) and Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org).

NTF Responds to Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Violence Against Women Act

Today’s United States Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, “Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),” underscored survivors’ urgent needs. Chair Durbin and Senator Ernst confirmed their commitment to working together to secure a bipartisan bill to reauthorize, modernize, and strengthen VAWA.  The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (NTF) appreciates the Senators’ support for reauthorizing VAWA, and we also appreciate Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s testimony about the importance of reauthorizing a VAWA that centers the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native survivors, of Communities of Color, of LGBTQ survivors, of rural and other underserved communities, and that closes the so-called ‘boyfriend loophole.

We must remain mindful of the fact that this VAWA reauthorization is occurring nearly two years into a pandemic: a public health crisis that is unparalleled in our lifetimes and one that literally changed the way in which we provide the life-saving services that we do every day. Because of this, in addition to the important DOJ-centered responses that were discussed today, we urge the Senate to work toward a final bill that responds to the totality of survivors’ needs including housing, unemployment insurance, training for employers on responding to gender-based violence, and prevention.

The NTF rejects any proposal to reauthorize VAWA through a short-term extension. VAWA is receiving record funding through the annual appropriations process, and while VAWA must be reauthorized swiftly, reauthorizing it without key enhancements does not meet the needs of survivors. Bipartisan negotiations have been ongoing for five years, and the Senate must move forward. We urge the Senate to introduce and pass a robust, bipartisan VAWA this year that builds on the House-passed bill, H.R. 1620, with survivor-centered enhancements to meet the urgent needs of our communities. We cannot wait. Survivors cannot wait. Tribal Nations cannot wait. Advocates cannot wait. We are ready to support a bill that is responsive to the current realities of survivors, advocates, and our communities.

NOTICE: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Hearing

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it is time for the Senate to introduce and pass a strong VAWA reauthorization that meets the needs of survivors!

 Tomorrow, October 5, 2021, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on VAWA! Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will be testifying before the Committee about VAWA’s successes and the importance of reauthorizing this critical legislation.

VAWA is one of the main pillars of the Federal government’s response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. First passed in 1994, it has been reauthorized three times since then, each time with critical enhancements. VAWA’s authorization lapsed in 2018, and it is past time to reauthorize VAWA, once again, with targeted updates to protect survivors, with a focus on Communities of Color, Tribes, and LGBTQ survivors, to ensure they have access to vital services and to prevent future violence. H.R.1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, passed the House of Representatives in March with strong bipartisan support. A summary of H.R.1620 can be found here.

Throughout the month of October, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence will be calling on our allies in the gender-based violence field and beyond to push the Senate to introduce and pass a strong, bipartisan VAWA reauthorization bill that is substantially similar to H.R.1620 and that meets the needs of survivors. We are currently working with Senators Durbin, Ernst, and Feinstein to finalize such a bill. This hearing is an important first step.

Watch the hearing online here and tweet along using the hashtag #VAWA4All.

And please be ready to take action in the weeks to come!

Please contact Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org) and Monica McClaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org) with any questions.

Action Alert: DON’T LET CONGRESS IGNORE SURVIVORS! Senate Action Needed Now!

On October 1st, the House passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief measure to move forward efforts to finalize another much-needed COVID-19 relief bill, after its May passage of the $3.4 trillion Heroes Act was ultimately not taken up in the Senate. The new House measure, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (“Updated HEROES Act”), addresses the health and economic needs of the nation and includes necessary supplemental funding for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and service programs. We thank Speaker Pelosi and all of the House champions who successfully included important increased supplemental funding for survivors of gender-based violence in the bill, while also acknowledging that more needs to be done to address communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and by domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s time for the Senate to prioritize the needs of the American people and take action on a COVID-19 relief package!

The Updated HEROES Act is better for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault than the original one was - you contacted your Representatives to share your concerns, and they listened! It’s time to make the Senate listen, too!

We urge you to take action now by reaching out to each of your Senators to make your voices heard. Ask them to prioritize and quickly take up the Updated HEROES Act and pass this critically needed legislation, which includes much needed relief for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Among other provisions, the Updated HEROES Act:

●     Provides supplemental funding for various Violence Against Women Act and Family Violence Prevention and Services Act grants, including the following that were not in the original HEROES Act:

○     $100 million for the Sexual Assault Services Program;

○     $25 million for Culturally Specific Services;

○     $25 million for outreach and services to underserved populations; and

○     $50 million for Tribal programs;

●     Amends the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to increase deposits into the Crime Victims Fund and waives matching requirements for VOCA victim assistance grantees;

●     Increases immigrant survivors’ access to health, safety, and economic stability by expanding benefits; and

●     Provides survivors additional economic and rental support, including access to unemployment insurance and paid leave.

Please also urge the Senate to add a provision to strengthen survivors’ access to unemployment insurance by ensuring that all states recognize that survivors who need to leave their jobs in order to stay safe meet the state’s “good cause” requirement. This will ensure that survivors get access to the benefits they need as quickly as possible.

Email your Senators TODAY. Use the language below. It’s easy!

My name is [your name], and I am emailing from [your city/state and, if applicable, your organization]. The American people are relying on you to prioritize the passage of an additional COVID-19 relief package. The Updated HEROES Act passed by the House of Representatives on Oct. 1st provides critically needed supplemental funding for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as health and economic supports.

Survivors and the advocates that serve them need your help. In particular, programs in culturally-specific communities who have not yet received any relief funding need this funding to meet the needs of survivors who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic crisis. [Insert specific needs of your community/state].

The country needs you to step up and support the Updated HEROES Act that includes additional and much-needed funding for domestic violence and sexual assault programs, funding for culturally-specific and underserved communities, funding for tribal programs, language to increase deposits into the Crime Victims Fund, and provisions to access to economic and health supports for immigrant survivors. This must be the Senate’s top priority. I am counting on you.

Respectfully,

[Your name, city/state]

For more information, please contact Dorian Karp (dkarp@jwi.org), Rachel Graber (rgraber@ncadv.org), and Monica McLaughlin (mmclaughlin@nnedv.org).