DIANA FLORENCE AND TAHANIE ABOUSHI DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY FORUM TOMORROW

Features All Male Hosts during First Week of Women's History Month

NEW YORK, NY (03/01/2021) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday, March 2 a forum for Manhattan District Attorney candidates is being hosted by an all male "informal alumni" group of former prosecutors from that office, led by incumbent Cy Vance's former chief deputy. For these reasons and more, both Florence and Aboushi are declining to participate.

"Together we are declining to participate in a private forum tomorrow organized by a group of men describing themselves as an "informal group of Manhattan DA alumni." The forum is only open to former ADAs from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and excludes non-legal staff from attending. This organizing group of lawyers who are all now in private practice at white shoe firms, represent elite clients with potential business before the DA's office. This is the concierge system of justice that has privileged wealth and power over access to justice for everyday New Yorkers. A woman was invited to moderate but the hosts/organizers are all men. Neither of us are running to uphold the status quo, nor are we interested in perpetuating an old boy's club's control over the terms of the debate. We are running as highly qualified women with a new vision for the Manhattan District Attorney, and will continue to answer tough questions at a range of public forums."

Happy Women's History Month!

Tahanie Aboushi and Diana Florence

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