National Organization for Women-NYS Says Monserrate Should Resign from Senate Seat

ALBANY, NY (03/23/2009)(readMedia)-- The National Organization for Women-NYS is pleased to learn that New York State Senator Monserrate has been indicted on domestic assault charges. Monserrate, whose arraignment is expected soon, faces three counts of second-degree felony assault and three counts of third-degree misdemeanor assault. If convicted, he will face seven years in prison.

According to Associated Press, Monserrate, has "issued a statement saying he did not commit a crime." But NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas remarked: "Of course he is claiming to be innocent. Twenty five stitches on his girlfriend's face is not an accident. Abusers rarely admit to these awful crimes."

Although Monserrate has stepped down from his position as Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, NOW-New York State leaders and membership believe that he should also relinquish his Senate seat. Pappas said that "the presence of this indicted individual in the halls of the NYS Legislature is an affront to all the women who work there. In fact," she continued, "it would be to hard to imagine a more hostile work environment than this situation presents, what with a man indicted for assaulting women still in charge of making laws to protect women!"

Pappas went on: "If Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and leaders of the Democratic Party do not have the fortitude to insist Monserrate step down, NOW-NYS will indeed remind voters, when election time comes around, that the Democratic leaders lack the courage of their professed convictions."

In its call for Monserrate's resignation, NOW-NYS was joined by The New Agenda, a non-partisan women's rights group whose President, Amy Siskind commented: "Violence against women is a national crisis. We can ill-afford to have individuals indicted of this type of assault in positions of power and as role models for children."

Pappas concluded that the "situation speaks to the importance of passing NYS Assemblywoman Eddington's Bill (A-6160), requiring that physical assaults against women be charged as hate crimes. If such legislation were in place, Monserrate would face much harsher penalties."