Hiram Monserrate – poster boy of domestic violence…
February 2, 2009
by The New Agenda
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NOW NY press conference in Albany
Hats off to our friend Marcia Pappas, President of NOW NY for organizing a press conference in Albany, NY this past Saturday to speak out about Hiram Monserrate. Marcia was quoted in The Record as saying:
Although there is probably no legal bar to Monserrate being seated as a state senator, his elevation to a leadership position is a slap in the face for every woman in New York state — he must be asked to step down.
For those of you new to the story, read Sheryl’s piece originally posted on our blog on January 9th. Monserrate beat his girlfriend in what investigators believe was a jealous rage, and security cameras in the apartment building captured some of the evidence: Monserrate screaming, his girlfriend’s injuries, him trying to drag her out of the lobby. Monserrate’s girlfriend was too afraid to press charges, but the DA is pressing charges based on the video tape.
In the mean time, Monserrate (Democrat) was sworn in as the NY State Senator from Queens. As well, he was awarded a chairmanship of the Consumer Protection Committee.
The New Agenda has been brainstorming about actions that we can take here. Co-founder Amy Siskind has called two female NY State Senators on this matter to let them know about our member feedback on this situation. One senator called Amy back this morning. The basic response is that Monserrate is innocent until proven guilty and that the reason he was given a chairmanship was for lack of Democrats to take on these roles. Hogwash!
We would like to hear from you, our members, about your thoughts and suggestions for next steps. In the mean time, we encourage all New York residents to call their local State Senator and let them know what you think!
Thanks for the update.
Two questions:
If innocent until proven guilty, then what are the powers that be saying will happen if he is proven guilty?
What does NY NOW say about how out of state folks can help?
I’m going to try to set up a meeting with my State Senator in Queens, (not Monserrate, another, although it would be interesting to actually confront Monserrate) and just discuss this with him, in person, eye to eye.
I don’t know if it’ll work, (getting a personal meeting) but I’d appreciate any tips on this endeavor.
Thanks,
Anne-Marie
The problem here is that Monserrate’s girlfriend is now claiming that her getting cut on the face with broken glass was an “accident,” and other women have been rallying behind Monserrate with that defense.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....rrate.html
If the girlfriend, Ms. Giraldo, refuses to press assault charges, I’m not sure what the legal options are. Does anyone know if NY has a mandatory prosecution law? (Such laws often are a Catch-22 because on the one hand they dis-empower women from deciding whether they want to press charges, but on the other hand they ensure that men don’t go free if they are successful in coercing their victims to be silent.) If there’s mandatory prosecution, then prosecutors can go ahead based on the videotape and what witnesses saw themselves, even if they can’t get any testimony from the victim herself.
But the “Since Day One, It’s Been An Accident” protesters supporting Monserrate provide some cover for the “innocent until proven guilty (or at least indicted)” folks. Perhaps TNA should be putting pressure on folks like Martha Flores-Vazquez, a Queens Democratic district leader and director of the Community Prevention Alternatives for Families, who are defending Monserrate.
OT heads up — look for a GOP woman for Gregg’s Senate seat. According to Politico, Gregg will not take the cabinet post without a GOP replacement.
http://www.politico.com/news/s.....18304.html
“Bonnie Newman, a former Gregg aide, academic and official in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, is the top contender to take Gregg’s seat.”
Personally, I think it’s quite appropriate for an aide of the resigning Senator to ‘inherit’ his seat till the next election. The voters chose Gregg, so his replacement should be someone as similar as possible, till the voters can choose again.
a course of action on the Monserrate situation is a big dilemma. as Illinois state pols pointed out–they didn’t need a criminal conviction to impeach Blagojevich, but in that case there was a US Attorney levelling charges. the victim in the Monserrate case has withdrawn her accusation. would a petition be helpful in a case like this? going door to door among his constitutents for signatures? might help keep attention on the case and maybe make it more difficult to sweep the matter under the rug.
How about an online petition? To embarrass the New York State senate and get the message out? I signed an online petition to show Governor Patterson my dissatisfaction with Caroline Kennedy….
Also… question. I am a Facebook addict and I often see groups and petitions on Facebook. Is it possible to create a Facebook group/ petition about this or does that start to get legal?
Ick… Monserrate has a Facebook account.
Also, Fsteele, I read that article you posted and saw the pictures. Women who went all the way upstate to march on his behalf? Who are these women? Do they work with him? I can’t imagine why any woman would do this.
Ali,
Apparently Monserrate has been supportive of funding domestic violence response programs in the past.
http://www.queenstribune.com/news/1230140354.html
As we have seen before with Bill Clinton, the assumption is that someone who is on the right side politically must also be behaving the right way personally.
Ali- I can’t find you on facebook? Are you hiding?
Oh no, not hiding. It’s under my maiden name. I’ll email you:)
While I’m not clear on the correct and most strategic course of action here, I do think we need to speak out on this issue. Here is some convincing information: http://www.nydailynews.com/new.....onser.html
Action Ideas:
1. What about a TNA press release that
• highlights the problems of domestic violence,
• notes the huge increase in domestic violence against women (information here: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/200.....inst-women),
• praises the Queens DA and Domestic Violence Bureau Chief for pressing charges, and
• encourages the legal system to handle this case quickly as Monserrate is under arrest and should NOT be in the Senate if he is guilty.
2. The post says the DA is pressing charges based on the videotape (even though the girlfriend has withdrawn her accusations). We can support and applaud the DA in pressing charges. It looks like the DA is: Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. The Domestic Violence bureau chief is Scott Kessler.
http://www.yournabe.com/articl.....670425.txt
3. With ‘innocent until proven guilty’, can we press for a QUICK trial or quick movement of the case through the legal system? The above link notes the DA has 180 days to bring the case to trial. (Any lawyers here who can advise us?)
4. Perhaps emails to NY state senators noting that this legal issue must be addressed quickly, noting the huge increase in domestic violence against women, asking them to support programs to protect women against violence, etc. Here are the emails of all of the NY State Senators, including Monserrate’s: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/.....e?openform
5. Perhaps suggestions of local domestic violence programs for his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo. Monserrate should be in a treatment / anger management program for abusers.
Other ideas?
Sad situation all around.
Interesting… I just called my state senator, Suzi Oppenheimer. Her assistant was interested in what I had to say and said that I was one of the first persons to make a call about this issue, although Oppenheimer has talked to others about this. Oppenheimer’s response has been to stay silent about this since their is an upcoming trial – for legal reasons. I stated that Monserrate should simply be asked to resign and that I feel violated, as a woman, that this issue is not treated more seriously esp. in light of the video evidence.
Get out there and make the calls everyone! And if there is any other course of action that I should have with the Oppenheimer office (on the non-radical level;)) please let me know.
Ali, thank you for the information on your call to Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer. I was surprised that she hadn’t received more calls about the issue! We have work to do!
I posted a possible Action Plan earlier today –it’s in moderator jail . . I included a link to all of the NY State Senators’ emails.
Should I call other State Senators or is it more powerful to just call the Senator who is local?
Ali – Who do you recommend we call, other than our own elected officials? If you have any contact info for central people in NY State, please post. Thanks!
PG – Meant to address your comment in my last post. Yeah, it looked like that was coming down the pike: the victim retracting the charges. Ugh. Part of the viscious cycle of violence against women, no less when the spotlight is shining brightly on the two of them. Gilda Radner was right when she said: “It’s always something.” But, I hope we can all work together to find a way to keep this front and center.
Here is a link to the emails of all of the NY State Senators. http://www.senate.state.ny.us/.....e?openform
PLEASE LET MY EARLIER EMAIL OUT OF MODERATOR JAIL! It has several more links and ideas on this issue.
ER – I knew as soon as your “name” popped up you’d be serving up concrete stuff! Thanks, as always! I’m on it!
Thanks Anna! My post is still waiting moderation . . . There must be a quicker way to moderate posts, or, perhaps, to let posts though from trusted posters . . .
Here is my earlier post:
While I’m not clear on the correct and most strategic course of action here, I do think we need to speak out on this issue. Here is some convincing information: http://www.nydailynews.com/new.....onser.html
Action Ideas:
1. What about a TNA press release that
• highlights the problems of domestic violence,
• notes the huge increase in domestic violence against women (information here: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/200.....inst-women),
• praises the Queens DA and Domestic Violence Bureau Chief for pressing charges, and
• encourages the legal system to handle this case quickly as Monserrate is under arrest and should NOT be in the Senate if he is guilty.
2. The post says the DA is pressing charges based on the videotape (even though the girlfriend has withdrawn her accusations). We can support and applaud the DA in pressing charges. It looks like the DA is: Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. The Domestic Violence bureau chief is Scott Kessler.
http://www.yournabe.com/articl.....670425.txt
3. With ‘innocent until proven guilty’, can we press for a QUICK trial or quick movement of the case through the legal system? The above link notes the DA has 180 days to bring the case to trial. (Any lawyers here who can advise us?)
4. Perhaps emails to NY state senators noting that this legal issue must be addressed quickly, noting the huge increase in domestic violence against women, asking them to support programs to protect women against violence, etc. Here are the emails of all of the NY State Senators, including Monserrate’s: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/.....e?openform
5. Perhaps suggestions of local domestic violence programs for his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo. Monserrate should be in a treatment / anger management program for abusers.
Other ideas?
Sad situation all around.
I used this link that was already posted above – I just typed in my zipcode which made it really easy. I also just contacted a local online paper about this issue and my local Senator’s response. They are going to publish a little rant that I wrote sometime tonight. Outrage! Monserrate, our local senators, they need to see our outrage to believe it.
My husband was so upset about this last night he nearly “blew a gasket”. ( A favorite expression of ours).
I do believe this is the kind of issue that will indeed outrage people, if only they can know about it.
Oops! Here’s the link I used:
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/.....h?OpenForm
DRAFT OF A LETTER; IF CONTACTING NY SENATORS AND YOU DON’T LIVE IN NY STATE, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL OR FAX. WILL USE THIS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ADAPT TO BE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. ANY HELPFUL COMMENTS ARE WELCOME (I’m toying with eliminating the second paragraph – maybe too much and confuses the issue…)
—————————————————————————————-
I am writing to you as a concerned American citizen and as a life long Democrat regarding Councilman Hiram Monseratte. As I am sure you are aware, Mr. Monseratte was recently captured on video tape brutally assaulting his girlfriend. And, while one is innocent until proven guilty and while his girlfriend may or may not decide to press charges, the truth of Mr. Monseratte’s behavior cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, he has been sworn in and elevated to Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee, an ironic position for a person who sees fit to batter his girlfriend.
This comes on the heels of a year of horribly sexist treatment by the media of many female politicians including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and most recently, Kirsten Gillibrand. It comes on the heels of Jon Favreau groping the life-sized image of Hillary Clinton without comment form President Obama or others in prominent positions of power and influence. It comes on the heels of the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Act but not the Paycheck Fairness Act. It comes on the heels of elimination of funding for family planning from the economic stimulus package.
Amidst these travesties swirl excuses and rationalizations such that few appear willing to step out and say what needs to be said: that women in America remain second class citizens, battling for basic human rights on many fronts every day. We earn 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, we are publicly ridiculed, we are beaten, and four of us are killed each and every day due to domestic violence.
So I ask of you, in the 21st century, is it not yet time to stand with women to ensure that the likes of Mr. Monseratte are asked to resign? I am writing to urge you to speak out on this and other issues that directly impact the lives of women.
Anna, this is an absolutely terrific letter! It says it all, clearly and succinctly.
I would leave in the second paragraph. One suggestion might be to substitute the word “abusive” or “misogynist” for ‘sexist’ in the first sentence of the second paragraph. Any of the words would work, though.
Wow. I didn’t know that he was “Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee”. Excellent letter, Anna.
Ali – I claim no credit for hunting down that tidbit. It was in the post!
ER – Creative thinking adding the link to the DA’s office.
Ach….This gets so old, does it not…
Other ideas:
Contact the Congressional Women’s Caucus. Here’s the listing, including the House and Senator co-chairs. I’d add something to the letter anticipating they may feel it’s a state matter in order to head that rationalization off at the pass. If you do a mass e-mailing, keep the number around 30 so it doesn’t get treated as spam:
http://www.womenspolicy.org/site/PageServer?
pagename=111th_Congress#Senate_women_111
Check out conservative web sites like American Thinker and Pajamas Media to see if they’ve covered the Monseratte issue. If they haven’t, send them a little hat tip. I’m sure they would love to fold that little bit of info into the fact that Obama is accumulating quite a few folks who like the idea of raising taxes but not so much paying them, themselves.
http://www.americanthinker.com/
http://pajamasmedia.com/
PS Just heard that Daschle withdrew. That makes 2 out of 3 withdrawing.
Anna,
I’d edit the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs to be:
“This comes on the heels of a year of horribly sexist treatment by the media of many female politicians including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and most recently, Kirsten Gillibrand — without comment from President Obama or others in prominent positions of power and influence.”
You want to emphasize that what you are expecting of your representative is for him/her to step up and say Monserrate’s Action Was Wrong And Will Not Be Condoned. I think bringing in pay inequities and other larger, structural issues that a single state senator can’t change might muddle the larger point you’re making. You want the recipient of your letter to feel empowered and responsible for doing something RIGHT NOW. S/he can’t do anything about Favreau, but s/he can do something about Monserrate.
Psychologically, people are more likely to do what you ask them to do if you make it one single task easily within their immediate reach. That’s why people do pledge drives and fundraisers with “operators standing by” — they don’t want the viewer to think “Oh, I can write a check and mail it later…”; they want people to think “I have to do this right away!”
This is especially important with politicians, who often get complaints about things they can’t change. Your state senator can’t pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, but s/he CAN stand up and call for Monserrate to step down. Emphasize that fact.
One of our members, who can identify herself if she wants to, got this posted on an online newspaper. Yeah!! We could use your comments so they will post from her again! The more attention the Monserrate issue gets the better chance we have that it won’t be swept under the rug!!
http://www.getinloop.com/index.....;Itemid=79
Thanks for the link Thia. I just posted there. It’s an easy post and doesn’t require registration.
Thanks ER!
PG – Yes, you have articulated my concerns and I will adapt the letter accordingly and sent it off.
Thia – Thanks for the heads up. Will put that on today’s to-do list. (Wonder if fsteele can put it on PUMAResponders, as well).
Just tried to post a comment at getinloop, but it kept saying “incorrect password” even though every single time I typed the letters in correctly. Sorry, after about 6 attemtps, I gave up. Maybe something’s up at their end. Bummer…..If anyone else has this same problem OR has luck posting, please post a comment here. I’m holding off forwarding the link to my own little network until I know it’s working.
Hi Thia,
Thanks, it was me. Damn, this story needs to be known. The least I can do is hold my Senator, Suzy Oppenheimer, responsible for her silence. Cause that’s what this is about – silence.
So I’m going to talk, talk, talk and write to whomever I can about this.
Anna, It worked just fine for me. Make sure you fill in the name and email sections as well as the security letters.
Go Ali!!!!
Just finished grouping all the NY State Senator’s e-mails for mass e-mailing. Have sent the info the TNA for them to post as they see fit.
Thanks, again, PG for your help with the letter. I made all the changes you suggested and it is so much better because of it! I’ve sent it off…
Ali – You crack me up! Of course it was you, but glad you’re out about it, officially! Thanks, woman!
Thia – I did type in everything: name, e-mail and 5 letter code. Will go give it another try…Isn’t ANYTHING simple?!*
Hurray! Most post to the loop got through (sort of). It’s in moderation.
Thanks for the comments on the Loop! I hope locals will read it and call Suzy.
I find being an “activist” very hard sometimes. But lately I’ve been thinking about doing it in a way that fits into my life. I guess that’s the best I can do right now.
Because of this piece by TNA and the links to phone numbers, this one was surprisingly easy. It took 2 minutes to call up Suzy’s office. Of course this whole thing hits me especially hard because I voted for Suzy Oppenheimer and I find her lack of courage and conviction depressing.
Anna,
You’re welcome! I’m terrible at starting a draft of anything myself — horrible writer’s block to getting an idea on paper — but I love editing other people’s work once they get the ideas going.
[...] are focusing on the Hiram Monseratte controversy (see blog postings on the subject: here, here, and here), in Ohio we are working to get women on both the Democratic and Republican ballot for the newly [...]
UPDATE ON RESPONSES FROM NY SENATORS RE: MY E-MAIL TO THEM ABOUT MONSERATTE:
Starting to hear back from some. They want to know my address. Of course, they’re trying to discern if I am a constituent or not. Here is what I write back to them:
I am no longer a resident of New York State. However, I believe the issue I contacted you about goes beyond the narrow parameters of whether or not I am your constituent. Regretably, I find that in many situations those in leadership roles response to calls to action by saying, in essence, “It’s not my job.” or “Sorry, but….” or to pass the buck in some way. And so, I wrote to you as a deeply concerned American in the hopes that you would grasp the larger picture of the problem of domestic violence and rise to the occasion to speak out against it. In this case, it was and is my hope that you would speak truth to power and call for the resignation of Hiram Monseratte.
We will be issuing a press release in the morning.
Wonderful, Amy!
Anna, I love your response to the emails from NY Senators.
(((((ER)))))) Thanks for the ER seal of approval!
Thanks Anna!
[...] well, including sending her a “cease and desist” letter to attempt to get her to cancel the January 31st press conference. Marcia tells us that she wisely shared the cease and desist letter with the [...]
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