Monserrate Gets Away with it…(UPDATED)
October 16, 2009
by Amy Siskind
|Monserrate got away with it, plain and simple.
For those of you new to The New Agenda, you can learn all about this case by reading here.
The short and sweet of it is that Hiram Monserrate, a NY State Senator slashed his girlfriends face with a broken glass requiring her to get multiple stitches. As would be typical, after initially going to the hospital and telling the police, the victim changed her mind and decided not to press charges. Difference this time: 4 cameras in the apartments hallways and lobby that captured part of the attacks hence giving the prosecutors evidence to press charges.
In what we feel is not only a gross miscarriage of justice, but also a horrific message to women, “Senator Slasher” as we like to call him, got away with it. He was found guilty of misdemeanor assault but acquitted of felony assault. In other words, it is unlikely that he will serve a day in jail and he can still serve as an elected official. Despicable!
The New Agenda wants our members to know this: we do not plan to be silent about this. We will continue to speak out and be a thorn in this guy’s side until we get him out of public office and public life for good – oh, and then we’ll still stick with him to remind everyone that he is, after all, Senator Slasher!
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New York State Senator Liz Krueger just sent out a press release calling on Monserrate to resign! As Liz said when she was a guest on The New Agenda radio show, Chewing the Fat with Ophelia, if we want to end violence against women, we need to elect more women!
http://firemonserrate.com/petition
Please sign this petition, created by a group of NYS grassroots activists and bloggers, to support the firing/removal of Sen. Hiram Monserrate.
Someone convicted of such heinous conduct should not remain in high public office. We want to clean up the NY State Senate and this a very good place to start.
Amy, thanks for keeping us updated on Senator Slasher. I feel sick over this.
I just saw another NYT piece quoting state senator Rubén Díaz Sr. saying, “Senator Monserrate was found guilty of trying to do good by forcing his girlfriend to go to the hospital for treatment.” WTH? What’s next? I only hurt you because I love you, baby? Diaz needs to go too, along with anyone who supports and provides cover for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Hi Amy, I hope you’re the same Amy from Hillary’s campaign. You were amazing.
I don’t know about the Elect more Women thing…our elected women have been WAY TOO QUIET!
Krueger aside…the next 4 to speak out have been men. And where are the democratic women in the Assembly? Their seats are secure. What’s their hesitance to speak up?
And where is Emily’s List, The White House Project, Eleanor’s Legacy? If this animal were a Republican they’d be knocking each other down to get to the bully pulpit.
Deborah Glick has nothing to say? Christine Quinn? Helene Weinstein?
Are all their heads too far up their male leaders’…well, you get my point. I’m angry at the silence from the women.
Hi Frances,
Yes, I am that Amy.
I know that EL is coming out with something. Not sure about others. Liz is a very brave woman and we must remember who is speaking out. Sen Betty Little a Republican did speak out too.
Hopefully other women will join our battle cry – power in numbers!
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