Three prominent women’s organizations, NOW-NYS, The New Agenda and Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee have created an open letter that will be presented to the entire New York State Senate. We are inviting organizations and individuals to sign our Open Letter here.

OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR JOHN SAMPSON

Dear Senator Sampson:

A court of law recently found Senator Hiram Monserrate guilty of domestic violence-a vicious crime causing serious injury to his girlfriend. Despite the calls by many of our leaders for his immediate resignation (including Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, Congressional members and many state senators), he refuses to step down. In fact, he has shown no remorse for his actions. You must hold him accountable by removing him immediately.

Our elected officials have an obligation to the people of New York to lead by example–they are expected to set a higher standard. Domestic violence has no place in our society or in the Legislature and must not be tolerated in any form.

We call on you, the New York State Senate, Senator Eric Schneiderman and his newly-formed committee to proceed with all haste to remove Hiram Monserrate from the Senate. You have a responsibility to his constituents, the Democratic Party, and all New Yorkers to do the right thing. Equally, you have a responsibility to yourselves to uphold the institution of the Senate. We await your decision.

Signed,
The National Organization for Women-NYS
The New Agenda
The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee