February 6, 2009 – The New Agenda Calls on NY Senate to Force Monserrate to Step Down
For Immediate Release
February 6, 2009
(484)844-2996
NewAgendaPress@yahoo.com
The New Agenda Calls on NY Senate to Force Monserrate to Step Down
The New Agenda, a national non-partisan women’s rights group, is joining NOW NY in demanding that New York State Senate Sen. Hiram Monserrate step down immediately. Monserrate is charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo. If convicted, Monserrate faces up to seven years in prison.
“In an appalling demonstration of partisanship over women’s safety, the New York Democratic Party seated Monserrate to achieve its first Senate majority in 40 years,” said The New Agenda co-founder Amy Siskind. “This outrageous move must be reversed immediately. By allowing Monserrate to remain in office, the New York Democratic party is sending a message that an arrest for violently attacking a woman is a trivial matter without consequences.”
Siskind expressed concern about Monserrate’s level of arrogance and defensiveness in addressing legitimate questions about the attack and worried that the victim is being bullied and intimidated – an all-too-common experience for victims. Siskind also expressed The New Agenda’s full support of NOW NY’s work to make domestic violence against women a hate crime.
According to the Human Rights Watch organization, the projected number of domestic violence incidents against women increased by 42 percent between 2005 and 2007. According to a study conducted by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, 55 percent of New York women murdered in 2007 were victims of domestic violence, and state officials expect domestic violence to rise as the economy worsens. As well, due to current recession, many domestic abuse shelters are now reporting a 20-25 percent increase in hotline calls.
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has not only remained silent about the charges against Monserrate, he appointed him to head the Consumer Protection Committee.
“Domestic abuse is a national crisis. One in four women are victims of abuse across all socio-economic lines, and the problem is escalating.” said Siskind. “If Smith and other legislators think this went by unnoticed, they are sorely mistaken. To seat Monserrate in spite of the grave charges against him will cost them far more than their Senate majority: it will cost them their credibility, and it will leave New York’s citizens with lawmakers who gave up their moral authority to legislate and lead.”
On December 19th, 2008, Karla Giraldo told an Emergency room doctor at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center that Hiram Monserrate had slashed her face with a broken glass, leaving deep gashes around her eye that required 25 stitches to close.
A security video of the hallway of his apartment shows an enraged Monserrate attempting to throw something from Giraldo’s purse down the garbage chute. Another security video recorded Monserrate screaming at someone inside the apartment.
Later, security camera footage shows a frightened and distressed Giraldo knocking on neighbors’ doors with a bloody towel clutched to her face. Still later, Monserrate is seen wrestling Giraldo out of the front door of his building.
