SAINT PAUL, MN — This week marks the Week of Action during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Today, national and state leaders are joining together not just to raise awareness about sexual assault, but to call for stronger policies to ensure justice for sexual assault survivors and to focus on prevention.
Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-Saint Paul) released the following statement:
“Sexual assault is a serious problem in our communities and on our college campuses. Every 107 seconds someone is the victim of a sexual assault in our country. According to the American Association of Universities National Climate Survey, the rate of campus sexual assaults is unabated. It's time for us to focus more on sexual assault prevention, which includes the addition of clear consent policies on every campus.”
“Students on college campuses are speaking out as they’re seeking stronger policies and state laws on affirmative consent. They are working to change attitudes surrounding sexual consent in order to prevent assaults on college campuses. Last night, I offered an amendment that would have given student a stronger voice in pursuit of those goals. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues in the Minnesota House silenced those students as they used parliamentary procedure to block a vote preventing sexual assault on campus. While I’m disappointed that Republicans are callously playing political games with sexual assault, I will continue to work with student leaders to stop campus sexual assaults.”
An excerpt of Rep. Murphy’s debate can be found online at the following
YouTube link.
Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-Saint Paul) is the Deputy Minority Leader and the former Majority Leader in the Minnesota House.
-30-