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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
National Organization for Women (NOW)
Contact: Mai Shiozaki, 202-628-8669, ext. 116; cell 202-641-1906

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt on the resignation of Al Franken

Al Franken was right to resign. He's been a good Senator, but his career cannot be valued higher than his obligation to treat women with respect. Minnesota will get another good Senator, and I hope it's a woman.

Once all the prominent people who've been revealed to have sexually harassed co-workers resign, there will still be a culture that disrespects women in place. Al Franken is not the problem. The problem is a workplace culture that treats women as objects and accommodates their abusers.

WASHINGTON

Al Franken was right to resign. He's been a good Senator, but his career cannot be valued higher than his obligation to treat women with respect. Minnesota will get another good Senator, and I hope it's a woman.

Once all the prominent people who've been revealed to have sexually harassed co-workers resign, there will still be a culture that disrespects women in place. Al Franken is not the problem. The problem is a workplace culture that treats women as objects and accommodates their abusers.

It's not about how many famous people have to resign, or whether they're Democrats or Republicans. It's about men who protect men, institutions that protect their own, and a legal system that protects victimizers over victims.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW has 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.