***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Supports New Bill to Close “Revenge Porn” Loophole
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2017
*** STATEMENT ***
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS SUPPORTS NEW BILL TO CLOSE “REVENGE PORN” LOOPHOLE AND PROTECT SERVICEMEMBERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the Protecting Servicemembers Online Act of 2017. This bipartisan legislation would amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to criminalize the nonconsensual distribution of pornographic photographs and prohibit online harassment. This issue has been most recently highlighted by the “Marines United” case, but it has long existed in all branches of our armed forces, even after military leadership has made promises to address the underlying issues.
Col. Don Christensen (ret.), the former Chief Prosecutor of the United State Air Force and President of Protect Our Defenders, released the following statement:
“Protect Our Defenders strongly supports passage of the Protecting Service Members Online Act. This legislation would criminalize the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and the online harassment of service members. We have all witnessed the devastation this repugnant behavior brings to the lives of survivors victimized by this conduct. At Protect Our Defenders, we have been hearing for years from service women who have had their photos shared without their consent and the horrific impact it has on had their lives.
“This conduct strikes at the heart of good order and discipline and fuels the misogynistic culture that is ripping at the fabric of the military. Unfortunately, the UCMJ does not currently criminalize what is commonly referred to as ‘revenge porn’ and cyber bullying, and this makes it difficult to hold offenders accountable. We applaud the efforts of Senators Warren and Sullivan to stop this scourge.”
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NBC Washington: Democratic Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Marine Nude Photo Scandal
Washington Post: ‘I’m never reenlisting.’ Marine Corps rocked by nude-photo scandal
Reveal News: Hundreds of Marines investigated for sharing photos of naked colleagues
NPR: Marine Corps Finds It Tough To Shut Down Sexist Facebook Groups
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders (POD) is a human rights organization. We are the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military and to combating a culture of pervasive misogyny, sexual harassment, and retribution against victims. We honor, support and give voice to survivors of military sexual assault – including service members, veterans, and civilians assaulted by members of the military. We seek reform to ensure all survivors are provided a safe, respectful work environment and have access to a fair, impartially administered system of justice. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ProtectRDfnders.
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