***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Calls for Long Overdue Sentencing Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 2017 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO SHOCKINGLY LIGHT SENTENCE FOR CONVICTED MILITARY SEX OFFENDER,...
***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Responds to Sen. Ernst’s Suggestion for a “Buddy System” on Military Bases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2017 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO SENATOR JONI ERNST’S SUGGESTION FOR A “BUDDY...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders Calls on Congress to Pass Sentencing Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2017 *** PRESS RELEASE *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS SENTENCING REFORM...
***STATEMENT*** Protect Our Defenders Statement on NDAA Provision That Would Increase Accountability for Sexual Abuse of Military Trainees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2016 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS STATEMENT ON NDAA PROVISION THAT WOULD INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SEXUAL...
Protect Our Defenders Statement on President-Elect Donald Trump and Military Sexual Assault
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 21, 2016 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT Washington, D.C....
Honoring Our Veterans from Terri J. Odom
Today for Veterans Day, we are honored to share a special message from Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board member, Terri...
Advocate works to protect military sexual assault victims
This is why we are proud, honored and lucky to know and work with our Founder & CEO Nancy Parish....
After Senate Refuses to Debate Military Sexual Assault Reform, POD Calls on POTUS to Stand with Victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 14, 2016 ***STATEMENT*** AFTER THE SENATE REFUSED TO DEBATE MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT REFORM, PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS...
Protect Our Defenders Release Letter Responding to Defense Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RELEASES LETTER RESPONDING TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ON...
Protect Our Defenders Renews Call for POTUS to Open Investigation into Pentagon Misleading Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RENEWS CALL FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO OPEN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AFTER PENTAGON CONTINUES TO...
A Memorial Day Message from POD Advisory Board Member Terri Odom
This Memorial Day weekend we are honored to share a message from POD Advisory Board member Terri J. Odom, a...
***PRESS RELEASE*** 100,000 Call on President Obama to Fix Broken Military Justice System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** 100,000 PEOPLE CALL ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO FIX THE BROKEN MILITARY JUSTICE...
Military Sexual Assault Survivors to Deliver Petition to White House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2016 ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS TO DELIVER PETITION TO WHITE HOUSE CALLING ON...
Statement: Pentagon Presents Misleading Claims on Rates of Retaliation Against Survivors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2016 *** STATEMENT *** PENTAGON RELEASES NEW REPORT SHOWING NO PROGRESS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT, PRESENTS...
Protect Our Defenders Calls on White House to Direct an Independent Investigation into Pentagon Misleading Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** PRESS RELEASE *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON WHITE HOUSE TO DIRECT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls on Congress to Enact Fundamental Reform to Fix Broken Military Justice System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2016 ***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ENACT FUNDAMENTAL REFORM TO FIX BROKEN...
PRESS RELEASE: Military Sexual Assault Survivor Launches Petition Asking President Obama to Investigate Claims that Pentagon Misled Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR LAUNCHES PETITION ASKING PRESIDENT OBAMA TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS...
Washington Post: To stop bill that would reform military justice system, Pentagon misled Congress, report says
The Washington Post reports on Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) “Debunked: Fact-Checking the Pentagon’s Claims Regarding Military Justice.” Since 2013, lawmakers...
Vox: How the Pentagon misled Congress to stop a law intended to help rape victims
Vox featured Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) report, “Debunked: Fact-Checking the Pentagon’s Claims Regarding Military Justice.” A shocking new investigation has...
The Hill: Pentagon misled Congress on sexual assault cases
The Hill reported on Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) report, “Debunked: Fact-Checking the Pentagon’s Claims Regarding Military Justice.” The Pentagon misled...
AP: Senators Call on Obama to Investigate Sexual Assault Cases
ABC News published a report by the Associated Press on Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) “Debunked: Fact-Checking the Pentagon’s Claims Regarding...
Associated Press: Pentagon misled lawmakers on military sexual assault cases
Protect Our Defenders (POD) released a report, “Debunked: Fact-Checking the Pentagon’s Claims Regarding Military Justice,” on the heels of an...
PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Report & AP Investigation Show the Pentagon Misled Congress
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS REPORT AND AP INVESTIGATION SHOW THE PENTAGON MISLED CONGRESS DURING HEATED DEBATE OVER MILITARY JUSTICE TO...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Protect Our Defenders President Joins Panel to Discuss UCMJ Reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2016 ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT JOINS PANEL OF MILITARY AND LEGAL EXPERTS TO...
Military Sexual Assault Victim Advocates Recognized for Their Efforts
San Francisco’s local ABC affiliate recently aired a “Beyond the Headlines” piece on military sexual assault with Protect Our Defenders...
Remarks from POD Founder on Receiving Ivan Allen Jr Prize for Social Courage
Remarks from Nancy Parrish, Founder of Protect Our Defenders on receiving the Ivan Allen Jr, Prize for Social Courage at...
FOUNDER OF PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RECEIVES IVAN ALLEN JR. PRIZE FOR SOCIAL COURAGE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 18, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** FOUNDER OF PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RECEIVES IVAN ALLEN JR. PRIZE FOR SOCIAL...
2016 Protect Our Defenders Justice Award Photos
Photos from Protect Our Defenders’ First Annual Justice Awards! On January 28, 2016, Protect Our Defenders awarded the first two...
Guest Blog Post: Sexual Harassment in ROTC
This post was written by Teresa, a past POD intern. I joined the ROTC unit at my university one semester...
PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Announces First Annual Justice Award Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS ANNOUNCES FIRST ANNUAL JUSTICE AWARD WINNERS Two California attorneys...
Founder of Protect Our Defenders to Receive Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 14, 2016 ***PRESS RELEASE*** FOUNDER OF PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS TO RECEIVE IVAN ALLEN JR. PRIZE FOR...
Blog post: A holiday message for the survivor and family community
A holiday message from Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board member and survivor Terri Odom: As 2015 comes to an end,...
Washington Post: In the war against sexual assault, the Army keeps shooting itself in the foot
A front page Washington Post investigative report broke the story of a U.S. Army First Lieutenant who filed a report...
STATEMENT: Military Turns Blind Eye Towards Commander Accused of Sexual Assault and Harassment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 19, 2015 ***STATEMENT*** MILITARY TURNS BLIND EYE TOWARDS COMMANDER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT Accused...
Blog Post: How the SAVE Act can support victims of military sexual assault and improve VA services
Many veterans face difficulties when trying to access care from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). Veterans may be forced...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Continues to Push for Fundamental Reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 30, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR FUNDAMENTAL REFORM TO BROKEN...
STATEMENT: DOD IG Releases Damning Report Revealing Army Mistreatment of Sexual Assault Victim
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 18, 2015 ***STATEMENT*** DOD IG RELEASES DAMNING REPORT REVEALING ARMY CID MISTREATMENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM,...
VIDEO: POD Responds to GAO Report Highlighting Failure to Address Military Sexual Assault
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen responds to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Department of...
Blog Post: Breaking the Silence, the Black Box of Shame, Guilt and Fear
Bill Minnix is an Air Force Veteran and survivor. In this powerful piece, Bill shares his struggles with PTSD and suicide...
Veterans Day Edition: News Roundup from Protect Our Defenders
Here is a recap of top stories about stopping military sexual violence against service members and civilians. Advisory Board Member’s...
Advisory Board Member Terri J. Odom Message to Fellow Veteran Survivors: Stand Tall and Proud
As I take a crisp autumn stroll through our neighborhood, I count the green lights. Green lights on a home...
STATEMENT: New GAO Report Highlights Pentagon Failure to Address Sexual Assault Epidemic in the Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 6, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** NEW GAO REPORT HIGHLIGHTS PENTAGON FAILURE TO ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT EPIDEMIC...
An Open Letter to Sexual Assault Survivors in the Air Force
The Huffington Post published an open letter to survivors by POD Pro Bono Network attorney Ryan Guilds: A rape victim’s...
Stars and Stripes: Lengthy sexual assault case ends in acquittal
Stars and Stripes reports on a sexual assault case in the Air Force that lasted over three years and finally...
Air Force Times: Airman acquitted of sexual assault charge
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen (ret.), and Former US Air Force Chief Prosecutor, is featured in this Air Force...
August & September News Roundup from Protect Our Defenders
Please find below your recap of top stories about stopping military sexual violence against service members and civilians. On September...
SHARP Summit attendees explore harsh realities of sexual misconduct
Last week, at the U.S. Army’s first SHARP summit, Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board Member Major General Robert Shadley (Ret.) explained how...
Stars and Stripes: Sexual assault case not dismissed despite ruling of unlawful command influence
Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen (ret.), and Former US Air Force Chief Prosecutor is featured in this Stars and...
July News Roundup from Protect Our Defenders
Below is a recap of top stories about stopping military sexual violence against service members and civilians. POD Profiled by...
Judicial Proceedings Panel Remarks from Major General Robert D. Shadley, U.S. Army (Retired)
On Wednesday, July 22, Major General Robert D. Shadley, U.S. Army (Ret.) testified at a public meeting of the Judicial Proceedings Panel on Sexual...