NEW YORK TIMES: GILLIBRAND MAKES MAJOR PUSH TO REFORM MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
Washington, DC — In case you missed it, the New York Times today published a story detailing U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s major push to...
Remarks from Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen at the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 25, the United States Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS PENTAGON’S NEW CIVILIAN-LED COMMISSION ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT
Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon announced the formation of a civilian-led commission to address the epidemic of military sexual assault. The...
***STATEMENT*** SURVIVOR WHO HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT IN VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO RELEASES OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Updated March 3, 2021 Washington, DC – Last Friday, a TikTok video in which a distraught Marine expresses her grief after finding out the servicemember...
***STATEMENT*** NEW RAND REPORT FINDS ODDS OF LEAVING THE MILITARY DOUBLE AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT
Washington, DC – The Rand Corporation has released a new report that found sexual assaults and harassment in a single year were associated with...
Speier, Wexton Urge Tighter Security Clearance Protocols to Screen for Ties to White Supremacist Groups
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence...
Join POD’s Don Christensen for a conversation about the military’s racial disparities
Tonight at 7:30PM eastern time. See invite info below.
GILLIBRAND APPLAUDS BIDEN ORDER OVERTURNING BAN ON TRANSGENDER MILITARY SERVICE
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration announced an executive order overturning a Trump-era rule that barred additional transgender people from serving openly in...
Biden Secretary of Defense Nominee Lloyd Austin Asked About POD Pledge
Washington, D.C. – At his Senate confirmation hearings on January 19, 2021 President Biden’s Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin was...
Celebrate Survivor Heroes
Watch a panel of survivors discuss their experiences… with a special surprise at the end.
Survivors Speak Out About the Work of Protect Our Defenders
Hear what survivors of military sexual assault have to say about Protect Our Defenders. Donate to POD here.
***STATEMENT*** SUPREME COURT RULES MILITARY RAPE CASES HAVE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN 8-0 VERDICT
Washington, DC –Today, in a 8-0 decision regarding U.S. v Briggs, the United States Supreme Court voted that a five-year statute of limitations does not...
***DECLARACIÓN*** LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE FORT HOOD ENCUENTRA UNA CULTURA “PERMISIVA” DE AGRESIÓN Y ACOSO SEXUAL; 14 LÍDERES DEL EJÉRCITO DESPEDIDOS O SUSPENDIDOS
Washington, DC – Hoy, una investigación independiente sobre una serie de muertes en Fort Hood en los últimos meses, incluido...
***STATEMENT*** FT. HOOD INVESTIGATION FINDS “PERMISSIVE” CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT; 14 ARMY LEADERS FIRED OR SUSPENDED
Washington, DC – Today, an independent investigation into a number of deaths at Fort Hood in recent months, including the tragic murder of Vanessa Guillén,...
Gillibrand Statement on Army’s Report on Command Culture at Fort Hood
Washington, DC – Addressing the release of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee’s (FHIRC) report, which found significant failures with how the Army...
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FILES AMICUS BRIEF BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE FERES DOCTRINE; PROVIDE PATH TO JUSTICE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the national organization dedicated to ending the epidemic of sexual assault and racial disparity in the...
Vice News: The U.S. military is facing its own #MeToo moment
“Rape in the military is a huge problem. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to take a hard line, saying he’ll support...
Speier, Gillibrand Demand Explanation for Delayed Investigation Into Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against Former Navy Auditor General
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of...
***STATEMENT*** EXCLUSIVE CBS SERIES DIVES DEEP INTO MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT DOCUMENTING PENTAGON’S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM
Washington, DC – Tonight, CBS Evening News will launch a four-part investigative series that details a year-and-a-half long investigation into the epidemic of sexual assault...
KERA News: Military Justice Reformers Pushing Senate Candidates To Pledge To Support Guillén Bill
Published by KERA News (PBS & NPR affiliate for North Texas), by Bret Jaspers. LISTEN: The legislation would remove sexual...
*** PRESS RELEASE *** Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Senate Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in...
***MEDIA ADVISORY*** SUPREME COURT TO ADDRESS RAPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE #METOO ERA ON OCTOBER 13TH
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, October 13th, the Supreme Court will hear US v. Briggs, an appeal from the Justice Department to review...
***DECLARACIÓN*** CONGRESO PRESENTA EL PROYECTO DE LEY BIPARTDISTA YO SOY VANESSA GUILLÉN PARA TRANSFORMAR LA RESPUESTA DE LOS MILITARES A LA VIOLENCIA SEXUAL Y A LOS MIEMBROS DESAPARECIDOS
Washington, DC – Hoy, la congresista Jackie Speier, presidenta del Subcomité de Personal Militar de los Servicios Armados de la...
***STATEMENT*** CONGRESS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN I AM VANESSA GUILLÉN ACT TO TRANSFORM MILITARY’S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND MISSING SERVICEMEMBERS
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan I Am Vanessa...
Speier, Brown, Cisneros, Crow, Escobar, Gallego, Haaland, Trahan Urge NDAA Conferees to Retain Provisions to Address Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Domestic Violence in the Military
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee; and Reps. Anthony Brown (MD-4),...
Speier, Smith, Gillibrand, Reed Call for GAO Review of Procedures to Respond to Missing Servicemembers
Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel; Congressman Adam Smith...
Speier, Gillibrand Renew Call for Investigation Into SPC Guillén’s Disappearance, Ft Hood Command Climate
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand...
Congresswoman Jackie Speier Chairs Hearing on the Military’s #MeToo Moment, Sparked by SPC Vanessa Guillén
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, convened a hearing today to...
Congresswoman Jackie Speier to Chair First Congressional Hearing on Sexual Harassment Suffered by SPC Vanessa Guillén, Other Servicemembers at Fort Hood
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, will convene the first U.S....
Following Disappearance and Murder of Vanessa Guillén, Gillibrand Offers Amendment to Review Military’s Missing Person Investigation Procedures
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, offered an...
Chair Speier’s Amendments to Address Military Sexual Assault and Harassment and Missing Persons Cases in Honor of SPC Vanessa Guillén Pass in FY21 NDAA
Washington, DC – Two amendments introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, to...
Remarks from Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen at House Veterans’ Affairs Hearing on Bad Paper Discharges and VA Benefits
Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, June 8th, the United States House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and...
*** PRESS RELEASE *** FIVE YEAR LEGAL BATTLE LEADS TO JUSTICE FOR MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR AND PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CLIENT; TWO STAR GENERAL PLEADS GUILTY
Washington, DC – Today, in Prince William County Virginia Circuit Court, Major General James Grazioplene pled guilty to felonious aggravated sexual battery....
***STATEMENT*** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS REP. SPEIER’S CALL FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MILITARY
Washington, DC – On the heels of Protect Our Defenders’ (POD) recently released report on “Racial Disparities in Military Justice,...
Speier, Gillibrand Call for Investigation Into Disappearance of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen
Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee...
Gillibrand, Grassley & Cruz Offer Military Justice Improvement Act as Amendment to 2021 NDAA
Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Armed...
It’s time for change: See how POD is effectively pushing for racial justice
From the desk of Nancy Parrish, Founder and CEO of Protect Our Defenders Here is a quick update as we...
Don Christensen Testifies Before House Armed Services Subcommittee About Racial Criminal Justice Disparities
Hearing date: June 16, 2020. The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing on racial disparities in...
Remarks from Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen at House Armed Services Hearing on Racial Disparities in the Military Justice System
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday June 16th, the United States House Committee on Armed Services (HASC) will conduct a Military Personnel Hearing titled...
***STATEMENT*** AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF RACIAL DISPARITIES AFTER PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
Washington, DC – Today, the Department of the Air Force Inspector General announced it will independently review the Air Force’s record on racial disparities....
Air Force Leadership Holds Town Hall on Racial Disparities
Washington, DC – On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein and Chief Master Sergeant...
Norton Says Report from Protect Our Defenders Finding Racial Disparities in Courts-Martial, Nonjudicial Punishments Breaks New Ground
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a past chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, today said that...
Survivor Spotlight: Aviation Commander Darchelle Mitchell
Darchelle D. Mitchell was born September 11, 1973 in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Warner Robins High School in Warner...
Rep Speier’s Statement on Report Revealing Serious Racial Disparities in Military Justice Cases
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Armed Services Personnel Committee, issued the following statement in response to...
***PRESS RELEASE*** AIR FORCE CAUGHT IN COVER UP, REPEATEDLY CONCEALED RECORDS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES
Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Defenders (POD) released a new report revealing the Air Force has attempted to cover up its data...
*** STATEMENT *** VP BIDEN SUPPORTS EMPOWERING INDEPENDENT PROSECUTORS AS MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS SURGE
Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon released its Annual Report on Sexual Assault and Prevention (SAPR) in the Military a day after former...
POD Sends Letter to Senator Hill in Support of Bill to Eliminate Immunity for Sexual Violence Perpetrators of CA Guard Victims
March 20, 2020 The Honorable Jerry Hill California State Senate State Capital Sacramento, CA 95814 Subject: Letter in Support of...
***STATEMENT*** NEW PENTAGON REPORT FINDS 32% INCREASE IN SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT MILITARY ACADEMIES AMONG CADETS AND MIDSHIPMEN
Washington, DC – Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) released its Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service...
***PRESS RELEASE*** Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Presidential Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault...
***STATEMENT*** IN RESPONSE TO GROUNDBREAKING PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RACIAL DISPARITY REPORT, CONGRESS MANDATES PENTAGON TRACK RACE, ETHNICITY, AND GENDER OF COURTS-MARTIALS
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, the Senate signed the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final NDAA contains a number of...