FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 10, 2012
Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
***STATEMENT***
STATEMENT FROM PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS ON REP. BUCK MCKEON’S VISIT TO LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE
Washington DC – On Sunday, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Los Angeles County) visited Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas to meet with Air Force officials about the widening criminal sexual abuse scandal at the base. At least 43 female trainees at Lackland say they were raped, sexually assaulted or victims of other sexual offenses by their instructors. Today, President of Protect Our Defenders Nancy Parrish released this statement.
“The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon’s comments about the criminal sexual abuse scandal at Lackland Air Force Base are disheartening. His statements that only a ‘few people’ are responsible at Lackland minimizes the criminal scandal. And his reasons for not opening a hearing and investigation about Lackland, because he received ‘assurances’ from top military commanders that they will do all they can so it doesn’t happen again — does not cut it.
It’s not just a crisis in the training commands — it’s throughout the armed forces and has been for decades. The epidemic of sexual in our military must be addressed systemically and this requires congressional hearings and legislation. These are the same statements and same reactions from congress and the military that we heard after the Tailhook (’91) and Aberdeen (’91) scandals.
It’s not a few people. Even the Secretary of Defense calls it a silent epidemic. It must no longer remain silent.
According to the military’s own reports, there are 19,000 victims a year of mostly unpunished rape throughout the military. Yet only 13.5% come forward out of fear of retaliation.
More than 15,000 citizens, 78 members of Congress, and the San Antonio Express-News have called for a hearing to get to the bottom of the widespread sexual violence at Lackland and throughout the military. On the day after the anniversary of the Tailhook scandal that rocked the Navy more than two decades ago it is time that Rep. McKeon stood up for men and women in uniform.
At this very moment on bases and ships across the country and around the world, victims of rapes and assaults are being blamed and ridiculed; perpetrators remain unpunished and assaults are being covered up by the chain of command.
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Paula Coughlin-Puopolo’s petition demanding Congress investigates the Lackland sexual assault scandal can be viewed here:
http://action.protectourdefenders.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8040
http://www.causes.com/causes/787301-protect-our-defendersfoundation/actions/1665842
The Hill: McKeon visits Lackland Air Force Base to discuss basic training sex scandal
http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/air-force/248357-mckeon-visits-lackland-to-discuss-basic-training-sex-scandal
Contact info for the House Armed Services Committee for comment:
Claude Chafin, Claude.Chafin@mail.house.gov (202) 225-4151
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. 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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