STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF TARA READE
Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
We, a group of Students for Bernie chapters across the country (independent from the Bernie Sanders campaign), are releasing this statement to increase awareness surrounding Joe Biden and his history of sexual assault accusations. We are demanding that attention is brought to this history and that it not be ignored -- as it has been for decades. He must be held accountable for his actions.
Tara Reade came forward last week with an allegation of sexual assault, which occurred in 1993 when she worked as a staff assistant for then-Senator Biden. Reade first went to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund for help, but they told her that because Biden is a candidate for federal office, that helping her would jeopardize their non-profit status. It is worth noting that Anita Dunn, the managing director of the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund's public relations firm, is a top adviser on Biden's campaign. Despite the extremely serious nature of these allegations, Democrats and the mainstream media have been silent.
There was no hesitation within the Democratic party to believe or support Christine Blasey Ford when she accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Democrats fought Republicans with claims that partisanship should never override morality, and that we should believe women who bravely come forward with allegations. Unfortunately, it seems as though this support for survivors was only shown in the name of political convenience. When an allegation is brought against the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party, suddenly there is radio silence from the establishment. No calls for an investigation, no questions from the media, nothing. None of the major cable news outlets have even reported the story.
How can the Democratic party claim to be the party that is fighting Donald Trump, a serial sexual abuser, while propping up Joe Biden? How can the Democratic party be the party that claims to protect women, but fails to do so when the predator is on their own side? How can media outlets claim to educate the public and provide crucial information, but fail to report this disturbing allegation against a presidential candidate? This goes beyond partisanship, beyond Biden vs. Bernie. This is about what kind of country we want to be, and what we are willing to accept in our leadership. How many times are we going to watch a predator ascend to the highest ranks of power while stifling the women who speak out against them? Every time we elect, nominate, or promote an abuser, we tell survivors that their experience don't matter. We are sending a clear message that assault will not stop men from gaining more and more power and that power makes men immune from consequence.
When Dr. Blasey Ford came forward with her story, Biden himself stated the importance of believing women. It is time to ask Biden if he believes the women who have made sexual assault and harassment allegations against him. It is time for the media to cover this story, and time for Democrats to stop sweeping it under the rug. Tara Reade, we are with you. To all survivors, we see you, we hear you, and we stand in solidarity with you. We will never stop fighting for you.
Signed,
Penn State Students for Bernie
Students for Bernie at UNCC
Grinnell Students for Bernie
William & Mary for Bernie
Harvard College Students for Bernie
Penn for Bernie
UIC for Bernie
UCLA Bruins for Bernie
Northeastern Huskies for Bernie
We, a group of Students for Bernie chapters across the country (independent from the Bernie Sanders campaign), are releasing this statement to increase awareness surrounding Joe Biden and his history of sexual assault accusations. We are demanding that attention is brought to this history and that it not be ignored -- as it has been for decades. He must be held accountable for his actions.
Tara Reade came forward last week with an allegation of sexual assault, which occurred in 1993 when she worked as a staff assistant for then-Senator Biden. Reade first went to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund for help, but they told her that because Biden is a candidate for federal office, that helping her would jeopardize their non-profit status. It is worth noting that Anita Dunn, the managing director of the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund's public relations firm, is a top adviser on Biden's campaign. Despite the extremely serious nature of these allegations, Democrats and the mainstream media have been silent.
There was no hesitation within the Democratic party to believe or support Christine Blasey Ford when she accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Democrats fought Republicans with claims that partisanship should never override morality, and that we should believe women who bravely come forward with allegations. Unfortunately, it seems as though this support for survivors was only shown in the name of political convenience. When an allegation is brought against the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party, suddenly there is radio silence from the establishment. No calls for an investigation, no questions from the media, nothing. None of the major cable news outlets have even reported the story.
How can the Democratic party claim to be the party that is fighting Donald Trump, a serial sexual abuser, while propping up Joe Biden? How can the Democratic party be the party that claims to protect women, but fails to do so when the predator is on their own side? How can media outlets claim to educate the public and provide crucial information, but fail to report this disturbing allegation against a presidential candidate? This goes beyond partisanship, beyond Biden vs. Bernie. This is about what kind of country we want to be, and what we are willing to accept in our leadership. How many times are we going to watch a predator ascend to the highest ranks of power while stifling the women who speak out against them? Every time we elect, nominate, or promote an abuser, we tell survivors that their experience don't matter. We are sending a clear message that assault will not stop men from gaining more and more power and that power makes men immune from consequence.
When Dr. Blasey Ford came forward with her story, Biden himself stated the importance of believing women. It is time to ask Biden if he believes the women who have made sexual assault and harassment allegations against him. It is time for the media to cover this story, and time for Democrats to stop sweeping it under the rug. Tara Reade, we are with you. To all survivors, we see you, we hear you, and we stand in solidarity with you. We will never stop fighting for you.
Signed,
Penn State Students for Bernie
Students for Bernie at UNCC
Grinnell Students for Bernie
William & Mary for Bernie
Harvard College Students for Bernie
Penn for Bernie
UIC for Bernie
UCLA Bruins for Bernie
Northeastern Huskies for Bernie