Voices from the Military Rape Litigation
Posted by Danielle in 
Powerful video that presents the voices of the plaintiffs in the military rape litigation – quotes are pulled directly from their testimonies. Thanks to Jezebel for sharing.
Video contains strong language.
Video by Matt Toder, Jessica Coen, and Irin Carmon. Song: “O Mary Don’t You Weep, by Paul Reece.
Sexual Assault & Harassment: Why Cadets Are at Fault
By Charles Clymer
Charles is a yearling (sophomore), and served 3.5 years in the infantry before coming to West Point.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a speech given by Anu Bhagwati, the Executive Director of the Service Women’s Action Network, an organization that “advocates for all military women, in order to increase their visibility and access to equal protection, opportunities, and benefits.”
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House Armed Services Committee Discusses Problem of Sexual Assault and Rape
On February 16, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing to discuss the problem of sexual violence in the military along with the military rape litigation. Read the transcript below between Representative Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen.
SWAN’s Executive Director Discusses the Problem of Sexual Violence in the Military on Fox News
Anu Bhagwati, along with a plantiff from the military rape litigation, discuss the problem of sexual violence in the military and the lawsuit on Fox News. Watch the entire interview here:
Senate Armed Services Committee Discusses Problem of Sexual Assault and Rape
On February 17th, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to discuss the problem of sexual and rape in the U.S. military. Read the transcript below of the discussion between Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo), Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen.
Congressman Ted Poe Speaks Out Against Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military
Congressman Ted Poe (R-Texas) spoke on the House floor on February 18th, to denounce rape and sexual assault in the military and to encourage the support of survivors of violence.
SWAN’s Policy Director on WNYC’s The Takeaway
SWAN’s Policy Director, Greg Jacob, spoke on WNYC’s The Takeaway about the military rape litigation filed against Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. Read more here and listen to the entire story here:
SWAN’s Executive Director Discusses Lawsuit Against Donald Rumsfeld & Robert Gates on CNN
SWAN’s, Executive Director, Anu Bhagwati discusses the lawsuit filed against Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates on CNN’s The Situation Room. Hear her speak about the federal class action lawsuit here:
Pentagon Faces Litigation Exposing Military Sexual Abuse Crisis
Advocacy Organization Joins In Support Of Class Action Lawsuit Against Pentagon Leaders Gates, Rumsfeld To Combat Military Rape, Sexual Assault
Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), a national advocacy organization devoted to eliminating sexual violence in the U.S. military, led by executive director and former Marine Corps Captain Anu Bhagwati, are joining in support of a lawsuit filed against Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, for failure to make measurable progress and marked improvement to the Pentagon’s abysmal record that appears to tolerate sexual abuse and rape.
Anu Bhagwati Speaks at National Press Club
National Press Club Remarks
Military Rape and Sexual Assault Litigation
Anuradha K. Bhagwati, Executive Director of Service Women’s Action Network
February 15, 2011
Good morning. My name is Anuradha Bhagwati. I am a former Captain in the United States Marine Corps. I am now the Executive Director of Service Women’s Action Network, a national advocacy organization that is working to transform military culture by securing equal opportunity and the freedom to serve in uniform without threat of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or assault. In addition to policy work on military sexual violence, our National Peer Support Helpline serves military women across the globe.
Help SWAN Send Nicole Goodwin to the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival!
SWAN is fundraising to help our good friend Nicole Goodwin attend the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, in order to continue her writing on transitioning from deployment to civilian life. As a veteran, she hopes to help tell the stories of how difficult that change is and about life as a woman in today’s military. Read more about Nicole and the Writing Festival here.
Military Rape Litigation Featured on the Today Show
NBC’s Michael Isikoff reports on SWAN’s litigation against Defense Secretaries Gates and Rumsfeld. Watch the video here:
SWAN Announces Updated Fact Sheets
SWAN has published two updated fact sheets: “Military Academies: Rape, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment” and “Rape, Sexual Assault, and Sexual Harassment in the Military: The Quick Facts“. Read these and more on the Publications page.
Civil Rights Lite
Featured on gay.americablog.com Jan. 29th
Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is well underway and Certification is within reach; however, LGBT servicemembers have much to fear after hearing yesterday’s Pentagon brief on Implementation.
The DoD has left the safety and welfare of LGBT servicemembers to chance by pronouncing that a focus on “Leadership, Professionalism, Discipline and Respect,” will make for a seamless transition to a post-repeal military. This impressive-sounding mantra lacks as much real-world substance as the military’s “Zero Tolerance Policy” slogan, used to crack down on a variety of ills that still continue to plague the military, ranging from driving under the influence to sexual assault of servicemembers.
SWAN Hosts UN Expert for Roundtable Discussion on MST
Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, rounds out her U.S. fact finding tour with a roundtable discussion about sexual violence in the military. The discussion, hosted by Service Women’s Action Network, took place on Friday afternoon and was attended by advocates and survivors of MST. Read more here.
Photo by the United Nations.