Women’s Groups Start Petition To Oust Monserrate

Posted by: Joseph Spector - Posted in Uncategorized on Oct 29, 2009

The National Organization for Women in New York, The New Agenda and The Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Committee have started their own petition drive and letter asking Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson to have Sen. Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens, removed from office.

That’s in addition to the other petition that was recently started.

Monserrate have vowed to stay in office after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault involving his girlfriend, despite a Senate committee that has been set up that will look at removing him. Political forces in Queens are also moving against him.

Here’s the women’s groups letter to Sampson.

OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR JOHN SAMPSON

Dear Senator Sampson:

A court of law recently found Senator Hiram Monserrate guilty of domestic violence-a vicious crime causing serious injury to his girlfriend. Despite the calls by many of our leaders for his immediate resignation (including Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, Congressional members and many state senators), he refuses to step down. In fact, he has shown no remorse for his actions. You must hold him accountable by removing him immediately.

Our elected officials have an obligation to the people of New York to lead by examplethey are expected to set a higher standard. Domestic violence has no place in our society or in the Legislature and must not be tolerated in any form.

We call on you, the New York State Senate, Senator Eric Schneiderman and his newly-formed committee to proceed with all haste to remove Hiram Monserrate from the Senate. You have a responsibility to his constituents, the Democratic Party, and all New Yorkers to do the right thing. Equally, you have a responsibility to yourselves to uphold the institution of the Senate. We await your decision.