Minnesotans call for responsible leadership and political courage
July 20, 2018
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, Communications Director, TakeAction Minnesota 612-386-9556
NEWS RELEASE
It’s time to end the silence and excuses that perpetuate sexual harassment in our government—Rep. Nolan needs to step down as Lori Swanson’s running mate
St. Paul—In the last year, women have broken the culture of silence that perpetuates sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. Yesterday, MinnPost released another in-depth article about sexual harassment allegations in Minnesota politics.
This time, it was brought forward by former staffers and interns in Congressman Rick Nolan’s office. Congressman Nolan is the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Lori Swanson.
“To the women who came forward: we hear you and we believe you. No more excuses,” said Elianne Farhat, program director at TakeAction Minnesota. “This is bigger than one person. It’s is about a larger movement ending the culture of sexual harassment. It’s 2018. There’s nothing confusing about this.”
Allegations made in the article describe a longstanding culture of sexual harassment in Rep. Nolan’s office by Jim Swiderski, a high level staff member and campaign staffer.
The detailed article describes repeated inaction and perpetuation of an office culture permitting sexual harassment by senior staff.
That a known sexual harasser was hired onto Rick Nolan’s campaign team shows there was wonton disregard for these serious and unacceptable actions.
“We call for Rep. Nolan to step down from running for statewide office with Lori Swanson. Responsible public leaders don’t minimize sexual harassment—period,” Dan McGrath, executive director of TakeAction Minnesota said in news statement yesterday. “Rep. Nolan is running to represent our entire state. It’s 2018. This kind of leadership is toxic. It’s not the future we want.”
Organizations attending the press conference included TakeAction Minnesota, OutFront Minnesota, Land Stewardship Action, DFL Feminist Caucus, NARAL, Faith in Minnesota and more.
“We’re demanding political courage in 2018,” said Aldona Martinka, chair of the recently formed DFL Feminist Caucus and spokesperson at the press conference. “We stand unified in firm support of these women who made the courageous decision to break their silence about a serial sexual abuser.”
“It’s absolutely unacceptable that our Attorney General and candidate for Governor Lori Swanson would be silent about these allegations about her running mate,” said Pastor Laurie Eaton. “If she’s silent about sexual harassment as a candidate, how would she address these issues, and govern around these issues, if she were elected?”
TakeAction Minnesota and many other groups spoke out about the culture of silence around sexual harassment in politics during the #MeToo movement last year and during this year’s legislative session.
“For more than 30 years OutFront has been dedicated to eradicating sexual assault and harassment from our communities by operating a crisis line and anti-violence program to help survivors of sexual violence. It is a shame that in 2018 we are still having to hold our elected officials accountable for the most basic of sexual violence issues and condoning this kind of behavior in the workplace,” said Junior Avalos an organizer with OutFront Minnesota. Sexual harassment has no place in Minnesota politics. It’s just not Minnesotan. Our values are better than this. We are better than this.”
Mark Schultz, executive director with Land Stewardship Action, who hasn’t endorsed in the Governor’s race stated at the news conference, “Minnesotans care about this election because we care about each other. This about the kind of political leadership we need in our state, and the values of gender equity and accountability that we must exercise.”
Schultz noted the difficulty and disappointment, as Rep. Nolan has been a partner for small family farmers Land Stewardship Action represents.
Pastor Eaton ended the news conference, “As a woman in leadership, I understand I have a responsibility to use my authority in service of the people I’m called to lead. To do any less is to sacrifice the well being of others in order to protect one’s self.”
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Live stream of the news conference is posted on TakeAction Minnesota’s Facebook page.
TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, independent, multiracial people’s organization working to advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and campaigns. The organization has offices in St. Paul, Duluth, and St. Cloud.
