Show that harassment of any sort is not acceptable
As fellow members of New Mexico’s advocacy community, we are expressing our support for Laura Bonar of Animal Protection Voters. We believe her and we support her as she publicly confronts Representative Carl Trujillo’s unacceptable actions and behavior.
All allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and/or violence deserve to be taken seriously, and we must all do our part to ensure that, in situations like this, victims of sexual harassment are believed and are not re-traumatized in the public sphere through victim shaming.
This situation presents us all with an opportunity to put our beliefs into action by showing support for our colleagues and community members so they aren’t made to feel alone.
Members of the advocacy community who work year after year to pass important legislation in Santa Fe know what a sexually hostile environment the Roundhouse can be. We not only work there ourselves, but also we send our colleagues and engaged community members there to learn about and participate in the democratic process. We support all steps that can be taken to ensure a safe working environment for the work we, and others, do on behalf of New Mexico’s communities.
We applaud the courage it took for Laura and all victims of sexual harassment to come forward, share their stories and try to build a better world by shining a light on the dark
parts of our current one.
It’s time to draw a clear line in the sand. It’s time to set the right examples. Future generations must know that sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic violence and any form of harassment will not be tolerated by our society.
Laura, we believe you.
ALEX CURTAS, for The Center for Civic Policy, OLÉ Education Fund, NM Asian Family Center, Native American Voters Alliance, NM Drug Policy Action, Conservation Voters NM, ProgressNow NM, Southwest Organizing Project, El Centro de Igualdad Y Derechos, Equality NM, Emerge NewMexico, Equality New Mexico, Common Cause New Mexico, and the NAVA Education Project Albuquerque