Hi John,

Young people are not safe so long as Andrew Cuomo is Governor.

Young New Yorkers hopeful about making change go to Albany to intern in the Governor’s office where they fear speaking out. Young people work for him in entry-level roles where they face sexual harassment and abuse. Young survivors want to share their stories to demand their government take sexual violence seriously without those stories being used as a shield for the Governor’s abuse. So long as the Governor sees no issue with his behavior, these young people are not safe.

Every day Andrew Cuomo remains in power is a statement to abusers on campuses everywhere that you can deny, deflect, and even intimidate your victims into silence to avoid accountability. Those abusers look to the Governor and see inspiration for further abuse. That means young people are not safe.

How can our brilliant youth activists with Know Your IX organize to ensure Title IX coordinators at NY schools take action to protect students when those coordinators see the leader of their state defiantly assaulting,conducting business as usual , and staying in power?

New York can either become a model for how to handle allegations of abuse, or an example of how the harassment and abuse of young women is minimized and dismissed. Andrew Cuomo has received the process he is due. Now, he must resign, and if he doesn’t, the legislature must move quickly to impeach and remove. Until that happens, young people are not safe.

In Solidarity,

Sage Carson
Senior Manager of Title IX Policy and Programming
Advocates for Youth