Weinberg Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in NJ Politics Announces First Public Forum

Public forum in Fort Lee on Tuesday, February 11, will be followed by other public and closed-door listening sessions throughout the state

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics today announced that they will hold a public forum on Tuesday, February 11, in Fort Lee.

“This is just the first of a series of public and closed-door listening sessions where we want to hear from women in politics, government and the public sphere about their lived experiences relating to harassment, sexual assault and misogyny, and on steps that can be taken to positively change the political climate for women,” said Senator Weinberg.

The public forum will be held at the Fort Lee Community Center, 1355 Inwood Terrace, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07924, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Other dates and locations will be announced within the next week.

Senator Weinberg noted that the workgroup has adopted a multi-layered strategy of public forums and closed-door listening sessions, along with an anonymous on-line Survey on Misogyny and Sexual Misconduct in New Jersey Politics survey (https://njcasa.org/njpolitics/) that is being conducted by the New Jersey Coalition on Sexual Assault, to ensure that all voices are heard.

“We want women to know that they can choose how they want to share their experiences and ideas,” Senator Weinberg said. “We are offering multiple options so they can do so safely, privately and without fear of intimidation or retribution from those responsible for their harassment or assault, from those with an interest in protecting the political careers or interests of those responsible, or from those who encouraged or allowed a toxic political climate to develop.”

Senator Weinberg created the workgroup in the wake of a Star-Ledger/NJ Advance Media report in which 20 women told of being groped, propositioned, harassed and even sexually assaulted while serving as campaign staffers, political operatives, legislators and lobbyists. “We have put together a diverse cross-section of trusted woman leaders with wide experience in campaigns, politics, policy and lobbying,” she said.

The workgroup includes: Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver; Alison Accettola, Senate Majority General Counsel; Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer, New Jersey State AFL-CIO; Elizabeth Coulter, Director of Public Health, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey; Sonia Delgado, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group; Rosa Farias, Deputy Executive Director, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority; Jeannine LaRue, Senior Vice President, Kaufman Zita Group; Sabeen Masih, Vice President of Public Affairs, Capital Impact Group; Debbie Parks, International Vice President, AFSCME; Crystal Pruitt, Franklin Township Council; Lisa Randall, Commissioner, Bergen County Improvement Authority; Julie Roginsky, Co-Founder, Lift Our Voices; Christine Shipley, Executive Director, New Jersey Senate Minority Office; and Patricia Teffenhart, Executive Director, New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA).

“Our panel’s public forums will provide an opportunity for those interested in sharing their experiences, thoughts and perspectives on how to shape policy and implement reforms to address the toxic climate of misogyny, sexual assault and harassment in New Jersey politics,” said Ms. Teffenhart. “It is not the workgroup’s role to adjudicate individual cases about specific people, but we do believe it is our role to center the voices of those most impacted by the issues at hand.

“What we’re talking about is power and control. Therefore, understandably, some people may be uncomfortable attending a public forum, so we will also be hosting closed-door listening sessions for those who want to share their stories privately and anonymously. In addition, many have already left anonymous comments in the open field section of NJCASA’s on-line survey. That option remains available,” she said. “For those attending our public forums, Confidential Sexual Violence Advocates from local sexual violence service organizations will be in attendance to provide support and resources to anyone interested in exploring personal pathways to justice and healing.”

Those who would like to speak at the opening public forum are encouraged to sign up in advance at NJCASA’s website at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/fortleeforum or by emailing

publicpolicynj@aol.com. While provisions are being made to allow those who wish to do so to address the committee without giving their name, please note that the public forums will be open to the press and to the public. Those who desire full anonymity can choose to participate in a closed-door listening session or can provide comments through NJCASA’s on-line survey.

In addition to hearing from those who have experienced sexual misconduct, the panel welcomes expert commentary referencing research, best practices, and statewide or national data that will inform the workgroup’s recommendations.

The workgroup issued the following mission statement:

Sexual violence is not innately a political or partisan issue, yet it disproportionately impacts women in the policy-making and political arenas. For this reason, this ad hoc committee of woman leaders in policy and politics will endeavor to lay a foundation for New Jersey to address the misogynistic culture that has made women’s involvement in policy and politics unsafe and unhealthy. Together, we will address issues relating to power, control, coercion, silencing, retaliation, side-lining, harassment and assault. Together, we will seek to create policies, practices, and accountability mechanisms with a shared vision for a safer, more equitable New Jersey.

“We put together the workgroup we did because we knew it was important to be independent of the state’s male-dominated political power structure if we wanted to assure that their voices would be heard, and that their confidentiality would be respected,” Senator Weinberg said.