STOP THE STATE HOUSE HARASSMENT
Warwick, RI -Rep. Teresa Tanzi yesterday added her voice to the thousands of victims of sexual harassment and abuse who have united and found courage and comfort by sharing their experiences through the #MeToo social media movement.??
She stated that she has faced harassment at every job throughout three decades in the workplace.??Most notably, she alleges that she has been told sexual favors would allow her bills to go further in the legislative process.??
Rep. Tanzi further elaborated that the person involved was not her equal but a higher ranking state house official.
In the wake of the allegations by Rep. Tanzi, Republican National Committeewoman Lee Ann Sennick commented, ???It is incumbent upon the leadership of the RI General Assembly to take action and fully investigate this matter and pursue all means to ensure that this abhorrent practice is not perpetuated.????Anything less is a disservice to the people of our state.?????
Added Committeewoman Sennick, ???Only by having this discussion can we hope to educate and thus influence behaviors that have too long been reinforced. We must, as a society, support the victims who have shared their pain in order to bring awareness to this serious issue and reassure those who have not been able to publicly share their experiences that they are not alone.??Together, we must make #MeToo become #NoMore.”
Chairman Brandon S. Bell expressed his concerns by stating: ???The alleged State House harasser should be identified and removed from his high ranking position.??The people of Rhode Island are tired of the bad behavior that goes on at the highest levels of their government.”