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Silence Undocumented Rape Victims? Don’t Let Rep. Ryan Fattman Get Away With It!
  1. Signatures
    4,565 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. State Rep. Ryan Fattman (MA-160)
  2. Created By
    New Hope, Inc.
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jun 17, 2011

Representative Fattman released the following statement today after meeting with representatives of New Hope, Inc.

Republican Legislators Meet with Victim Advocacy Officials

Representative Fattman Clarifies Statement Regarding Undocumented Rape Survivors 

BOSTON - House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), Assistant Minority Leader Elizabeth Poirier (R – North Attleboro) and Representative Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) met yesterday with representatives of New Hope, Inc. including Executive Director Kim Thomas to discuss domestic and sexual violence as well as providing me an opportunity to clarify my position following recent attributions regarding the reporting of rape.

“I was pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with officials from New Hope, Inc.,”said Representative Fattman. “I appreciate the opportunity to clarify that I do, and always will feel compassion towards victims of any crime. Victims of any crime should always feel safe to come forward to both law enforcement officials and other support networks for help, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or any other factor.”

A petition filed by New Hope, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) and the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts (RCCCM) sought to obtain clarification of Rep. Fattman’s position on this issue.  After a productive discussion between legislators and victim advocates, all parties involved accept this clarifying statement as an accurate depiction of his beliefs , and have therefore agreed to remove the petition.

“We are thankful to Representative Fattman, Representative Poirier, and House Minority Leader Jones for meeting with us to discuss victims’ rights and advocacy,” said New Hope Executive Director, Kim Thomas adding  “We look forward to working together”

 “The opportunity that we have before us to educate and provide resources to the victims of domestic and sexual violence, and those who advocate on their behalf is invaluable,” said Representative Poirier. “I look forward to the continued progression of legislation relative to furthering the awareness of this issue.”

New Hope, Inc., a non-profit human service agency whose mission is “Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence in Our Community,” with over 30 years of experience providing crisis intervention and prevention services, welcomes the opportunity to work with a bi-partisan group of legislators including Representative Fattman to ensure that our state supports all survivors of violence.

According to Massachusetts State Representative Ryan Fattman, undocumented victims who are raped “should be afraid to come forward” and report their rape because of their immigration status. Fattman reported  the following comments to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:

"My thought is that if someone is here illegally, they should be afraid to come forward," Mr. Fattman said. "If you do it the right way, you don't have to be concerned about these things," he stated, referring to obtaining legal immigration status.

Representative Fattman's appalling assertion sends a chilling message to all rape survivors that their circumstances could -- and even should -- prohibit them from seeking help. Rape is already the most under-reported crime, in large part because victims are afraid of being put under the microscope if they report their rape.

We call on Representative Fattman to apologize for his comments and ask his colleagues in the Massachusetts State Legislature to hold him accountable for claiming certain individuals who are raped don't deserve help.

We also call on the Massachusetts State Legislature - to publicly denounce Rep. Fattman's comments and send a message that there are never any circumstances in which a victim should be afraid to come forward about being raped.

This action is endorsed by New Hope, Rape Crisis Center of Central MA and Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Rep. Fattman should not silence rape victims!

Greetings,

We trust that you are as appalled as we are by State Representative Ryan Fattman's recent assertion that immigrant victims who are raped "should be afraid to come forward" to authorities because of their immigration status. We implore Fattman to apologize for this outrageous comment, and we are calling on Rep. Fattman's colleagues in the State Legislature to hold him accountable for making it harder and more frightening for Massachusetts citizens to report being raped.

Governor Patrick recently announced that the state of Massachusetts will not participate in the controversial “Secure Communities” program, which entangles local police in immigration matters. In response, Rep. Fattman allegedly told a local paper that an immigrant victim who had been raped "should be afraid to come forward." Rape is already an under-reported crime and Fattman's statement sends a message to all victims that there are circumstances under which they could, and even should, be denied justice.

While immigration is a complicated issue, the issue at hand, of whether victims should be afraid to report a crime, is not. Making victims afraid to report crimes puts entire communities at risk. Telling a victim that she or he should keep quiet is simply wrong. This message must be sent loud and clear, to counteract the harm in the comments that Rep. Fattman is reported to have made.

We are asking the Massachusetts State Legislature to publicly denounce Representative Fattman's alleged statements, that Fattman's colleagues in the Legislature hold him accountable, and for Rep. Fattman to apologize immediately.

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