The New Agenda calls on NY Senate to Force Monserrate to Step Down (Press Release)

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2009

The New Agenda Calls on NY Senate to Force Monserrate to Step Down

The New Agenda, a national non-partisan women's rights group, is joining NOW
NY in demanding that New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate step down
immediately. Monserrate is charged with second-degree assault and
fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with a domestic
violence incident involving his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo. If convicted,
Monserrate faces up to seven years in prison.

"In an appalling demonstration of partisanship over women's safety, the New
York Democratic Party seated Monserrate to achieve its first Senate majority
in 40 years," said The New Agenda co-founder Amy Siskind. "This outrageous
move must be reversed immediately. By allowing Monserrate to remain in
office, the New York Democratic party is sending a message that an arrest
for violently attacking a woman is a trivial matter without consequences."

Siskind expressed concern about Monserrate's level of arrogance and
defensiveness in addressing legitimate questions about the attack and
worried that the victim is being bullied and intimidated - an all-too-common
experience for victims. Siskind also expressed The New Agenda's full support
of NOW NY's work to make domestic violence against women a hate crime.

According to the Human Rights Watch organization, the projected number of
domestic violence incidents against women increased by 42 percent between
2005 and 2007. According to a study conducted by the Department of Criminal
Justice Services, 55 percent of New York women murdered in 2007 were victims
of domestic violence, and state officials expect domestic violence to rise
as the economy worsens. As well, due to current recession, many domestic
abuse shelters are now reporting a 20-25 percent increase in hotline calls.

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has not only remained silent about the
charges against Monserrate, he appointed him to head the Consumer Protection
Committee.

"Domestic abuse is a national crisis. One in four women is a victim of
abuse across all socioeconomic lines, and the problem is escalating," said
Siskind. "If Smith and other legislators think this went by unnoticed, they
are sorely mistaken. To seat Monserrate in spite of the grave charges
against him will cost them far more than their Senate majority: it will cost
them their credibility, and it will leave New York's citizens with lawmakers
who gave up their moral authority to legislate and lead."

On December 19th, 2008, Karla Giraldo told an Emergency room doctor at the
Long Island Jewish Medical Center that Hiram Monserrate had slashed her face
with a broken glass, leaving deep gashes around her eye that required 25
stitches to close.

A security video of the hallway of his apartment shows an enraged Monserrate
attempting to throw something from Giraldo's purse down the garbage chute.
Another security video recorded Monserrate screaming at someone inside the
apartment.

Later, security camera footage shows a frightened and distressed Giraldo
knocking on neighbors' doors with a bloody towel clutched to her face. Still
later, Monserrate is seen wrestling Giraldo out of the front door of his
building.