Statement from me too. International following Report of Sexual Harassment by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2021

Statement from me too. International following Report of Sexual Harassment by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

ATLANTA – Tarana Burke and Dani Ayers – ED and CEO of me too. International, respectively – issued the following statement after the New York Attorney General found that NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women.

“The findings from the New York Attorney General’s report on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s behavior are horrific. Eleven women came forward – despite intimidation and retaliation from Governor Cuomo and his staff – to detail their experiences when working for his office. His continued denial of these allegations — allegations which have been corroborated by multiple sources — is unacceptable and robs survivors of the justice they deserve.

The Governor’s conduct disqualifies him from leading the state of New York. We call on him to resign. If he refuses to do so, we support the New York State Assembly in launching an impeachment inquiry into his conduct. Leaders need to be held accountable, no matter what position they hold, what generation or culture they were born into, or what political party they represent.

This moment is larger than Governor Cuomo. It’s about the culture of impunity that leaders like him rely on after they’ve committed harm. This is about disrupting toxic work environments that maintain dominance, fear and control at the expense of safety, agency and consent. Instances of sexual harassment are pervasive across institutions of power, and they only breed an environment rife for sexual violence.

We stand with these women. We believe them. And we demand more from those purported to serve us.”