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President Obama was shocked. We were horrified. Everyone watched the video of Ray Rice last week punching his then fiancé unconscious and dragging her limp body out of an elevator. But what have we learned?
Rice is not the only player accused of domestic abuse in the NFL right now. He is just one of three players who have been accused, or convicted, of charges relating to domestic violence. Two of these players continue to play football; this despite a new, “tougher” NFL policy that strengthens the league’s ability to punish players involved in such cases. Domestic violence outpaces any other crime in the league.
The NFL is now at a crisis point.
That is why Team Ronan is asking you to join a bipartisan group of 16 women in the Senate urging Commissioner Roger Goodell to institute a zero-tolerance policyfor domestic violence.
If you agree, sign your name below.
Then share it on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #ZeroTolerance.
xo,
Team Ronan Daily
September 11, 2014
Mr. Roger GoodellNational Football League345 Park AvenueNew York, NY 10154
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, we call on the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence that will ensure that this type of violence and abuse has no place in the NFL.
We were shocked and disgusted by the images we saw this week of one of your players violently assaulting his now-wife and knocking her unconscious, and at new reports that the NFL may have received this video months ago. Tragically, this is not the only case of an NFL player allegedly assaulting a woman even within the last year.
We are deeply concerned that the NFL’s new policy, announced last month, would allow a player to commit a violent act against a woman and return after a short suspension. If you violently assault a woman, you shouldn’t get a second chance to play football in the NFL.
The NFL’s current policy sends a terrible message to players, fans and all Americans that even after committing a horrific act of violence, you can quickly be back on the field.
It is long past time for the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy and send a strong message that the league will not tolerate violence against women by its players, who are role models for children across America. We hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to the safety of women and families.
Sincerely,
U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
