TOOLKIT: Support Survivors of Sexual Violence (SB 6017)

Submit your letters and sign up for testimony by January 26!

Legislation (SB 6017) has been introduced in Washington state to support survivors of sexual violence. An amendment to the Crime Victim Bill of Rights was shaped directly by survivors and Native community members following a high-profile case in which a convicted serial rapist represented himself at trial and was allowed to cross-examine multiple victims for hours and days on end. This forced victims to relive their trauma while enduring further abuse. This legislation will expand survivors’ rights and access to services, and allow judges in sexual assault or domestic violence cases the discretion to appoint a designee to cross-examine victims and ask any questions on behalf of self-representing defendant.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP!

The WA Senate Law & Justice Committee has scheduled a hearing on January 26 at 10:30am PST.

We need our community to send letters to the Committee today.
We need as many people as possible to sign up to testify in support of SB 6017.
Share on social media to encourage others to send letters and testify.

Below are resources and links to make it easy to send a letter and sign up.

Send a Letter to Legislators

1) Download the Letter

Download letter here

2) Personalize the Letter

Add the date, your name and address in the highlighted sections. Don’t forget to add your name as a sign off toward the bottom of the letter.
You may personalize the letter to add a brief personal message (optional).
Save the letter once you’re done.

3) Email Your Letter WA Senate Law & Justice Committee

Open your email and attach the letter.
Copy and paste the following emails into the “To” field:
- manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov, yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov, jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov, phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov, john.lovick@leg.wa.gov, Jesse.Salomon@leg.wa.gov, nikki.torres@leg.wa.gov, Javier.Valdez@leg.wa.gov
Add the subject line: Community Support for SB 6017
Personalize your email. Here is a sample that you can copy and paste, if helpful.

Dear Sen. Dhingra,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share the attached letter, outlining my support for SB 6017, currently before your committee. I believe this legislation would have an immense impact for survivors of sexual violence, especially for American Indian and Alaska Native women who experience sexual violence at a rate 2.5 times higher. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Click send!

Sign up to testify

You can provide written or verbal testimony or state your position for the legislative record.

1) Click Here to Sign Up

Select SB 6017 and choose your type of testimony.
Select “Pro” In the “Position” drop-down.
Complete the form.

2) You May also Submit Written Testimony

Select SB 6017 and choose “I would like to submit written testimony.”
Select “Pro” In the “Position” drop-down.
Complete the form.
Provide your written comments and/or attachments. Your comments will be made available to legislative members and staff of the committee and will be included in the legislative record.

Please note: this is available up to 24 hours after the start time of the meeting.

3) State Your Position if You Don’t Plan to Testify

Select SB 6017 and choose “I would like my position noted for the legislative record.”
Select “Pro” In the “Position” drop-down.
Complete the form.
Note: Registration will close 1 hour before the start time of the meeting.

Download Talking Points

Additional Ways to Support

Share on Social Media

Copy and paste the message below to share the message on your platform.

Facebook/LinkedIn

📣 I NEED YOUR HELP TO PROTECT SURVIVORS IN WASHINGTON 

SB 6017 needs to be passed to protect survivors of sexual violence from being retraumatized in court. 

Survivors and Native community members directly informed this bill that will allow judges, in sexual assault or domestic violence cases, to appoint a designee to conduct cross-examination when a defendant if self-represented. 

The recent case of convicted serial rapist Redwolf Pope, who was allowed to question survivors on the stand for days, shows why this bill is urgently needed. 

🚨 Act now:

📩 Email the WA Senate Law & Justice Committee by Jan 26

✔️ Anyone can help—no matter where you live in the U.S. 

✔️ You can also sign up to testify

🔗 Click link below for sample letter + instructions.

#ProtectNativeWomen #JusticeForNativeWomen #NativeJustice #MMIW

[Link]

Download graphic (Facebook)

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