(SitNews) - Friday, a statewide coalition of organizations representing civil rights, consumers, poverty alleviation, sex workers, sex trafficking victims, health care, Alaska Natives, youth, and veterans' interests sent a letter to Governor Dunleavy asking him to carefully consider Alaska's sexual assault crisis in his next appointee for state Attorney General.

Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson resigned Tuesday following an investigation revealing hundreds of text messages he sent to a younger state employee that made her uncomfortable. (See Alaska’s Attorney General Resigns Hours After “Uncomfortable” Texts He Sent to a Younger Colleague Published)

In the letter the coalition wrote, "Former AG Clarkson's sexual harassment of a junior state employee was abhorrent and his actions meet the standard of termination. Clarkson should not have been allowed to resign."

The statewide coalition is made up of organizations representing civil rights, consumers, poverty alleviation, sex workers, sex trafficking victims, health care, Alaska Native, youth, and veterans' interests. Organization involved in the coalition are Alaska Poor People's Campaign. Alaska Public Interest Research Group, Alaskans Take A Stand, Bread Line, Inc., Community United For Safety And Protection, Native Movement, The Alaska Center and Wellness Worthy.

Quoting a news release from the coaltion, "Under the supervision of Mr Clarkson, who has previously been accused of domestic violence, the Department of Law has instituted rape culture by offering unforgivable plea deals to predators like Justin Schneider and Winfred Hipps. Internally, Mr. Clarkson promoted John Skidmore to Deputy Attorney General after he fired former DA Florina Ashtiler for expressing concerns about inappropriate texts from Trooper Peronto, who was later charged with trying to sexually abuse a minor he had contacted during a traffic stop. Actions like these ensure that Alaska will continue to be the "rape capital" of the United States."

To address the crisis of sexual assault and high cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, the organizations called for Alaska's next Attorney General to be a woman and/or person of color with a strong record of work against sexual assault and no history of violent charges or domestic violence restraining orders.

On the Web:

September 04, 2020 Letter to Governor Dunleavy: Next Attorney General Appointee

Source of News:

Native Movement
www.nativemovement.org

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