“Yesterday’s Star Ledger article, “#MeToo was supposed to fix things. But women in N.J. politics say they’ve been groped, harassed — and worse”, highlights what many of us know to be true – we need to do a better job supporting and promoting women’s political leadership.

One of the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey’s (WPCNJ) core objectives is to increase the number of elected and appointed women in office. It’s clear achieving that goal requires working to remove barriers that hinder women from getting involved, or staying involved, in politics. Fostering an environment where women feel and ARE safe is essential. WPCNJ stands in support of the women who bravely shared their experiences, both on and off-the-record. We also call on our male colleagues in politics to do better – to not just be a “good guy”, but to be the kind of guy that disrupts the culture that creates a power imbalance that places women disproportionately at risk for sexual harassment and assault.

We have the good privilege of working with plenty of men and women in politics who believe in justice, equity, and inclusion. We stand ready to support the kind of systemic reform necessary to provide equal opportunity for men and women to engage in policy and politics without fear.”