The woman who has accused Vince McMahon of sexual assault, sex trafficking and coercion in a civil suit wants Connecticut laws to be changed.
Janel Grant and Alex Brown will be sharing their experiences at the Hartford Legislative Office Building on February 19th and to lobby the legislature to make the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) part of Connecticut state law so prisons and detention centers must follow its protections and to change state rules around non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that have been used to silence survivors and hide abuse.
“We are all more vulnerable to coercive control than we realize. Coercive control happens in increments, and entire industries are built on systems of coercive control. Tools such as NDAs can be used to ominously justify anything, and even turn a life into someone else’s storyline, keeping even those who have not signed confidentiality agreements working in fear. Any system that sacrifices people, whether current or former employees, at the expense of safety and human dignity, is dangerous, if not impossible, for someone to ‘leave.’ I’m not alone in living a life looking over my shoulder. Evolving systems and holistic change in how we address sexual violence remains painfully slow. I am here to be a part of the solution and give a voice to people in Connecticut who are living and working in fear. I want to empower others with information in the hopes that we can create a better and safer world,” said Janel Grant.
“Survivors deserve safety, dignity and the right to be heard – no matter where the harm occurs,” said Beth Hamilton, Executive Director of the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, who is hosting the event. “Codifying PREA into state law ensures consistent standards, oversight, and access to reporting and services for incarcerated survivors, while NDA reform prevents contracts from being used to hide abuse or retaliate against those who speak out.”
Senator Julie Kushner also stated: “Too often, NDAs protect institutions with power rather than people who were harmed. Updating our laws restores balance and accountability and puts survivor safety and transparency first.”
“People in state custody are entirely dependent on the system for their safety. Codifying PREA into state law aZirms that protection from sexual abuse is not discretionary. Clear standards, enforceable rights, and meaningful oversight are essential to preventing harm and maintaining public trust in our correctional institutions,” said Department of Corrections Ombuds DeVaughn Ward.
