Justice Delayed? Survivors Demand Action as City Council Punts on Intro. 1297 Vote

Survivors of sexual abuse, together with advocates and City Council allies, gathered outside City Hall this week to urge swift movement on Intro. 1297, a bill designed to enhance protections for those impacted by gender-driven violence.

Survivors Seek Justice After Lawsuit Rejections

The proposed law is a response to a recent judicial ruling that tossed out hundreds of cases, including many from individuals abused in the city’s juvenile detention centers. The legislation would also aid victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation and those harmed by medical professionals in prominent institutions.

“We are not just victims anymore. We are survivors. We will not stop until change happens,” stated Mary Soto, whose own juvenile detention case was dismissed.

Speaking Out Against Injustice

Multiple survivors shared heartfelt accounts about years of trauma and the difficulty of public disclosure.

Kendu Starmell, who came from South Carolina, stressed the fundamental right to due process, saying, “Allow us our day in court. Allow us our due process. That’s the minimum we deserve.”

Another survivor, Rashawn Jones, recounted abuse from a staff member at Horizon Juvenile Center when he was just 16. His lawsuit was also dismissed.

“Now that we have spoken up, we’re being told it doesn’t matter. In what world is that justice?” Jones asked.

Goals and Impacts of Intro. 1297

The central issue is whether organizations can be held liable, not only individual perpetrators. The bill intends to clarify laws and would reopen a one-year window for survivors to bring civil claims, following the model of New York’s Adult Survivors Act.

“Those who put faith in the legal system have now been told they cannot pursue justice from the very entities that failed them. We cannot accept that,” said Queens Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, who introduced the bill.

Calls Increase for Action by Council

Though Intro. 1297 is backed by 34 Council co-sponsors, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has not yet set up a hearing or vote. Her spokesperson noted that the legislation, filed in May, is still moving through the legislative procedures.

Council Member Farah Lewis, chair of the Women and Gender Equity Committee, called for prompt attention: “We must bring this bill to the committee immediately and put it to a vote, because survivors cannot be ignored.”

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also pressed for urgency: “There needs to be real accountability. We can’t only focus on the costs or hurdles. The question should be how we ensure this happens.”