Women’s Group Blasts Council Candidate Monserrate

By BRIAN MORENO

Local members of the National Organization for Women  on Thursday condemned City Council hopeful Hiram Monserrate, who is campaigning to represent the 21st District in Queens, urging voters to reject him  for his past as a domestic abuser and  his conviction on fraud charges.

The group and some City Councilmembers held up signs and shouted out slogans against Monserrate from the steps of City Hall.

 Monserrate, faces Assemblyman Francisco P. Moya, for the seat as present Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland has decided not to run for re-election.

NOW also blacklisted four other candidates running for election or reelection whom the group deemed unfit for office: City Council candidate Thomas Lopez-Pierre of Harlem, former councilman Allan Jennings who is trying to make a political comeback, Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera and State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., charging alleged  records of bigotry, homophobia and misogyny.

 Monserrate is the titleholder of the list.

 “He has the audacity to run again,” marveled NOW official My Nazareno. “I think it’s just unethical for him to be running, given his track road.’

Queens Councilman Donovan Richards also condemned Hiram Monserrate and domestic abuse and declared support for Moya.

“This election is very important at this time in history,” said Sonia Ossorio, the President of NOW – New York. “It’s very important for the women of New York, who have struggled for equality, who struggled against the violence that we have faced at epidemic proportions for far too long,” 

Photo by Brian Moreno