Activists Hold Rally in Front of Senator Klein's Campaign Headquarters

  It was billed as a 'Coalition Grassroots Activists Condemning State Senator Jeff Klein's Alleged Sexual Misconduct'. Supporters were expected to assemble in front of Senator Jeff Klein's campaign office to rally against Senator Klein, and in support of  the former Klein staffer who has alleged misconduct by the senator. However on the warm drizzly night only about twenty-five people showed up, and it was hard to tell exactly who was there to protest, and who was there to cover the event. 

 When the rally started six women spoke. Dominique Shuminova, Liz Massie, Jennie Drieson (of 'Progressive Women of Pelham) Ms. Tasha D. Young (from Rockland County), Ms Samelys Lopez (Bronx), and one other unidentified woman, each condemning the action of Senator Klein as said by former staffer Erica Vladimer. Ms. Vladimer claims that Senator Klein forcibly kissed her outside an Albany bar. Senator Klein, Senator Diane Savino, and several staffers were celebrating the passage of the 2015 state budget on April 1, 2015 after forty-eight hours of non-stop work. Ms. Vladimer says that she and Senator Klein went outside the bar to smoke, and that was when the incident took place. Senator Klein has declared his innocence in the matter. 

 Each woman who spoke called for an investigation of the matter. Senator Klein in maintaining his innocence has also called for an investigation. Among the crowd were members of NYC16 INDIVISIBLE, an anti IDC group which held a rally at Lehman College in November of 2017. Present at that November meeting were current State Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and past candidate for governor Zepher Teachout. 

Above - Ms. Jennie Driesen of Progressive Women of Pelham reads a statement condemning the alleged action, calling for an investigation of the matter. 

Below - Ms. Samelys Lopez also supported the former Klein staffer. 

The protesters assemble for a group picture.