UltraViolet Supports National Women’s Soccer League Players
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 1, 2021
CONTACT: Anya Silverman-Stoloff | anya@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Supports National Women’s Soccer League Players
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the National Women’s Soccer League announced that it was calling off all weekend games in the face of multiple reports of alleged abuse of players and amid claims that the league has systematically failed to address allegations of sexual coercion of a male coach.
Yesterday, the players in the National Women’s Soccer League issued a statement in solidarity with SInead Farrelly, Mana Shim, Kaiya McCollough, and all of the other players who shared their stories of abuse, calling out the League for failing to address the allegations of abuse.
In solidarity with the National Women’s Soccer League players in their fight for justice and accountability, Bridget Todd, communications director of UltraViolet, a leading national women’s organization, issued the following statement:
“UltraViolet’s more than 1 million members across the United States stand in solidarity with the National Women’s Soccer League players in their fight for sexual abusers within the sport to be held accountable.
“Players within the National Women’s Soccer League have informed the appropriate authorities of allegations of abuse multiple times and the League has consistently failed to investigate these allegations. The National Women’s Soccer League has a duty to protect its players from abuse within its network, and its failure to do so is unacceptable.”
“From fighting for equal pay to demanding accountability for abusers, the solidarity of the players within the National Women’s Soccer League is an inspiration to all women and survivors of abuse. We stand with them.”
In 2015, Ultraviolet pressured FIFA to close the pay gap after the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions netted only $2 million for their win, while the winners of the 2014 men’s World Cup netted $35 million. In contrast, the US men’s team was awarded a whopping $8 million prize after losing in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup. As part of the effort, more than 72,000 UltraViolet members signed onto a petition urging FIFA demanding equal pay for the US Women’s National soccer team. VIEW THE PETITION HERE: http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/fifa_women/
In 2019, UltraViolet targeted US Soccer demanding they enact an equal pay policy for men and women. Not long after, UltraViolet and members organized a petition delivery at US Soccer headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. VIEW THE PETITION HERE: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/us_soccer_equal_pay/
Earlier this year, UltraViolet resurfaced a TV ad from 2016 Olympics calling for the United States women’s soccer team to receive equal pay. VIEW THE AD HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNRyHbbaeRM&feature=youtu.be
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