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June 12, 2018

Contact: Bethany Bowra / [email protected]

ACC Rejects Comments from Candace Owens And Will Not Attend Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is disconcerted by recent disparaging comments regarding sexual assault and rape survivors made by Candace Owens. As the communications director for Turning Point USA, Owens’ comments are abhorrent and show a fundamental misunderstanding of women who come forward to share their stories.

ACC President Benji Backer said, “women and men across the country have experienced abuse, assault, and rape in unimaginable ways. Calling victims ‘weak’ and ‘stupid’ instead of supporting them is shameful.”

The ACC stands with survivors of sexual assault. We encourage attendees at YWLS to learn from powerful voices such as Kimberly Corban, Allie Stuckey, and EmPOWERed at this year’s event.

Backer concluded, “The lack of remorse from Ms. Owens and the absence of a statement from Turning Point USA is unacceptable. Words like these should not be tolerated by Turning Point USA or the conservative movement as a whole.”

The ACC hereby revokes its sponsorship of the 2018 YWLS conference. The ACC will not participate as an exhibitor, nor will ACC host its originally scheduled breakout session.

If you are a survivor, local resources are available that can assist you with the next steps toward healing and recovery by calling the confidential National Sexual Assault Survivors’ Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).