Roger Goodell
Catalina Fragoso | USA Today Sports | Reuters
The attorney generals of the six states warned the National Football League on Wednesday that a “workplace culture that is completely hostile to women,” or face investigations and possible legal action, in order to take “swift action” in response to recent allegations.
The coalition said in a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that it had “serious concerns” about reports of how the league’s female staff was being treated.
“Our offices will use the full weight of our authority to investigate and prosecute allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation by employers across our state, including the National Football League,” said Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, and her opponents in Illinois, Minnesota. , Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington in their letter.
The warning comes from a New York Times report in February based on claims by more than 30 former NFL employees based in New York City.
Among other things, female ex-employees told the Times that a video of former NFL player Ray Rice repeatedly punching and punching his fiance in 2014 was made to be viewed repeatedly, citing “peer comments that the victim had resorted to violence,” the letter noted.
The women described in more detail how they were asked to disclose how they had been subjected to domestic abuse.
“Other women described the experience of unwanted touches from male bosses, who joined the party
Prostitutes were recruited, passed on propaganda based on their gender, and being
Has been pushed to complain about discrimination, “Goodell said in the letter.
“In 2014, we saw horror as a video [former NFL player] Ray Rice was publicly accused of brutally attacking his fiance, “the letter said. “After that tragic incident and many more, the NFL has promised to do better, take gender violence seriously and improve the status of women in the league. “
The attorney general added: “We now know they did nothing like that.”
The NFL, in response to the letter, said in a statement that it was committed to protecting its workplace from harassment and discrimination.
“We have made tremendous progress over the years in support of that commitment, but acknowledge that we, like many organizations, have more work to do,” the league said.
“We look forward to sharing with the Attorney General the principles, practices, protocols, educational activities and partnerships that we have implemented to fulfill this commitment and ensure that the League Office and our clubs maintain a respectable workplace where all our employees, including women, There is room for improvement, “the league added.