Black Lives Matter Bloomington released a statement Tuesday calling on Monroe County Commissioner Amanda Barge to resign following sexual harassment allegations.

Brandon Drake told the Indiana Daily Student Barge harassed him for months when he was working as an independent contractor for the county. He told the newspaper Barge shut him out professionally when he refused to date her.

Barge denies the allegations, but suspended her campaign for Bloomington mayor in response to the controversy.

In its statement, Black Lives Matter says part of its mission is to believe and support survivors, and it believes Drake's allegations.

Among other things, the organization says the power differential between Barge and Drake is troubling. The statement also says Barge "is using her position as County Commissioner to attack her victim and defend her egregious actions."

The organization is calling on Barge to resign as a county commissioner because it says she's broken trust with the people she represents.

Black Lives Matter also wants the county to adopt a policy that protects contracted employees from harassment. Federal anti-discrimination laws don't include protections for independent contractors.

Barge has previously said she has no plans to resign as commissioner.

In response to the allegations made against her, Monroe County's legal team released a six-page statement last week that focuses on Drake's job performance with the county.

BLM Calls for the Resignation of Amanda Barge by Indiana Public Media News on Scribd