Time’s Up Foundation president and CEO Tina Tchen said on Monday (February 24) that the guilty verdict against Harvey Weinstein on two lesser charges marked “a new era of justice”.
In a statement, Tchen, who heads the group that launched two years ago in response to the Weinstein allegations and the #MeToo movement, said, “This trial – and the jury’s decision today – marks a new era of justice, not just for the Silence Breakers, who spoke out at great personal risk, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse, and assault at work.
”We owe a debt of gratitude to Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young, and all the Silence Breakers for their bravery and resolve as they faced this man in court. We continue to believe them – all of them – and continue to be in solidarity with them.
“The jury’s verdict sends a powerful message to the world of just how much progress has been made since the Weinstein Silence Breakers ignited an unstoppable movement. In two short years, TIME’S UP helped pass new laws to help survivors achieve justice, helped thousands of individuals take on harassers and abusers in court, and changed the game when it comes to how matters of safety and equity in the workplace are understood.
“While we celebrate this historic moment, our fight to fix the broken system that has allowed serial abusers like Harvey Weinstein to abuse women in the first place continues. Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There’s no going back.”
Women In Film Los Angeles executive director Kirsten Schaffer said the verdict marked a precedent-setting breakthrough.
“Today’s verdict is a significant and long-overdue step towards justice for women who have, for years, silently shouldered workplace sexual harassment and assault without recourse,” said Schaffer.
“WIF extends its most heartfelt gratitude and support to the Silence Breakers who have heroically endured so much throughout this trial.
“We trust that this conviction will set a precedent so that perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment – no matter how powerful – will now be unable to escape the criminal consequences of their predatory behaviour. For nearly five decades WIF has worked to combat inequity in entertainment and we will continue to innovate new ways to ensure safety, and bring about parity in all areas of the screen industries.
“We encourage anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or misconduct while working in entertainment, and needs support, to call the WIF Help Line at 855.WIF.LINE.”
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