Social media platforms face a reckoning over hate speech
(Washington Post)
“We are cautiously optimistic that Reddit is finally working with groups like ours to dismantle the systems that enable hateful rhetoric on their platform,” Bridget Todd, a spokeswoman for the women’s advocacy organization UltraViolet, said in an emailed statement.
The group said its members met with Reddit CEO Steve Huffman via Zoom last week, encouraging him to address racism and hate speech on the platform.
Women’s Group UltraViolet Cheers Andy Lack’s Exit as NBC News Chairman
(The Wrap)
UltraViolet, a national women’s group, cheered the exit of longtime NBC News Chairman Andy Lack on Monday as a “positive development” that “suggests NBC is beginning to take issues regarding its workplace culture seriously.”
“After a career of enabling sexual abusers, preying on women in the workplace and silencing stories from survivors, Andy Lack’s name is synonymous with NBCUniversal’s toxic workplace culture. Lack should have been forced to step down after Ronan Farrow’s reporting exposed his role covering up sexual abuse at the network,” UltraViolet co-founder Shaunna Thomas said in a statement, citing previous accusations about Lack’s behavior as chairman of NBC News and MSNBC since 2015. (Lack has denied retaliating against the two women who spoke with Farrow about his behavior.)
“While no single decision or individual can eliminate the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace, these are positive developments,” she continued. “Still, NBC has a long way to go before it takes the steps necessary to address their toxic workplace culture, which has been cultivated by men like Andy Lack for decades.”
Senate’s $2 trillion stimulus fails women on frontlines of coronavirus pandemic
(Sun Sentinel)
As the coronavirus pandemic dramatically changes lives across the United States, it is women who are on the frontlines of the outbreak at work and at home.
Women make up more than 80% of America’s health care workers, and are on the front lines of this epidemic, often without personal protective equipment.
Women make up the majority of grocery store workers who are keeping America fed and are working overtime to reduce the risk of infection when people need to leave their homes to buy supplies.
Women make up the majority of educators who have been forced to radically shift the 2020 academic year and make sure that their students do not fall behind while they are out of school.
As American’s social distance, and schools and daycare facilities close — women who are working from home are doing double-duty — serving as caretakers and home educators in addition to their regular lives.
Women are on the frontlines of this pandemic, and women are the heroes helping us get through it.
“Someone You Love Had an Abortion”: New Digital Ad Campaign Targets Moderate Swing Voters
(Ms Magazine)
Late last week, in partnership with MomsRising and We Testify, UltraViolet—a leading women’s advocacy group—launched a major six-figure new digital persuasion and storytelling campaign targeting progressive younger voters and moderate swing voters on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube in Virginia, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio.
The ads have a simple message for these voters: “Someone they love had an abortion.”
Reports: Harvey Weinstein close to $25M settlement with some accusers but won’t have to pay
(USA Today)
“We support survivors, and that includes supporting survivors to make their own decisions to make deals with their abusers,” added Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of the anti-rape group UltraViolet, in a statement emailed to USA TODAY. “But it’s hardly lost on us that these brave women made the only choice that was available to them under our flawed and disempowering judicial system. Survivors of sexual abuse deserve better.”
4 Democratic Candidates Press For Inquiry Into NBC’s ‘Toxic Culture’ Ahead Of Debate
(Huffington Post)
In the letter, which was coordinated by the women’s advocacy group UltraViolet, the senators say they’re concerned about the message it sends to sexual assault survivors if the Democratic debate happens without the network’s parent at least agreeing to conduct an investigation into allegations of harassment, assault and a cover-up at NBC News.
The candidates join a risingchorus of voices calling for NBC to truly get to the bottom of a swirl of allegations, including claims of harassment and assault that led to the firing of “Today” show host Matt Lauer and questions over the way Ronan Farrow’s reporting on Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct was handled.
Current and former NBC employees, media critics and women’s rights advocates, including UltraViolet, have demanded a thorough transparent accounting of what happened. UltraViolet is also demanding the firing of NBC News President Noah Oppenheim, MSNBC executive Phil Griffin and anyone in leadership that enabled abusers.
NBC News Sexual Misconduct Controversy Draws Small Protest Outside 30 Rock
(Variety)
A handful of protestors gathered outside NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center on Wednesday to demand the ouster of top NBC News executives for the network’s handling of internal sexual misconduct allegations, among other issues.
The feminist advocacy org UltraViolet organized a demonstration outside of NBC News headquarters to deliver a petition with nearly 20,000 signatures calling for the firing of NBC News president Noah Oppenheim and MSNBC president Phil Griffin. Oppenheim recently signed a new contract with NBC News and is expected to succeed Andy Lack as chairman of the division after the 2020 presidential election.
NBC News has been at the center of controversy for two weeks amid the publication of Ronan Farrow’s book “Catch and Kill,” which details what he describes as NBC’s effort to quash his reporting on sexual assault allegations against disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Farrow criticizes NBC News for its handling of internal sexual misconduct and harassment claims, most notably those involving former “Today” anchor Matt Lauer, who was fired in November 2017.
With the release of the book She Said today by investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey we’re all getting a deeper look at what led to and what resulted from the story that rocked Hollywood, and then the country about Harvey Weinstein, his survivors and his enablers. The book is amazing and I hope everyone goes out and reads it.
As the person named in the book for first suggesting to the New York Times that they look at Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse, it’s important to explain why I did it. I did not do so lightly and there was a history behind my actions and the implications it has had for our society. This is that story.
Soccer fans, activists rally at U.S. Soccer headquarters for equal pay
(Chicago Tribune)
“It’s not complicated and it’s not right,” said Susan Hildebrand, national field director at Ultraviolet. “We’re here to support the team’s demand for equal pay. In addition to bringing home those four World Cup championships, the women’s team also brings in significant revenue.”
‘Acosta Enables Sex Trafficking’ projected onto the Labor Department building
(The Hill)
Activists projected condemnations of Labor Secretary Alexander Acostaon the Department of Labor building Wednesday to protest his role in a controversial non-prosecution agreement with financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested again over the weekend.
Progressive advocacy groups, including Credo Action, MoveOn, UltraViolet and the American Federation of Teachers, projected the words “Acosta Enabled Sex Trafficking” and “Acosta Must Go” on the building.
