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Civil society groups demand action against ‘sexist’ AI disinformation
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ protesters target Kavanaugh
Shaunna Thomas, 37, was arrested for disorderly conduct around 30 minutes into the hearing, she said. “Senators, on behalf of millions of women whose rights would be stripped by a Kavanaugh court, I demand you reject this nomination,” she stood up and shouted over the committee chairman, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Thomas is the co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet, a left-leaning organization that works to fight sexism. Her main concern, she said, is that Roe vs. Wade is at stake. She missed her three-year-old daughter’s first day of school to be in the hearing.
Kavanaugh’s Kozinski Test
In July, the women’s rights group UltraViolet issued a call for an inquiry into what Kavanaugh might have seen as a law clerk to Kozinski from 1990–91. This was an entirely reasonable request, given that for many of us, it was hard to sit on a panel or go to a dinner with Judge Kozinski and his law clerks without seeing or hearing some form of hypersexualized grotty dinner theater. In response to this request, the White House issued a statement.
Congrats to These Congressmen Ranked ‘Worst for Women’
On Tuesday, American Bridge, a left-leaning political action committee, and UltraViolet, a women’s advocacy group, launched their “Worst for Women” campaign, calling out 15 sitting members of Congress they say have dubious track records on women’s issues. The groups drew up their rankings based on representatives’ and senators’ votes on the Affordable Care Act, GOP tax legislation, defunding Planned Parenthood, abortion rights, wage increases, and workers’ rights.
With Leslie Moonves scandal, Hollywood adjusts to a new sound: Silence
But activists said that waiting was a mistake.
“This is a vulnerable moment — a moment when Les Moonves is still in power and the CBS board is keeping him in power,” Shaunna Thomas, executive director of women’s organization UltraViolet, told The Post. “This is when everyone who can speak out should speak out.”
Thomas said she remains unconvinced that the operating dynamic on Moonves was simple of an industry wary of passing premature judgment.
“There’s something to the theory that he’s just more powerful than the other guys,” she said.
Bill Shine White House Appointment Sparks Social Media Protests
Meanwhile, women’s organization UltraViolet issued a statement, saying “For years, Bill Shine actively covered up Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly’s sexual misconduct at Fox News, created and fostered a toxic work environment at the network, and actively retaliated against women who reported their abuse.
“While certainly disturbing, Fox News’ Bill Shine is an unsurprising pick for the Trump White House. Since taking office, the Trump administration has been a revolving door of abusers of women and their enablers—and Shine is just the latest perpetrator to be added to those ranks.”
Spotify Cancels ‘Hateful Conduct’ Policy After an Industry Uproar
Shaunna Thomas, a co-founder of Ultraviolet, said in an interview on Friday that Spotify’s reversal was “shameful” and “disheartening.”
“There is no consequence for abusing women and they’re just affirming that in a really straightforward way,” she said. “They’ve decided that their bottom line is important.”
Ms. Thomas added that she agreed with the critique that Spotify had been problematic in narrowly targeting only specific black men, but the solution, she said, was “not to reverse the hateful conduct policy, but rather to expand it — to be comprehensive.”
“Women weren’t asking Spotify to play judge and jury,” she said. “We were just asking the company to stop promoting artists that have a documented history of physical and sexual abuse.”
Women’s Rights Group Asks Spotify To Remove Chris Brown And Others From Its Playlists “Your Action Demonstrates Following The Lead Of Black Women”
On Monday, Executive Director Shaunna Thomas (who is white) penned an open letter to Spotify head Daniel Ek with the belief that their new public Hate Content and Hateful Conduct policy is a step in the right direction, particularly for black women.
“Your action demonstrates that Spotify is following the lead of Black women who demanded that these two men [R. Kelly and XXXTentacion], who have sexually and physically abused women for years, not be promoted and celebrated,” it reads.
And before you assume that the organization is only coming for black or black-adjacent artists and music, they’re also imploring Spotify to remove The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Don Henley of The Eagles, Ted Nugent and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. (Yea, they’re not playing).
Women’s Advocacy Group Wants Spotify to Also Pull Chris Brown, Eminem & Others From Curated Playlists
Women’s advocacy group Ultraviolet is applauding Spotify’s new policy banning hate content and hateful conduct that has brought with it high profile removals of R. Kelly and XXXTentacion from curated playlists, but in an open letter published Monday (May 14) is also asking for more.
As well as R. Kelly and XXXTentacion, the letter written by Ultraviolet executive director Shaunna Thomas requests that Spotify take action against other artists who have been accused of sexual misconduct, including Chris Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nelly, Eminem and others.
Activists Gather at Google’s Developer Conference to Protest Maps Results for Sham Abortion Clinics
“Google is complicit in luring vulnerable, pregnant women to anti-abortion centers posing as legitimate reproductive health clinics that deceive, lie to, and shame them out of abortions,” Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, said in a press release. “Users trust Google to be an honest broker here. The company must take action immediately to uphold its advertising policy and ensure abortion care search results are accurate.”
Pro-choice activists followed Google employees on their way to work this week to call attention to a little-known problem with search results
Karin Roland, chief campaigns officer for UltraViolet, said her organization has been in talks with Google for four years trying to get ads for what she calls “fake clinics” removed from Google search results and Google Maps.
“Women are seeking medical information, and Google is sending them to clinics that not only don’t actually provide what they claim to — but are actively trying to trick and mislead women,” Roland said.