Charlene A. Carruthers Joins UltraViolet, Leading National Women’s Group, As Senior Advisor and Spokesperson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 13, 2019
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
Charlene A. Carruthers Joins UltraViolet, Leading National Women’s Group, As Senior Advisor and Spokesperson
Carruthers brings years of campaign, organizing and activist experience to the leading national women’s advocacy organization
WASHINGTON, DC — UltraViolet, a leading women’s advocacy organization, announced today that political strategist and queer black feminist activist Charlene A. Carruthers will join the organization as Senior Advisor, where she will focus on the group’s strategic campaign planning and strategy.
Carruthers brings a depth of professional experience to UltraViolet, as the former National Director for the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100), author of Unapologetic: A Black Queer Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, award-winning speaker, and educator.
** To book Charlene A. Carruthers or another UltraViolet spokesperson for interviews, please email anna@unbendablemedia.com
“I’m joining the Ultraviolet team at the right time in our movement,” said Charlene Carruthers. “We are up against constant attacks from many sides, enduring systems of oppression and false solutions for the problems women endure. My role as senior advisor is to help fortify Ultraviolet as a leading voice and vehicle driving substantive feminist cultural and political change. This is the work that excites and challenges me as a leader.”
“We are so excited that Charlene A. Carruthers will be joining the UltraViolet team as a Senior Advisor,” said Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet. “Charlene brings a depth of perspective, visionary leadership and expertise to the table, which are especially valuable during such a politically turbulent time. Her work as a queer black feminist activist and community leader is living proof that advocacy can improve women’s lives while dismantling sexism and discrimination in the process.”
UltraViolet is a leading national women’s advocacy organization that has helped create and amplify a movement dedicated to holding people accountable for sexism, violence and discrimination:
- In 2019, UltraViolet and several advocacy groups pushed Sony Music to sever ties with child sexual predator, R. Kelly. Last year, following Spotify’s decision to remove R. Kelly and other notorious abusers from its official playlists, UltraViolet penned an open letter to Spotify’s CEO applauding the company’s decision, but urging them to take a deeper look at other artists for potential histories of sexual and physical abuse. While Spotify ultimately reversed its decision and added R. Kelly back to their promoted playlists, tens of thousands of people have signed UltraViolet’s petition to date. Echoing the #MuteRKelly and the #TimesUp movements, UltraViolet also urged RCA Records to drop R. Kelly. The group commissioned a plane banner to fly over Sony Music’s HQs in Los Angeles, demanding that RCA Records sever ties with R Kelly. Earlier this year, UltraViolet took part in the “#MuteRKelly Rally to Protect Black Girls” at Sony Music HQ’s in New York City.
- In 2018, UltraViolet was one of the leading voices calling CBS’ Board of Directors to fire Les Moonves for cause. UltraViolet commissioned a mobile billboard to circle CBS’ press tour in Los Angeles reading “We Believe the Women Sexually Harassed and Assaulted by Leslie Moonves – Why Doesn’t CBS? The group also penned a letter to the CBS Board of Directors asking them to void Moonves’ settlement package and fire him for cause, urged the Board of Directors to deny Moonves a potential $120m golden parachute and protested outside the CBS shareholder meeting in NYC.
For more information, or for interviews with an UltraViolet representative, please contact Anna Zuccaro via email at anna@unbendablemedia.com.
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UltraViolet is a community of more than one million people that drives feminist cultural and political change. Through people power and strategic advocacy, we work to improve the lives of women and girls of all identities and backgrounds, and all people impacted by sexism, by dismantling discrimination and creating a cost for sexism.