Weinstein Verdict “Shows That Our Work Is Not Done”
(New York City, NY) Today, a jury convicted Harvey Weinstein of first degree sexual assault and third degree rape.
The following is a statement by Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center:
“Today’s verdict delivers a measure of justice to the survivors who came forward at great personal risk to tell their horrific stories of abuse. I am so grateful to them and inspired by their courage. Their accounts revealed how sexual abuse erodes self-worth, demolishes careers, and why survivors often keep silent— and how our stereotypes about how ‘real victims’ behave are wrong and ignore how power works. By speaking up, the Silence Breakers have inspired hundreds of thousands of others to do the same. And, together, these voices saying ‘Me too’ have spurred unprecedented shifts in our culture and important improvements in the law around sexual harassment. We’ve come a long way since the Weinstein story first broke in 2017, but this verdict shows that our work is not done. We won’t stop until we achieve safety, dignity, and equality for all at work, at school, and in our communities.”
Since accusations against Weinstein first came to national prominence in October 2017, elevating the national #MeToo movement:
• 13 states limited or prohibited employers from requiring employees to sign nondisclosure agreements as a condition of employment or as part of a settlement agreement.
• 5 states expanded workplace harassment protections to include independent contractors, interns, or graduate students for the first time.
• 5 states and New York City expanded their statute of limitations for filing a harassment or discrimination claim.
• 10 states and New York City enacted key prevention measures, including mandatory training and policy requirements for employers.