Twenty-seven years ago, 1,600 black women signed a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in support of Anita Hill, the professor who testified that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her.
Today, 1,600 men signed a full-page ad in The New York Times in support of Hill and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the Palo Alto University professor who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982 at a high school party.
“We believe Anita Hill. We also believe Christine Blasey Ford,” the statement says, splashed across the full page.
The new ad was crowdfunded online with the support of organizations such as the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign and Futures Without Violence. The campaign, which was created over the weekend, has exceeded its fundraising goal of $100,000, receiving $137,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
“We are 1,600 men who now stand behind both Professor Anita Hill, as well as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, because we believe them,” the main statement in the ad reads.
“We believe survivors, and we call on all men of good will to stand with us to ensure that Dr. Blasey Ford’s story is carefully and fully examined without bias or prejudice,” the ad continues. “It is imperative that the politics of this moment not discolor the facts. Justice demands that both Dr. Blasey Ford and her story be treated fairly, impartially, and with respect.”
Story continues below.
The ad cost $100,000 and, according to the crowdfunding page, the remaining money will go to Futures Without Violence for violence prevention programming.
“For decades, a culture of misogyny has allowed men to act with impunity and without consequence,” the ad reads. “We demand an end to that culture, and we pledge to do our part in dismantling it. That’s why we are speaking out today in favor of a just process, and for the rights of women like Dr. Blasey Ford to be heard fully, fairly, and with respect.”
“In the words of Anita Hill, ‘There is no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better,’” the powerful statement concludes.
The 1991 ad was fashioned in a similar vein and published in support of Hill after lawmakers and the media attacked her for accusing Thomas of sexual harassment. The larger banner at the top of the ad reads: “African American Women In Defense of Ourselves.”
Three women have accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct as of Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this month, professor Blasey was the first woman to accuse him of sexual assault.
On Sunday, Deborah Ramirez claimed that the judge exposed himself to her and thrust his penis in her face during a party when they were students at Yale University during the 1983-84 school year. On Wednesday, Julie Swetnick alleged that Kavanaugh was present during a “gang rape.”
Blasey is scheduled to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in a public hearing on Thursday. A committee vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination is set for Friday.
Read the statement in the New York Times ad in full below:
We believe Anita Hill. We also believe Christine Blasey Ford.
27 years ago, on November 17, 1991, 1,600 black women joined together and placed a full-page ad in the New York Times to support Professor Anita Hill when she faced backlash for accusing Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. They called it, “African American Women in Defense of Ourselves.” Today we follow in the footsteps of those courageous women.
We are 1,600 men who now stand behind both Professor Anita Hill, as well as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, because we believe them.
As men who are allies in the fight to end violence and harassment against women and girls, we write to express our strong support of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for her willingness to speak out publicly and testify before the Senate about the sexual assault that she says was perpetrated against her by Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh.
We believe survivors, and we call on all men of good will to stand with us to ensure that Dr. Blasey Ford’s story is carefully and fully examined without bias or prejudice. It is imperative that the politics of this moment not discolor the facts. Justice demands that both Dr. Blasey Ford and her story be treated fairly, impartially, and with respect.
Too frequently, survivors of sexual assault are forced to suffer in silence. Those that choose to speak out often face backlash, skepticism, and ridicule. As we’ve seen once again the last few weeks, that kind of virulent backlash is most acutely on display whenever those accused of misdeeds are powerful men. If appointed to the Supreme Court, few men would be more powerful than Judge Kavanaugh.
We are a group of men with varying political and legal views. But we each believe women should no longer have to carry these burdens alone.
For decades, a culture of misogyny has allowed men to act with impunity and without consequence. We demand an end to that culture, and we pledge to do our part in dismantling it. That’s why we are speaking out today in favor of a just process, and for the rights of women like Dr. Blasey Ford to be heard fully, fairly, and with respect.
In the words of Anita Hill, “There is no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better.”