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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 28 September 2018

Anita Hill says #MeToo movement can create lasting change

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST courts, and it does a dis-
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ani- service to the American
ta Hill said Wednesday her people who want to know
pivotal 1991 Senate testi- how to respond to these sit-
mony about sexual harass- uations and they want rep-
ment by a Supreme Court resentation that helps them
nominee sparked a wave understand," she said.
of awareness, but lasting Women who come forward
change failed because of with sexual misconduct
a lack of clear leadership allegations are often por-
and a reluctance to con- trayed as "crazy, vindictive,
front harsh realities. promiscuous or prudes,"
On the eve of another reactions that explain why
hearing where a U.S. Su- many don't come forward
preme Court nominee is sooner, Hill said.
facing allegations of sexu- Some of the senators who
al misconduct, she told a questioned her remain on
packed University of Utah the Senate Judiciary Com-
audience at a preplanned mittee, including Republi-
lecture that the #MeToo can Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.
movement has the oppor- She recalled how he read
tunity to create long-term from a copy of the book
solutions. "The Exorcist," suggesting a
However, that is going to passage had inspired her
require facing questions to invent an allegation.
the nation has been re- Hatch is again at the center
luctant to address, includ- of the process, supporting
ing the prevalence of the Kavanaugh and question-
problem and the fact that ing why Democrats didn't
abusers don't always look bring forward allegations
like stereotypical monsters, against him earlier. Hatch
she said. has also said the commit-
"We look for simple solu- tee should hear from Ford,
tions because we don't and "then we should vote."
want to deal with the hard She challenged the enthu-
questions," she said. "When siastic Utah audience, who
those simple solutions fail, Anita Hill speaks at the University of Utah Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, in Salt Lake City. gave her a spontaneous
too often we retreat." Associated Press standing ovation at the
On Thursday, the Sen- start of her speech, to think
ate Judiciary Committee The hearing comes nearly appointments. out a thorough, neutral in- about what they might do
will hear from nominee 30 years after her testimony "Access to equal justice vestigation and input from next if they're disappointed
Brett Kavanaugh and the against Clarence Thomas, for all is what was at stake experts who can include with how things unfold in
woman who accuses him who was later confirmation in 1991, and it's what's at context about things like the coming days.
of sexual assault, Dr. Chris- to the Supreme Court. stake now," said Hill, now 62 delayed reporting of sexual "Will you engage your own
tine Blasey Ford. She says Hill said that when she and a professor at Brandeis assault, she said. institutions in change? Will
she attempted to rape her came forward, she was University. "Setting them up this way you engage politically?"
when they were teens. Ka- thinking about the integrity She criticized the decision does a disservice not only she said. "I can tell you that
vanaugh has denied the of the court and the fact to set a hearing for the Ka- to the primary witness, but I will continue to use my
allegations. that justices have lifetime vanaugh allegations with- it does a disservice to the voice."q