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Anita Hill Heads Hollywood Commission On Sexual Misconduct

By Chidirim Ndeche
18 December 2017   |   12:30 pm
American attorney and academic Anita Hill has been chosen to lead a newly-formed commission to combat sexual misconduct issues in the entertainment and media industries--with actors, producers and directors in Hollywood facing an avalanche of accusations this year that started with several women speaking out against Harvey Weinstein. Hill will chair the Hollywood Commission for…

American attorney and academic Anita Hill has been chosen to lead a newly-formed commission to combat sexual misconduct issues in the entertainment and media industries–with actors, producers and directors in Hollywood facing an avalanche of accusations this year that started with several women speaking out against Harvey Weinstein.

Hill will chair the Hollywood Commission for Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace, which was created and is being funded by top industry executives.

Hill famously stepped into the spotlight in 1991 with accusations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearing. Thomas denied the allegations and was still confirmed in the position, despite her testimony.

The 61-year old, now a professor at Brandeis University, said in a statement that it was “time to end the silence” adding that “this moment presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to make real change.”

The first meeting of the commission, which was attended by a wide range of industry giants and spearheaded by female executives–including Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy, and chairman of Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony and Universal–will reconvene in 2018 to define its scope and priorities.

Among the dozens of industry giants involved in the commission are Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of Disney.

***Reuters

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