A newly established group, Women United, has released local digital and TV ads in the Charlottesville, Va. in an effort to hold Harvey Weinstein’s billionaire friends accountable for aiding and abetting his pattern of abuse.
The visionary behind the group is Birmingham’s own Catrena Norris Carter. The 30-year veteran of both the civil rights and women’s movements in America is seeking to take on one of the longtime members of The Weinstein Company board of directors, the billionaire Paul Tudor Jones.
Women United describe him as “untouchable” saying he has “shown a pattern of belittling and disregarding women.”
They continued, “Paul Tudor Jones was an enabler to his personal friend, Weinstein. As a long term and supportive board member, Jones aided and assisted Weinstein, allowing him to continue preying on woman after woman and making himself an accessory to the abuse and harassment.”
Which is why Women United will be attending Wednesday night’s University of Virginia (UVA) vs. Louisville basketball game with petitions asking the public to join them in requesting the removal of the Jones name from all UVA buildings. Along with volunteers, Carter will be walking around UVA throughout the week to have the Jones name removed.
In October 2017, the Harvey Weinstein scandal arose when over 100 women came forward with claims of sexual assault and abuse against Weinstein. These allegations go as far back as the 1970’s. Even after the allegations against Weinstein went public, Jones maintained a direct relationship with him both as a business partner and as a personal friend.
Following the allegations he emailed Weinstein, proclaiming, “I love you,” and telling him that “everyone would soon forget about the allegations.”
But his personal support of Weinstein isn’t the only reason Women United are taking a stand against him. They also say he has an outdated, sexist view on modern day women in the workplace.
When asked at a UVA function why industrial trading was mostly men, he said when women have children, it becomes a “focus killer.” Specifically, Jones told an audience of University of Virginia students, alumni and others that it is difficult for mothers to be successful traders because connecting with a child is a focus “killer.” As long as women continue having children, he said, the industry is likely to be dominated by men.
“As soon as that baby’s lips touched that girl’s bosom, forget it,” Jones said, motioning to his chest. In the video of the event Jones says, “every single investment idea . . . every desire to understand what is going to make this go up or go down is going to be overwhelmed by the most beautiful experience . . . which a man will never share.” As the video goes on, he says, “You will never see as many great women investors or traders as men — period, end of story.”
But in the ad released by Women United, Founder Catrena Carter states, “No has always meant no. Now, we have to go further. No more excusing inexcusable behavior toward women. No more allowing those who protect monsters like Harvey Weinstein to go unnamed. No more looking the other way when billionaires choose predators over victims. It’s time to stand together and fight.”
According to a press release, Women United is a next phase of the #MeToo movement. In addition to releasing ads, the group will also be launching grassroots efforts to shine a light on the structure of powerful and successful men that allow abuse to go unchecked and unreported.
“Until these men are exposed, the culture of tolerating assaults on women will continue,” said Carter.
Watch Women United’s video ad below:
Learn more about Women United, watch the newly released ad, and sign the petition here:
https://www.womenunitednow.org
