A woman who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment penned an op-ed calling for his impeachment from the bench.
Angela Wright Shannon, a former Charlotte Observer editor, wrote in her HuffPost essay published Monday that Thomas should be brought to justice after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment — including herself.
She previously claimed Thomas had asked what her breast size was and repeatedly pressured her to date him when they both worked at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the mid-1980s.
Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson argued in the latest issue of New York Magazine that Thomas, 69, lied during Senate hearings when he denied discussing pornography or making sexual comments to women in his office.
The op-ed identifies four women in addition to Anita Hill, the accuser who was savaged by senators when she testified in 1991, who say Thomas made harassing comments.
Wright says women of color have a tougher time being heard when sharing their sexual harassment stories than those who are white.
“When the accusers are women of color, justice is not just delayed; it’s often denied outright,” she wrote.
“Even Anita Hill’s sophisticated demeanor and impressive standing as a professor of law didn’t shield her from being labeled 'a little bit nutty, and a little bit slutty,' ” Wright continued, referring to another Thomas accuser. “That’s been the cultural narrative about African-American women throughout history.”
Wright added that now that a white woman — Alaska lawyer Moira Smith — has also accused Thomas of groping her nearly 20 years ago, there could be a chance of Thomas getting impeached.
Smith detailed her encounters with Thomas in a National Law Journal report in 2016, a year before the viral #MeToo movement. Her account was featured in Abramson’s report.
“The Me Too movement has underscored the depth and breadth of sexual harassment in our society,” Wright wrote. “Finally, women are being heard and believed.”
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Angela Wright Shannon, a former Charlotte Observer editor, wrote in her HuffPost essay published Monday that Thomas should be brought to justice after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment — including herself.
She previously claimed Thomas had asked what her breast size was and repeatedly pressured her to date him when they both worked at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the mid-1980s.
Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson argued in the latest issue of New York Magazine that Thomas, 69, lied during Senate hearings when he denied discussing pornography or making sexual comments to women in his office.
The op-ed identifies four women in addition to Anita Hill, the accuser who was savaged by senators when she testified in 1991, who say Thomas made harassing comments.
Wright says women of color have a tougher time being heard when sharing their sexual harassment stories than those who are white.
“When the accusers are women of color, justice is not just delayed; it’s often denied outright,” she wrote.
“Even Anita Hill’s sophisticated demeanor and impressive standing as a professor of law didn’t shield her from being labeled 'a little bit nutty, and a little bit slutty,' ” Wright continued, referring to another Thomas accuser. “That’s been the cultural narrative about African-American women throughout history.”
Wright added that now that a white woman — Alaska lawyer Moira Smith — has also accused Thomas of groping her nearly 20 years ago, there could be a chance of Thomas getting impeached.
Smith detailed her encounters with Thomas in a National Law Journal report in 2016, a year before the viral #MeToo movement. Her account was featured in Abramson’s report.
“The Me Too movement has underscored the depth and breadth of sexual harassment in our society,” Wright wrote. “Finally, women are being heard and believed.”
read more
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