Rosanna Arquette and Rose McGowan are standing alongside other Harvey Weinstein accusers in a press conference outside the Manhattan courthouse where his trial will take place.
On Monday, the disgraced movie mogul appeared in court as his lawyers and a judge handled the final preparations for his trial for rape and sexual assault charges. Just outside the courthouse, women who have accused Weinstein, including Arquette and McGowan, spoke about his trial as an important step in the #MeToo movement.
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“Today is a day for us to honour how far we’ve come and how much we’ve endured to get here,” McGowan said. “We are free. We are beautiful. We are strong. And you will never take that from us.”
“Time’s up on sexual harassment in all workplaces,” said Arquette who has accused Weinstein of assaulting her during a business meeting. “Time’s up on empty apologies without consequences. And time’s up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein. These abusers that make it unsafe for women to go to work every morning, to take a business meeting, to report a crime without retaliation. We are here to ensure that the focus of this criminal case is on the perpetrator – the perpetrator’s actions and not his victims. And that justice is served. The truth will prevail. And whether it is this trial or in the future, Harvey will be held accountable for his actions.”
Joining Arquette and McGowan were Louise Godbold, Dominique Huett, Sarah Ann Masse, Lauren Sivan, and Paula Williams — all of whom have accused Weinstein of harassment or assault. While taking questions from reporters, Sivan spoke to a recent statement made by Weinstein in which he said he wanted to revive his career.
“It’s like a pedophile thing, like, ‘I can’t wait to go back to coaching little league,'” she said. “This is a dangerous predator. Even if he’s acquitted of this trial, let’s hope that he’s never able to go back to doing what he was doing.”
Harvey Weinstein is charged with five counts of predatory sexual assault, criminal sex acts, and rape. If he is found guilty, he faces life in prison.
You can watch the full press conference up top.
