democracynow--2020-02-13--"Traumatizing from the Get-Go": Weinstein Trial Exposes Flawed Approach to Sexual Assault Cases

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : We turn now to Louise Godbold , who ’ s executive director of Echo , which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them .
The organization is hosting a conference for trauma survivors , including survivors of Weinstein , next month called “ And Still We Rise.
” Godbold wrote a blog post titled “ My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.
” Louise Godbold , it ’ s great to have you back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on talking about your experience and also focusing on trauma , and today that ’ s what we want to focus on , this issue of trauma and how trauma victims respond .
We just talked to Clara Chan about Jessica Mann ’ s testimony and how she broke down as she was being questioned by the Weinstein attorneys , having a kind of anxiety attack , and the judge had to end the case at that point , you know , just to give her space and then move on .
Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , it ’ s hardly surprising , is it ?
Because , unfortunately , the way that sexual assault cases are prosecuted in the criminal justice system , it ’ s traumatizing from the get-go , having to tell your story multiple times .
The neurons in your brain , they fire when you ’ re remembering something , in the same way as if you ’ re actually experiencing it .
And , of course , we know the difference .
We know the difference between reality and remembering .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you were still under that same threat .
You ’ re still going to have that release of stress hormones .
And over a long period of time , that is really detrimental to your health .
And so , if you think about it , your most frazzled moment , that ’ s what ’ s being repeated again and again and again .
And the abuse that Jessica suffered at the hands of Harvey — the poor girl , my heart really went out to her .
So , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really a culmination of a series of retraumatizing experiences .
I know a couple of the people who have testified in the trial .
And of course they didn ’ t sleep the night before .
And the , on top of all that , you have a hostile defense team who are throwing at you all of the worst possible motivations for your behavior and all of the names that some horrible voice in your own head has actually condemned you with .
AMY GOODMAN : You do not like the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why .
LOUISE GODBOLD : Well , it just makes us sound like a bunch of harridans , you know , standing around pointing bony fingers .
The truth is that if we were reporting something like having our purse snatched , we wouldn ’ t be called the “ purse snatch accusers.
” It seems to be a different standard when we ’ re talking about sexual assault , and especially when we ’ re talking about rich and famous men who everyone is scared of .
AMY GOODMAN : And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Weinstein lawyers and the fact that Harvey Weinstein will not be testifying ?
LOUISE GODBOLD : I am not a legal specialist , so I can ’ t really say what that means and ascribe any significance to that one way or the other .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , let me ask you a question more specifically .
The Weinstein defense is pointing to the fact that these women kept in touch with Harvey Weinstein after their alleged attacks , in an effort to discredit them .
Talk about that — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mann and others .
LOUISE GODBOLD : I think it ’ s really egregious , the multiple motivations that people are ascribing to victims ’ behaviors .
But here ’ s what makes sense .
And this is not speculation ; this is from talking to survivors , Harvey survivors .
When the worst has happened , you try and mitigate the damage .
And Harvey held the key to the kingdom .
And you do not want to have suffered sexual assault and then not be able to succeed in your chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — there ’ s nothing you can do , the worst has happened — you will try and make nice just to make sure that you don ’ t lose everything .
And from a trauma perspective , there ’ s two other factors I ’ d like to talk about .
One is the fourth survival response , which is rarely mentioned .
We have fight and flight and freeze , but there ’ s also appease .
And in women , we produce oxytocin , which is the tend and befriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , they did a study with abused teenage girls and found that they had a much higher level of oxytocin , which was counterintuitive to what we had always known about trauma and toxic stress .
So , the effect of that oxytocin in your body , which is the same thing that gets released when a woman gives birth or during orgasm , is to bond you .
And we call that trauma bonding , or you may know it as the Stockholm syndrome .
So you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going on there , and then a psychological imperative called re-enactment .
You try and create the same situation and get a better ending , which makes a lot of sense to me .
For example , Jessica , I know , came from a very religious background , and it must have made sense to her to try and put what happened in the context of a relationship .
But clearly , as Harvey was so abusive , she couldn ’ t even sustain that fiction in her head .
AMY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the cover of New York magazine , this very dramatic cover .
The headline was “ 100 Women vs. Harvey Weinstein.
” And it ’ s women all dressed in black — you are one of these women — arm in arm .
Can you talk about the making of this and the message that this sends , Louise Godbold ?
LOUISE GODBOLD : It was an incredibly powerful experience .
And thank God for that , because we are powerful , resilient women .
We have bonded together and formed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would really like to see celebrated .
I resist the handwringing victim that we ’ re often portrayed as .
I think this was a brilliant depiction of our strength , of our unity and of our defiance in the face of so many people who would shut us up .
AMY GOODMAN : And can you talk about the suggestion of false memories , Louise ?
LOUISE GODBOLD : Oh , that one ’ s hysterical .
Everybody in the trauma field is killing themselves laughing , because it was such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been done .
First of all , trauma memory is stored in a different part of your brain than where you usually store memories .
It ’ s stored in the amygdala , the fear center of the brain .
So , it ’ s a very fragmented memory , because this part of the brain is not designed to store memory .
So that ’ s why you have vivid flashbacks , for example .
But what is lacking is that kind of chronological , coherent narrative , we call it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memory .
And so people remember different bits and pieces at different times .
That ’ s quite normal .
But nobody ever creates an entire , entire false memory .
And the research that was being discussed is really within a laboratory setting , where , yes , somebody can be convinced that they remember a word that was on a list that they just read , but we ’ re not talking about entire memories .
AMY GOODMAN : Louise , you ’ re holding a conference of Harvey Weinstein survivors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope to accomplish in March in Los Angeles , where the next trial , by the way , is going to be taking place , the next rape trial against Harvey Weinstein after this one .
LOUISE GODBOLD : It is a celebration .
It ’ s not just Weinstein survivors .
Obviously I know a lot of Weinstein survivors .
But we have Cosby survivors , R. Kelly survivors , Trump survivors , you name it .
We have a survivor of # AidToo , someone who is suing the NYPD and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We have a lot of very high-profile trauma survivors , who have all benefited from learning about trauma and resilience , and they want to give back .
Our audience is usually 80 % women of color , often people with very limited resources .
So we ’ re putting on this conference to share knowledge and skills that we have gained as trauma survivors and experts within our various fields .
And the idea is to inspire other trauma survivors to step into their power and voice .
AMY GOODMAN : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both for being with us .
Louise Godbold , executive director of Echo , which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them .
Louise Godbold wrote a blog post titled “ My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.
” And thank you so much to J. Clara Chan , a media and politics reporter at The Wrap , where she ’ s been covering the Weinstein trial extensively .
Thanks so much for stopping by before you head down for closing arguments in the Manhattan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we go to Canada , where major anti-pipeline protests have broken out across the country in solidarity with Wet ’ suwet ’ en land defenders fighting TransCanada ’ s 400-mile Coastal GasLink pipeline .
Stay with us .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: We turn now to Louise Godbold, who’s executive director of Echo, which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them. The organization is hosting a conference for trauma survivors, including survivors of Weinstein, next month called “And Still We Rise.” Godbold wrote a blog post titled “My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.”
Louise Godbold, it’s great to have you back. The first time we had you on talking about your experience and also focusing on trauma, and today that’s what we want to focus on, this issue of trauma and how trauma victims respond. We just talked to Clara Chan about Jessica Mann’s testimony and how she broke down as she was being questioned by the Weinstein attorneys, having a kind of anxiety attack, and the judge had to end the case at that point, you know, just to give her space and then move on. Talk about that response.
LOUISE GODBOLD: Well, it’s hardly surprising, is it? Because, unfortunately, the way that sexual assault cases are prosecuted in the criminal justice system, it’s traumatizing from the get-go, having to tell your story multiple times. The neurons in your brain, they fire when you’re remembering something, in the same way as if you’re actually experiencing it. And, of course, we know the difference. We know the difference between reality and remembering. But the body is going to react as if you were still under that same threat. You’re still going to have that release of stress hormones. And over a long period of time, that is really detrimental to your health. And so, if you think about it, your most frazzled moment, that’s what’s being repeated again and again and again.
And the abuse that Jessica suffered at the hands of Harvey — the poor girl, my heart really went out to her. So, what you saw in the witness box was really a culmination of a series of retraumatizing experiences. I know a couple of the people who have testified in the trial. And of course they didn’t sleep the night before. And the, on top of all that, you have a hostile defense team who are throwing at you all of the worst possible motivations for your behavior and all of the names that some horrible voice in your own head has actually condemned you with.
AMY GOODMAN: You do not like the term “accusers,” Louise. Explain why.
LOUISE GODBOLD: Well, it just makes us sound like a bunch of harridans, you know, standing around pointing bony fingers. The truth is that if we were reporting something like having our purse snatched, we wouldn’t be called the “purse snatch accusers.” It seems to be a different standard when we’re talking about sexual assault, and especially when we’re talking about rich and famous men who everyone is scared of.
AMY GOODMAN: And if you can talk about the approach of the Weinstein lawyers and the fact that Harvey Weinstein will not be testifying?
LOUISE GODBOLD: I am not a legal specialist, so I can’t really say what that means and ascribe any significance to that one way or the other.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, let me ask you a question more specifically. The Weinstein defense is pointing to the fact that these women kept in touch with Harvey Weinstein after their alleged attacks, in an effort to discredit them. Talk about that — certainly, in the case of Jessica Mann and others.
LOUISE GODBOLD: I think it’s really egregious, the multiple motivations that people are ascribing to victims’ behaviors. But here’s what makes sense. And this is not speculation; this is from talking to survivors, Harvey survivors. When the worst has happened, you try and mitigate the damage. And Harvey held the key to the kingdom. And you do not want to have suffered sexual assault and then not be able to succeed in your chosen career. So it makes sense that — there’s nothing you can do, the worst has happened — you will try and make nice just to make sure that you don’t lose everything.
And from a trauma perspective, there’s two other factors I’d like to talk about. One is the fourth survival response, which is rarely mentioned. We have fight and flight and freeze, but there’s also appease. And in women, we produce oxytocin, which is the tend and befriend or love hormone, under toxic stress. In fact, they did a study with abused teenage girls and found that they had a much higher level of oxytocin, which was counterintuitive to what we had always known about trauma and toxic stress. So, the effect of that oxytocin in your body, which is the same thing that gets released when a woman gives birth or during orgasm, is to bond you. And we call that trauma bonding, or you may know it as the Stockholm syndrome. So you’ve also got a biological imperative that’s going on there, and then a psychological imperative called re-enactment. You try and create the same situation and get a better ending, which makes a lot of sense to me. For example, Jessica, I know, came from a very religious background, and it must have made sense to her to try and put what happened in the context of a relationship. But clearly, as Harvey was so abusive, she couldn’t even sustain that fiction in her head.
AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to ask you about the cover of New York magazine, this very dramatic cover. The headline was “100 Women vs. Harvey Weinstein.” And it’s women all dressed in black — you are one of these women — arm in arm. Can you talk about the making of this and the message that this sends, Louise Godbold?
LOUISE GODBOLD: It was an incredibly powerful experience. And thank God for that, because we are powerful, resilient women. We have bonded together and formed a sisterhood. And that’s what I would really like to see celebrated. I resist the handwringing victim that we’re often portrayed as. I think this was a brilliant depiction of our strength, of our unity and of our defiance in the face of so many people who would shut us up.
AMY GOODMAN: And can you talk about the suggestion of false memories, Louise?
LOUISE GODBOLD: Oh, that one’s hysterical. Everybody in the trauma field is killing themselves laughing, because it was such a misrepresentation of the research that’s been done. First of all, trauma memory is stored in a different part of your brain than where you usually store memories. It’s stored in the amygdala, the fear center of the brain. So, it’s a very fragmented memory, because this part of the brain is not designed to store memory. So that’s why you have vivid flashbacks, for example. But what is lacking is that kind of chronological, coherent narrative, we call it, that you would have in normal memory. And so people remember different bits and pieces at different times. That’s quite normal. But nobody ever creates an entire, entire false memory. And the research that was being discussed is really within a laboratory setting, where, yes, somebody can be convinced that they remember a word that was on a list that they just read, but we’re not talking about entire memories.
AMY GOODMAN: Louise, you’re holding a conference of Harvey Weinstein survivors and others. Talk about what you hope to accomplish in March in Los Angeles, where the next trial, by the way, is going to be taking place, the next rape trial against Harvey Weinstein after this one.
LOUISE GODBOLD: It is a celebration. It’s not just Weinstein survivors. Obviously I know a lot of Weinstein survivors. But we have Cosby survivors, R. Kelly survivors, Trump survivors, you name it. We have a survivor of #AidToo, someone who is suing the NYPD and Lyft right now, after gang rape. We have a lot of very high-profile trauma survivors, who have all benefited from learning about trauma and resilience, and they want to give back. Our audience is usually 80% women of color, often people with very limited resources. So we’re putting on this conference to share knowledge and skills that we have gained as trauma survivors and experts within our various fields. And the idea is to inspire other trauma survivors to step into their power and voice.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you both for being with us. Louise Godbold, executive director of Echo, which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them. Louise Godbold wrote a blog post titled “My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.” And thank you so much to J. Clara Chan, a media and politics reporter at The Wrap, where she’s been covering the Weinstein trial extensively. Thanks so much for stopping by before you head down for closing arguments in the Manhattan courtroom today.
When we come back, we go to Canada, where major anti-pipeline protests have broken out across the country in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders fighting TransCanada’s 400-mile Coastal GasLink pipeline. Stay with us.


democracynow--2020-02-13--Time's Up for Harvey Weinstein? Closing Arguments Begin in Rape Trial in NYC

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the trial of accused sexual predator , movie mogul Harvey Weinstein .
The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday .
Weinstein faces five felonies , including rape and predatory sexual assault , based on accusations by two women .
If convicted , he faces life in prison .
The trial comes more than two years after initial accusations against the film producer were published in The New Yorker and The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that swept Hollywood and beyond .
Since then , more than 100 women have accused Weinstein of rape , sexual assault and sexual harassment .
Weinstein has also been charged with rape in Los Angeles County .
During the trial , six women told the jury , in graphic detail , about how Weinstein had sexually assaulted them .
Weinstein did not testify , but his lawyers described the sexual encounters as consensual .
His legal team repeatedly attempted to discredit the claims of the women .
Last week , one of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and went into an apparent panic attack during questioning from Weinstein ’ s lawyers , forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings for the day .
Jessica Mann was made to read past emails to a boyfriend , in which she disclosed she had been sexually assaulted before meeting Weinstein .
She accuses Weinstein of raping her in New York and Los Angeles and said she had an “ extremely degrading ” relationship with him .
While the trial centers on the accusations of two women , many other women who were victimized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early January , the actor Rosanna Arquette spoke outside the courthouse .
AMY GOODMAN : We ’ re joined now by two guests .
Here in New York , J. Clara Chan is with us , media and politics reporter at The Wrap , where she ’ s been covering the Weinstein trial every day .
And joining us in Los Angeles is Louise Godbold , executive director of Echo , which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them .
The group is hosting a conference for trauma survivors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And Still We Rise.
” Godbold wrote a blog post titled “ My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.
” We ’ re going to start , though , with you , Clara .
You ’ ve been in the trial every day .
AMY GOODMAN : If you can talk about the significance of this , and exactly what he ’ s being accused of ?
J. CLARA CHAN : Sure .
I mean , already , as you mentioned earlier , this is two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New Yorker and The New York Times .
And already , for so many cases of sexual assault and rape , it ’ s very rare for them to even make it to the trial stage , so that , in and of itself , is pretty historic .
And then , of course , this is Harvey Weinstein .
He ’ s become sort of the figurehead of part of the anti — or , the # MeToo movement .
So , already , that is pretty significant , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see .
As you were mentioning earlier , there are five felony counts against him , so that includes predatory sexual assault , first- and third-degree rape and a forcible sexual act .
AMY GOODMAN : Now , six women have testified , but this case particularly centers around two women .
J. CLARA CHAN : Sure .
So , the two women are Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley .
One was — Jessica was a former aspiring actress at the time that she met Harvey Weinstein , and Miriam Haley was then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though the jury has heard testimonies from a total of six women , the accounts of Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann form the basis of the charges against Weinstein .
So , whether or not a jury finds the other women , quote-unquote , “ credible ” or “ believable ” remains to be seen , but the charges are sort of specifically on their accusations .
And interestingly enough , Annabella Sciorra , who was one of the first women to testify , although her accusations fall outside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of being used by the prosecution to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge .
AMY GOODMAN : So , let ’ s go to the testimony of Jessica Mann .
Explain what happened in court .
J. CLARA CHAN : I think her testimony was one of the most — it included some of the most violent accusations against Weinstein .
You know , again , the one that he is being charged for in New York is that she has accused him of rape in a New York hotel .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered details that , in many cases , were different from some of the other women in the sort of violence that she ’ s alleging that he used against her .
So , some of that included , you know , not letting her leave the room , slamming the door , is what she said , you know , taking her hand and forcing her to undress , using an injection in his penis and not using protection when having sex with her .
These are all the things that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so , also , interestingly enough , compared to the other women who have come forward , her testimony and cross-examination was one of the longest .
It spanned over three days , I believe .
And cross-examination took two days .
The first day , as you were mentioning , had to be cut short early because she told prosecutors she was having a panic attack on the stand .
So , it was one of the most emotional , I think , to witness from the audience .
AMY GOODMAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case ?
J. CLARA CHAN : Yes .
So , she was a production assistant .
She grew up in Stockholm .
And basically , she had been an assistant on Project Runway , which is a Weinstein Company-produced production .
And her accusation is essentially that , you know , she had been invited to meet up with Weinstein in his SoHo apartment .
They seemed to be having a normal conversation at first .
And then she has alleged that he sort of lunged at her , backed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually assaulted her .
AMY GOODMAN : I want to turn right now to what happened Tuesday , Weinstein ’ s attorneys resting their case and saying their client will not testify in his own defense at his trial .
AMY GOODMAN : That is Weinstein defense attorney Arthur Aidala .
Talk about the approach of the defense in dealing with these women and the case , and specifically what it means for Harvey Weinstein not to testify in his own defense .
J. CLARA CHAN : Sure .
So , since day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case saying all of these interactions or incidents were consensual .
And what they ’ ve been trying to prove , through cross-examination and also with their own witnesses that they called when it was their time to present a case , was that , you know , at the time , these women had consensual relationships with Weinstein , but now , X years later , they are somehow relabeling the situation or imagining the situation .
And to make this argument , the defense has pointed to a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear friendly , that , you know , after the alleged incidents happened , still shows them reaching out and trying to contact Weinstein .
Now , the prosecution , on the other hand , has tried to , again , rebut sort of this argument that they were consensual , by bringing on an expert witness , Dr. Barbara Ziv , who actually testified in the Bill Cosby trial , as well .
And she was going through the logic of , you know , actually it ’ s a rather common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to stay in touch with their alleged abusers .
It ’ s not uncommon for them to send friendly messages , to even have consensual sexual relationships with them after .
So , it ’ s this kind of juxtaposed dynamic between how the two teams are trying to portray these incidents , that , at the end of the day , we ’ ll see which side the jury ultimately sides with .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , last month , the group Silence Breakers held a news conference outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trial .
The group represents more than 90 women who came forward to report Weinstein ’ s sexual misconduct .
This is actress Rose McGowan .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the trial of accused sexual predator, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Tuesday. Weinstein faces five felonies, including rape and predatory sexual assault, based on accusations by two women. If convicted, he faces life in prison. The trial comes more than two years after initial accusations against the film producer were published in The New Yorker and The New York Times, sparking the #MeToo movement that swept Hollywood and beyond. Since then, more than 100 women have accused Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Weinstein has also been charged with rape in Los Angeles County.
During the trial, six women told the jury, in graphic detail, about how Weinstein had sexually assaulted them. Weinstein did not testify, but his lawyers described the sexual encounters as consensual. His legal team repeatedly attempted to discredit the claims of the women. Last week, one of his accusers, Jessica Mann, broke down and went into an apparent panic attack during questioning from Weinstein’s lawyers, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings for the day. Jessica Mann was made to read past emails to a boyfriend, in which she disclosed she had been sexually assaulted before meeting Weinstein. She accuses Weinstein of raping her in New York and Los Angeles and said she had an “extremely degrading” relationship with him.
While the trial centers on the accusations of two women, many other women who were victimized by Weinstein have attended the trial. In early January, the actor Rosanna Arquette spoke outside the courthouse.
ROSANNA ARQUETTE: As we stand here at the beginning of a new year and a new decade, time’s up. Time’s up on sexual harassment in all workplaces. Time’s up on blaming survivors. Time’s up on empty apologies without consequences. And time’s up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein.
AMY GOODMAN: We’re joined now by two guests. Here in New York, J. Clara Chan is with us, media and politics reporter at The Wrap, where she’s been covering the Weinstein trial every day. And joining us in Los Angeles is Louise Godbold, executive director of Echo, which provides training to trauma survivors and those who support them. The group is hosting a conference for trauma survivors, including Weinstein survivors, next month called “And Still We Rise.” Godbold wrote a blog post titled “My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma.”
We’re going to start, though, with you, Clara. You’ve been in the trial every day.
J. CLARA CHAN: Yes.
AMY GOODMAN: If you can talk about the significance of this, and exactly what he’s being accused of?
J. CLARA CHAN: Sure. I mean, already, as you mentioned earlier, this is two years after the initial articles came out in The New Yorker and The New York Times. And already, for so many cases of sexual assault and rape, it’s very rare for them to even make it to the trial stage, so that, in and of itself, is pretty historic. And then, of course, this is Harvey Weinstein. He’s become sort of the figurehead of part of the anti — or, the #MeToo movement. So, already, that is pretty significant, as a reporter myself sitting in the courtroom to see. As you were mentioning earlier, there are five felony counts against him, so that includes predatory sexual assault, first- and third-degree rape and a forcible sexual act.
AMY GOODMAN: Now, six women have testified, but this case particularly centers around two women.
J. CLARA CHAN: Yes. That’s correct.
AMY GOODMAN: So explain that.
J. CLARA CHAN: Sure. So, the two women are Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley. One was — Jessica was a former aspiring actress at the time that she met Harvey Weinstein, and Miriam Haley was then a production assistant. So, essentially, even though the jury has heard testimonies from a total of six women, the accounts of Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann form the basis of the charges against Weinstein. So, whether or not a jury finds the other women, quote-unquote, “credible” or “believable” remains to be seen, but the charges are sort of specifically on their accusations. And interestingly enough, Annabella Sciorra, who was one of the first women to testify, although her accusations fall outside of the statute of limitations, her account is sort of being used by the prosecution to bolster the predatory sexual assault charge.
AMY GOODMAN: So, let’s go to the testimony of Jessica Mann. Explain what happened in court.
J. CLARA CHAN: I think her testimony was one of the most — it included some of the most violent accusations against Weinstein. You know, again, the one that he is being charged for in New York is that she has accused him of rape in a New York hotel. But for both of those accounts, she offered details that, in many cases, were different from some of the other women in the sort of violence that she’s alleging that he used against her. So, some of that included, you know, not letting her leave the room, slamming the door, is what she said, you know, taking her hand and forcing her to undress, using an injection in his penis and not using protection when having sex with her. These are all the things that she’s alleged in her testimony. And so, also, interestingly enough, compared to the other women who have come forward, her testimony and cross-examination was one of the longest. It spanned over three days, I believe. And cross-examination took two days. The first day, as you were mentioning, had to be cut short early because she told prosecutors she was having a panic attack on the stand. So, it was one of the most emotional, I think, to witness from the audience.
AMY GOODMAN: And Miriam, the other woman in the case?
J. CLARA CHAN: Yes. So, she was a production assistant. She grew up in Stockholm. And basically, she had been an assistant on Project Runway, which is a Weinstein Company-produced production. And her accusation is essentially that, you know, she had been invited to meet up with Weinstein in his SoHo apartment. They seemed to be having a normal conversation at first. And then she has alleged that he sort of lunged at her, backed her into a bedroom and then eventually orally sexually assaulted her.
AMY GOODMAN: I want to turn right now to what happened Tuesday, Weinstein’s attorneys resting their case and saying their client will not testify in his own defense at his trial.
ARTHUR AIDALA: Well, Mr. Weinstein has been a very good client, so we didn’t have to restrain him. But he was ready, willing and able and anxious to testify to clear his name, to clear the facts of this case. But Mr. Cheronis and Ms. Rotunno, joined with the rest of the New York team, advised him that he did not need to do that, because the evidence presented in this case was anemic at best. If his name was not Harvey Weinstein and it was John Doe, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office would have never brought these charges. The prosecutor has failed miserably to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
AMY GOODMAN: That is Weinstein defense attorney Arthur Aidala. Talk about the approach of the defense in dealing with these women and the case, and specifically what it means for Harvey Weinstein not to testify in his own defense.
J. CLARA CHAN: Sure. So, since day one, the defense has come towards this case saying all of these interactions or incidents were consensual. And what they’ve been trying to prove, through cross-examination and also with their own witnesses that they called when it was their time to present a case, was that, you know, at the time, these women had consensual relationships with Weinstein, but now, X years later, they are somehow relabeling the situation or imagining the situation. And to make this argument, the defense has pointed to a number of emails between the accusers and Weinstein that appear friendly, that, you know, after the alleged incidents happened, still shows them reaching out and trying to contact Weinstein.
Now, the prosecution, on the other hand, has tried to, again, rebut sort of this argument that they were consensual, by bringing on an expert witness, Dr. Barbara Ziv, who actually testified in the Bill Cosby trial, as well. And she was going through the logic of, you know, actually it’s a rather common response for survivors of sexual assault to want to stay in touch with their alleged abusers. It’s not uncommon for them to send friendly messages, to even have consensual sexual relationships with them after. So, it’s this kind of juxtaposed dynamic between how the two teams are trying to portray these incidents, that, at the end of the day, we’ll see which side the jury ultimately sides with.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, last month, the group Silence Breakers held a news conference outside the Manhattan courthouse ahead of Harvey Weinstein’s trial. The group represents more than 90 women who came forward to report Weinstein’s sexual misconduct. This is actress Rose McGowan.
ROSE McGOWAN: Dear Harvey, no matter what lies you tell yourself, you did this. Today Lady Justice is staring down a superpredator: you. You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many. You have only yourself to blame. I came here today to see this through. I came here today to stand side by side with these other women who you also harmed, and to be a voice for the voiceless, like I was for so long. You thought you could terrorize me and others into silence. You were wrong. We rose from your ashes. We rise together.
AMY GOODMAN: That’s actress Rose McGowan.


democracynow--2020-02-13--Headlines for February 13, 2020

Headlines for February 13, 2020

Attorney General William Barr is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31 , as calls mount for his resignation after he intervened to lessen the Justice Department ’ s sentencing recommendation for President Trump ’ s longtime friend and former campaign adviser Roger Stone .
Earlier this week , four federal prosecutors withdrew from the Stone case — and one resigned from his job entirely — after senior Justice Department officials demanded Stone receive a shorter prison sentence than the initially recommended seven to nine years , even though this sentence range was based on federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s intervention came after Trump went on a late-night Twitter rampage attacking federal prosecutors and calling the initial sentence a “ miscarriage of justice.
” After the intervention , Trump tweeted in praise of Barr : “ Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought.
” This comes as a judge has indefinitely postponed the sentencing of former national security adviser Michael Flynn , even though Flynn has already pleaded guilty to lying to FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief of staff , General John Kelly , criticized Trump during a speech at Drew University , slamming the president over his policies on an array of issues , including North Korea , immigration , military discipline and Ukraine .

Attorney General William Barr is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31, as calls mount for his resignation after he intervened to lessen the Justice Department’s sentencing recommendation for President Trump’s longtime friend and former campaign adviser Roger Stone. Earlier this week, four federal prosecutors withdrew from the Stone case — and one resigned from his job entirely — after senior Justice Department officials demanded Stone receive a shorter prison sentence than the initially recommended seven to nine years, even though this sentence range was based on federal sentencing guidelines.
Attorney General Barr’s intervention came after Trump went on a late-night Twitter rampage attacking federal prosecutors and calling the initial sentence a “miscarriage of justice.”
After the intervention, Trump tweeted in praise of Barr: “Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought.”
This comes as a judge has indefinitely postponed the sentencing of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, even though Flynn has already pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents. And Trump’s former chief of staff, General John Kelly, criticized Trump during a speech at Drew University, slamming the president over his policies on an array of issues, including North Korea, immigration, military discipline and Ukraine.


democracynow--2020-02-14--One Billion Rising: Eve Ensler & Taína Asili Mark V-Day and Campaign to End Sexual Violence

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Taína Asili , “ We Are Rising.
” She released the song for this V-Day , in collaboration with One Billion Rising .
This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Well , this is Valentine ’ s Day .
People around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls .
From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia , thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reclaim public space through dance and performance .
The global movement is called One Billion Rising .
AMY GOODMAN : One Billion Rising takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime .
That ’ s 1 billion women and girls .
The movement started Valentine ’ s Day 2012 , has continued to grow every year since .
They say they won ’ t stop dancing until violence against all women — cis , transgender and those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , for more , we ’ re joined here in New York City by two guests : Eve Ensler , award-winning playwright , author of The Vagina Monologues , founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising , and Taína Asili , the Puerto Rican singer , filmmaker , activist .
We just heard her song , a part of it , “ We Are Rising.
” So , Eve , One Billion Rising , talk about the significance in this year , 2020 .
You started it , what , eight years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we started it eight years ago , and we thought it would be a one-year campaign .
And guess what .
Dancing just spread like a fabulous virus around the world .
I think this year — and I just want to say to all the activists who have already begun to rise — we ’ re already getting videos from Australia , in Byron Bay , where women there begin — really , begin the day by taking off their clothes and diving into the ocean , doing a mad dance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ palace in the Philippines .
The day has begun .
And I think this year is really significant because of the rise , what we ’ re seeing across the world , of fascism , of white supremacy , of desecration of the climate , of trans rights being obliterated , of workers ’ rights being obliterated .
And I think one of the things we know from dance and from music is that it raises the vibration , so that all these kind of forces of darkness , whether they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philippines or India , just this kind of low-level oppression , low-level hatred — what dance and music does is it lifts the vibration .
So , right now in 180 countries that we know of , people will have already begun to rise and will keep rising .
The 29 states of India are rising .
And what ’ s beautiful about India is that they have joined forces with all the people rising against the citizenship amendment , so that we ’ re seeing now , in the eighth year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how , like dance and like energy , it ’ s brought all kinds of coalitions together .
So , in some places , indigenous people are rising for land rights , that corporations are taking for drilling .
In some places , like last week , we rose in New York against Governor Cuomo for One Fair Wage .
We rose with restaurant workers who are still living on tip wages and are facing some of the highest rates of sexual abuse .
In villages in Zimbabwe , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now beginning to understand that violence against women must be part of the discourse , and they must change basic cultural ways .
So , we ’ re seeing this incredible diversity of risings , but the solidarity in terms of the fact that we know that women ’ s bodies are the landscape on which so much violence is inflicted , whether it ’ s violence literally of rape , of harassment , of incest , of battery , or if it ’ s the abuse of poverty , the abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of workers ’ rights , the denigration of LGBTQ rights .
We ’ re seeing this across the globe .
And I have to say , I ’ m particularly proud , because in places like Mexico , where they ’ ve been rising for the last nine years against sex trafficking , they ’ re having an impact on sex trafficking .
In Hong Kong , where domestic workers have been rising for eight years , they ’ ve actually changed laws .
And they just got it so that women can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of high-rise buildings , because so many women were dying .
Well , they changed that law , through their dancing .
And we ’ re seeing legislation changing .
We ’ re seeing culture changing , major culture shifts occurring , because dance is so powerful .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Well , Taína , I wanted to turn to play more of the music video for the song “ We Are Rising ” and then ask you about your involvement , as well .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : That was Taína Asili .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you got involved in this , and also about the importance of music as a form of resistance .
TAÍNA ASILI : Right .
Well , you know , for the past 20 or more years , I ’ ve been doing social justice songwriting .
I ’ ve been addressing issues of climate justice , issues of mass incarceration .
You know , we heard “ No Es Mi Presidente , ” which I wrote after the last presidential elections .
And a lot of my music has been identified as anthemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , last year , I was really sitting with this concept of : What does it mean to write anthems for our movements ?
And so , I was sitting with that as I was heading down to the Beyond the Bars Conference in New York .
And as it happens , Eve was there and was also thinking about this idea of a new anthem for One Billion Rising .
So the two came together really nicely .
You know , for me , I see what I do , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music for social change , as a part of my legacy as a Puerto Rican woman .
My mother is a — was a dancer .
My father was a singer .
And they were both keepers of our Puerto Rican cultural traditions .
And so , from that point until today , you know , I ’ ve seen all of the music that has come out of my cultural background as a Puerto Rican , from bomba y plena to hip-hop to reggaeton and all of that , as a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You know , to me , when we look at the history of oppression , art , creativity , music has always gone hand in hand .
It ’ s a part of our human gift .
So , you know , that ’ s something that sat with me .
And this is the craft that I ’ ve been honing in on and trying to think about — not just thinking about it from a U.S. perspective , but also a global perspective , and how to intersect with One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing around the globe .
So it ’ s been a beautiful challenge .
AMY GOODMAN : I remember bumping into you and interviewing you at the first Women ’ s March in 2017 , when you sang on the stage , outside of — well , it was the next day , after President Trump , you know , and the audience he had .
Though significant , it was much larger the next day , when the women , hundreds of thousands of women , came to protest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s movement , Eve , that Taína was just referencing , this issue of intersectionality and where you are now in 2020 ?
EVE ENSLER : I think it ’ s so important .
I mean , I was thinking today , you know , we have actors , artists , indigenous folks .
We have farmers .
We have Adivasi women .
We have Dalit women .
I mean , across the globe .
And I think one of the things we ’ re seeing — we ’ ve even changed our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V-Day is now about ending violence against all women and girls and the Mother Earth , because we understand that we can ’ t be addressing violence against women unless we ’ re addressing climate crisis .
I mean , and also , how we feel about women ’ s bodies is so much how we feel about the Earth — the same raping , the same pillaging , the same taking without permission , the same not thinking of long-term consequences of our violence .
And I think if we look what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last eight years , it ’ s organically understood that you can ’ t end violence against women without addressing all the attending issues .
You can ’ t do it without addressing morbid inequality of wealth in capitalism .
You can ’ t address it without addressing imperialism and colonialism .
You can ’ t address it without addressing how we ’ re treating workers and workers ’ rights , because so many women are on the frontlines of low-paying jobs or jobs that are literally holding the world up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s beautiful is to see how we ’ ve unsiloed this movement and how , in some ways , it ’ s easier to do in other parts of the world , because in places like the Philippines or India , they have built-in movements and coalitions that are coming together through dance .
And I think dance has made it easier in some ways , because dance opens up the heart .
It opens up the binaries .
It opens up spaces where people can literally feel their humanity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spaces together , take back public spaces , that had been denied to women , who have been so abused , and reclaim those spaces as theirs .
And I think we are literally — slowly , over these eight years , we ’ re building a movement that is not only intersectional .
It ’ s artistically and intersectional , which means it has some kind of new vibration that is bringing these issues together in a way that feels holistic and organic .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to end with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve been playing throughout , that is your music , “ We Are Rising , ” on this Valentine ’ s Day .
We want to thank you both , Eve Ensler , award-winning playwright , author of The Vagina Monologues , and Taína Asili , singer , filmmaker and activist , as we go out with “ We Are Rising.
” AMY GOODMAN : “ We Are Rising , ” Taína Asili .
And you can see the whole thing at democracynow.org .
And the website for “ We Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve , is ?
EVE ENSLER : OneBillionRising.org .
And over 500,000 people have already watched this video .
So please watch and spread it everywhere .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to thank you all for being with us on this V-Day .
Democracy Now !
, by the way , is accepting applications for a paid , year-long news production fellowship here in our New York studios .
Get the information at democracynow.org .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González , for Democracy Now !

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Taína Asili, “We Are Rising.” She released the song for this V-Day, in collaboration with One Billion Rising. This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, this is Valentine’s Day. People around the world are taking to the streets to protest violence against women and girls. From the Philippines to India to Italy to Bolivia, thousands of women in more than 100 countries will reclaim public space through dance and performance. The global movement is called One Billion Rising.
AMY GOODMAN: One Billion Rising takes its name from the shocking statistic that one in three women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s 1 billion women and girls. The movement started Valentine’s Day 2012, has continued to grow every year since. They say they won’t stop dancing until violence against all women — cis, transgender and those with fluid gender identities — has ended.
Well, for more, we’re joined here in New York City by two guests: Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright, author of The Vagina Monologues, founder of V-Day and One Billion Rising, and Taína Asili, the Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker, activist. We just heard her song, a part of it, “We Are Rising.”
So, Eve, One Billion Rising, talk about the significance in this year, 2020. You started it, what, eight years ago?
EVE ENSLER: Yeah, we started it eight years ago, and we thought it would be a one-year campaign. And guess what. Dancing just spread like a fabulous virus around the world.
I think this year — and I just want to say to all the activists who have already begun to rise — we’re already getting videos from Australia, in Byron Bay, where women there begin — really, begin the day by taking off their clothes and diving into the ocean, doing a mad dance. They’ve risen at the presidential palace in the Philippines. The day has begun.
And I think this year is really significant because of the rise, what we’re seeing across the world, of fascism, of white supremacy, of desecration of the climate, of trans rights being obliterated, of workers’ rights being obliterated. And I think one of the things we know from dance and from music is that it raises the vibration, so that all these kind of forces of darkness, whether they’re the leaders of our own country or the Philippines or India, just this kind of low-level oppression, low-level hatred — what dance and music does is it lifts the vibration.
So, right now in 180 countries that we know of, people will have already begun to rise and will keep rising. The 29 states of India are rising. And what’s beautiful about India is that they have joined forces with all the people rising against the citizenship amendment, so that we’re seeing now, in the eighth year, how intersectional this movement has become and how, like dance and like energy, it’s brought all kinds of coalitions together. So, in some places, indigenous people are rising for land rights, that corporations are taking for drilling. In some places, like last week, we rose in New York against Governor Cuomo for One Fair Wage. We rose with restaurant workers who are still living on tip wages and are facing some of the highest rates of sexual abuse. In villages in Zimbabwe, they’re rising with tribal leaders, who are now beginning to understand that violence against women must be part of the discourse, and they must change basic cultural ways. So, we’re seeing this incredible diversity of risings, but the solidarity in terms of the fact that we know that women’s bodies are the landscape on which so much violence is inflicted, whether it’s violence literally of rape, of harassment, of incest, of battery, or if it’s the abuse of poverty, the abuse of denigration of migrant rights, the denigration of workers’ rights, the denigration of LGBTQ rights. We’re seeing this across the globe.
And I have to say, I’m particularly proud, because in places like Mexico, where they’ve been rising for the last nine years against sex trafficking, they’re having an impact on sex trafficking. In Hong Kong, where domestic workers have been rising for eight years, they’ve actually changed laws. And they just got it so that women can no longer clean windows on the outside of high-rise buildings, because so many women were dying. Well, they changed that law, through their dancing. And we’re seeing legislation changing. We’re seeing culture changing, major culture shifts occurring, because dance is so powerful.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, Taína, I wanted to turn to play more of the music video for the song “We Are Rising” and then ask you about your involvement, as well.
TAÍNA ASILI: [singing] From those who dare to interrupt the violence
To those who expose the truth and break the silence
Warriors who work to open up the prison bars
Valiant souls who stand up against the unjust wars
The multitudes who defy walls along the border
Masses who unify to protect our water
Rebel minds who unionize for workers’ rights
Fearless hearts who fight to defend trans lives
Those who take back their land and their health
Those who seek to redistribute the wealth
Youth who demand a right to education
Those who reclaim political power in their nation
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: That was Taína Asili. Taína, talk to us about how you got involved in this, and also about the importance of music as a form of resistance.
TAÍNA ASILI: Right. Well, you know, for the past 20 or more years, I’ve been doing social justice songwriting. I’ve been addressing issues of climate justice, issues of mass incarceration. You know, we heard “No Es Mi Presidente,” which I wrote after the last presidential elections. And a lot of my music has been identified as anthemic, right? Anthem music. And so, last year, I was really sitting with this concept of: What does it mean to write anthems for our movements? And so, I was sitting with that as I was heading down to the Beyond the Bars Conference in New York. And as it happens, Eve was there and was also thinking about this idea of a new anthem for One Billion Rising. So the two came together really nicely.
You know, for me, I see what I do, this idea of writing anthemic music, writing music for social change, as a part of my legacy as a Puerto Rican woman. My mother is a — was a dancer. My father was a singer. And they were both keepers of our Puerto Rican cultural traditions. And so, from that point until today, you know, I’ve seen all of the music that has come out of my cultural background as a Puerto Rican, from bomba y plena to hip-hop to reggaeton and all of that, as a part of the work that I do today. You know, to me, when we look at the history of oppression, art, creativity, music has always gone hand in hand. It’s a part of our human gift. So, you know, that’s something that sat with me. And this is the craft that I’ve been honing in on and trying to think about — not just thinking about it from a U.S. perspective, but also a global perspective, and how to intersect with One Billion Rising’s work that they’re doing around the globe. So it’s been a beautiful challenge.
AMY GOODMAN: I remember bumping into you and interviewing you at the first Women’s March in 2017, when you sang on the stage, outside of — well, it was the next day, after President Trump, you know, and the audience he had. Though significant, it was much larger the next day, when the women, hundreds of thousands of women, came to protest. This issue of the global women’s movement, Eve, that Taína was just referencing, this issue of intersectionality and where you are now in 2020?
EVE ENSLER: I think it’s so important. I mean, I was thinking today, you know, we have actors, artists, indigenous folks. We have farmers. We have Adivasi women. We have Dalit women. I mean, across the globe. And I think one of the things we’re seeing — we’ve even changed our mission this year, which is, V-Day is now about ending violence against all women and girls and the Mother Earth, because we understand that we can’t be addressing violence against women unless we’re addressing climate crisis. I mean, and also, how we feel about women’s bodies is so much how we feel about the Earth — the same raping, the same pillaging, the same taking without permission, the same not thinking of long-term consequences of our violence. And I think if we look what’s happened to the movement over the last eight years, it’s organically understood that you can’t end violence against women without addressing all the attending issues. You can’t do it without addressing morbid inequality of wealth in capitalism. You can’t address it without addressing imperialism and colonialism. You can’t address it without addressing how we’re treating workers and workers’ rights, because so many women are on the frontlines of low-paying jobs or jobs that are literally holding the world up with little respect.
So, I think what’s beautiful is to see how we’ve unsiloed this movement and how, in some ways, it’s easier to do in other parts of the world, because in places like the Philippines or India, they have built-in movements and coalitions that are coming together through dance. And I think dance has made it easier in some ways, because dance opens up the heart. It opens up the binaries. It opens up spaces where people can literally feel their humanity, feel their bodies, be in collective spaces together, take back public spaces, that had been denied to women, who have been so abused, and reclaim those spaces as theirs. And I think we are literally — slowly, over these eight years, we’re building a movement that is not only intersectional. It’s artistically and intersectional, which means it has some kind of new vibration that is bringing these issues together in a way that feels holistic and organic.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to end with the very music, Taína, that we’ve been playing throughout, that is your music, “We Are Rising,” on this Valentine’s Day. We want to thank you both, Eve Ensler, award-winning playwright, author of The Vagina Monologues, and Taína Asili, singer, filmmaker and activist, as we go out with “We Are Rising.”
CHORUS: One for many, and many for one
One for many, and many for one
One for many, and many for one
One for many, and many for one
TAÍNA ASILI: [singing] In a time of an upheaval
Will come a transformation
Ignite a fire that will burn
Like the sun
Become a strong movement
Fierce and determined
AMY GOODMAN: “We Are Rising,” Taína Asili. And you can see the whole thing at democracynow.org. And the website for “We Are Rising,” One Billion Rising, Eve, is?
EVE ENSLER: OneBillionRising.org. And over 500,000 people have already watched this video. So please watch and spread it everywhere.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you all for being with us on this V-Day.
Democracy Now!, by the way, is accepting applications for a paid, year-long news production fellowship here in our New York studios. Get the information at democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González, for Democracy Now!


democracynow--2020-02-14--Rep. Rashida Tlaib: Trump's "Racist" Plan Would Legalize the Theft of Palestinian Land

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : “ No Es Mi Presidente , ” “ Not My President , ” performed by Taína Asili , and she ’ s coming up on Democracy Now !
in just a minute .
But we wanted to stay with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib for just one more minute .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Well , we ’ re continuing our conversation with Congresswoman Tlaib of Michigan , the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress .
I want to ask you about President Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this week , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas forcefully rejected the plan during a speech to the U.N. Security Council Tuesday .
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS : [ translated ] This plan will not bring peace or stability to the region , and therefore we will not accept this plan .
We will confront its application on the ground .
This is a summary of the project that was presented to us .
This is the state that they will give us .
It ’ s like a Swiss cheese , really .
Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and similar conditions ?
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Well , Rashida Tlaib , you ’ re the congressmember of Michigan ’ s 13th Congressional District .
Along with Ilhan Omar , she is the first Muslim woman elected to Congress .
Your response to the president ’ s plan and to the response from the Palestinian Authority ?
REP. RASHIDA TLAIB : You know , I grew up in Detroit , the most beautiful , blackest city in the country .
And so much what I learned here of these forms of kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism that is so present in all different processes , but even just , you know , fighting right now in my own backyard against unconstitutional taking of people ’ s homes by overassessing their homes and everything , there ’ s so many connectivity there to — by what the current president is pushing forward in trying to basically legalize theft for so many of the Palestinian families that are left there .
I can tell you , you know , for me , what ’ s really critically important for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terminologies , with colleagues always asking me , “ What does occupation mean ?
” I want listeners to know what the human impact is of taking people ’ s land , taking people ’ s livelihood away from them .
And this plan just continues to dig into that approach to what ’ s happening in Palestine and Israel .
And I can tell you I want to hear more and more of those that are on the ground there , both Palestinians and Israelis who are against occupation , who want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that actually involves them being having a seat at the table .
I think that that ’ s not what ’ s going to happen , when the president just sits with his buddies and others that only see it through a very , I believe , racist lens that is this kind of othering politics .
And also it ’ s very demonizing in the way the president and even his son-in-law and others have depicted Palestinians , as this is what they deserve , they don ’ t deserve anything more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my grandmother lives in the West Bank , and she deserves human dignity .
And this does not provide her human dignity , especially in her last years .
She is a kind , compassionate woman who just wants to live freely with equality , with the freedom to travel , with the freedom to access healthcare , opportunities that help her have a better life .
AMY GOODMAN : Rashida Tlaib , we want to thank you for being with us , Democratic congressmember from Detroit , first Palestinian-American congresswoman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ return , Taína Asili and Eve Ensler .
Stay with us .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: “No Es Mi Presidente,” “Not My President,” performed by Taína Asili, and she’s coming up on Democracy Now! in just a minute. But we wanted to stay with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib for just one more minute.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, we’re continuing our conversation with Congresswoman Tlaib of Michigan, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress. I want to ask you about President Trump’s so-called Middle East peace plan. Earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas forcefully rejected the plan during a speech to the U.N. Security Council Tuesday.
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS: [translated] This plan will not bring peace or stability to the region, and therefore we will not accept this plan. We will confront its application on the ground. This is a summary of the project that was presented to us. This is the state that they will give us. It’s like a Swiss cheese, really. Who among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions?
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, Rashida Tlaib, you’re the congressmember of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. Along with Ilhan Omar, she is the first Muslim woman elected to Congress. Your response to the president’s plan and to the response from the Palestinian Authority?
REP. RASHIDA TLAIB: You know, I grew up in Detroit, the most beautiful, blackest city in the country. And so much what I learned here of these forms of kind of oppression and structural, I think, racism that is so present in all different processes, but even just, you know, fighting right now in my own backyard against unconstitutional taking of people’s homes by overassessing their homes and everything, there’s so many connectivity there to — by what the current president is pushing forward in trying to basically legalize theft for so many of the Palestinian families that are left there. I can tell you, you know, for me, what’s really critically important for people to understand, that with all these terminologies, with colleagues always asking me, “What does occupation mean?” I want listeners to know what the human impact is of taking people’s land, taking people’s livelihood away from them. And this plan just continues to dig into that approach to what’s happening in Palestine and Israel.
And I can tell you I want to hear more and more of those that are on the ground there, both Palestinians and Israelis who are against occupation, who want to see a true solution to there that actually involves them being having a seat at the table. I think that that’s not what’s going to happen, when the president just sits with his buddies and others that only see it through a very, I believe, racist lens that is this kind of othering politics. And also it’s very demonizing in the way the president and even his son-in-law and others have depicted Palestinians, as this is what they deserve, they don’t deserve anything more. Well, I can tell you, my grandmother lives in the West Bank, and she deserves human dignity. And this does not provide her human dignity, especially in her last years. She is a kind, compassionate woman who just wants to live freely with equality, with the freedom to travel, with the freedom to access healthcare, opportunities that help her have a better life.
AMY GOODMAN: Rashida Tlaib, we want to thank you for being with us, Democratic congressmember from Detroit, first Palestinian-American congresswoman. This is Democracy Now! When we return, Taína Asili and Eve Ensler. Stay with us.