Sexual Assault

R. Kelly. Black woman in grey hat holds sign depicting Black man in black hat and shirt and sunglasses in front of nighttime sky.
Sameer Rao  Feb 22, 2019 4:58PM EST

R. Kelly Charged With 10 Counts of Criminal Sexual Abuse

Three of the survivors noted by State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx were minors when the singer allegedly abused them.
Black women march in multicolored coats and clothes while holding tan banner with black text reading "WE RISE" and "The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman" and "#MuteRKelly" in front of grey building and sky.
Kenrya Rankin  Jan 18, 2019 3:04PM EST

Sony Music Finally Drops R. Kelly

The singer has been accused of sexually assaulting Black girls and women for decades.
Michael Jackson. Man with black hair and white bleached skin sits in black leather jacket and white shirt in front of brown wood courtroom wall
Sameer Rao  Jan 10, 2019 2:48PM EST

Sundance to Screen Doc On Michael Jackson's Alleged Child Sexual Abuse

“Leaving Neverland,” which revisits two men’s accusations that the artist abused them as boys, has prompted backlash from Jackson’s estate.
Grey text spells "SURVIVING R. KELLY" on black background with scrambled video
Sameer Rao  Jan 9, 2019 1:01PM EST

'Surviving R. Kelly' Boosts Ratings and Donations, Inspires Possible Legal Action

It looks like Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office were among the millions who watched the Lifetime docuseries last week.
R. Kelly. Black man in black jacket and pants and hat in front of black and blue background
Sameer Rao  Jan 3, 2019 12:54PM EST

Producer dream hampton Demands Justice With 'Surviving R. Kelly'

She hopes the Lifetime docuseries breaks the systems that insulate the R&B star from the consequences of decades of alleged sexual abuse.
Black and Brown and White women and men stand in multicolored clothing under shade of tree and blue sky in front of brown buildings
Sameer Rao  Nov 1, 2018 3:40PM EDT

Google Employees Walk Out to Protest Discrimination

Organizers of the international action call for “an end to the sexual harassment, discrimination and the systemic racism” they say pervades the tech giant’s culture.
Black women march in multicolored coats and clothes while holding tan banner with black text reading "WE RISE" and "The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman" and "#MuteRKelly" in front of grey building and sky.
Sameer Rao  Oct 23, 2018 2:42PM EDT

Black Women Swap Horror Stories in 'Surviving R. Kelly'

Lifetime’s upcoming docuseries features more than 50 interviews with survivors, commentators and Kelly’s family that speak to his alleged sexual abuse of Black girls and women.
Tarana Burke. Black woman with black dredlocs in pink shirt and pants waves and holds black microphone while sitting on white chair in front of black and white and gold and purple background
Sameer Rao  Oct 19, 2018 3:57PM EDT

Tarana Burke Guest Edits Essence Magazine's #MeToo Issue

“It was my deepest honor to be able to partner with this legacy magazine to shine a light on the issues around sexual violence that are directly affecting Black women.”
Dozens of people hold and rally around a massive red sheet with "We believe all survivors" printed on it in navy blue.
Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Marcela Howell, Jessica González-Rojas  Oct 4, 2018 5:54PM EDT

This Is a Defining Moment for Women of Color Who Survived Sexual Violence [OP-ED]

“We saw an educated White woman with financial, legal and familial support testify about being sexually assaulted, and then face the emotionally exhausting experience of being cross-examined for hours and disbelieved by many Senators. We got the message: If they won’t listen to her, it will be even worse for us.”
Lisa Borders. Black woman in purple and black dress speaks behind brown podium with white sign with blue and green text and in front of white columns and black curtains and brown barriers
Sameer Rao  Oct 3, 2018 3:48PM EDT

Lisa Borders Plans to Take Time's Up to the Next Level

The former head of the WNBA talks about her new role as the Time’s Up initiative’s president and CEO.
Alicia Keys. Black woman in black shirt and blouse with pink flowers and blue and red lines on sleeves smiles while holding onto black piano in front of black light stand and blue lights and brown building
Sameer Rao  Oct 2, 2018 3:04PM EDT

Alicia Keys, Esperanza Spalding to Perform at Brett Kavanaugh Protest

Artists and activists will gather outside the Supreme Court to protest Kavanaugh’s advancing candidacy for SCOTUS justice.
Brett Kavanaugh. White man's face takes up half the frame.
Kenrya Rankin  Sep 27, 2018 8:48AM EDT

Watch as Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford Testify Before Senate

Three women have now come forward with allegations against President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
Brett Kavanaugh. White man's face takes up half the frame.
Kenrya Rankin  Sep 17, 2018 3:32PM EDT

Time's Up on Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh

Christine Blasey Ford says the Trump nominee sexually assaulted her. The Time’s Up movement says the judge should not be appointed to the highest court in the land.
Naima Ramos-Chapman with brown hair tied back wears grey shirt in front of light yellow wall and Black man in blue shirt
Sameer Rao  Sep 5, 2018 3:39PM EDT

Naima Ramos-Chapman Fights Patriarchy, Misogynoir On Screen

From “And Nothing Happened” to “Random Acts of Flyness,” the filmmaker’s work often centers Black women whose lives have been interrupted by violence.
Black woman with black hair in brown hat and white shirt and multicolored necklace and glasses in front of light gray wall with black logos and text
Sameer Rao  May 24, 2018 4:23PM EDT

Lyric Cabral to Direct R. Kelly Documentary

The “T(error)” filmmaker’s upcoming documentary draws from BuzzFeed News’ reporting on the singer’s alleged sexual abuse of Black women and girls.
Yellow and white McDonald's sign on red restaurant roof
Ayana Byrd  May 22, 2018 1:11PM EDT

Workers File Sexual Harassment Charges Against McDonald's

The women and teenagers say they were afraid to speak out for fear of being fired.
Junot Díaz. Brown man in deep purple sweater, blue and white striped button down and black-rimmed glasses stands and talks in front of a screen
Kenrya Rankin  Apr 9, 2018 1:32PM EDT

Junot Díaz Opens Up About Sexual Abuse, Healing in New Essay

“More than being Dominican, more than being an immigrant, more, even, than being of African descent, my rape defined me.”
Black woman at protest carries sign that reads, "No means no."
Ayana Byrd  Dec 22, 2017 9:00AM EST

The New Normal: #MeToo, I Am Heard

“Men sexually harassed women because they could. Women are talking today because, in this new era, we finally can.”
Woman wears "Trump" pin and "Judge Roy Moore U.S. Senate" sticker
Kenrya Rankin  Dec 12, 2017 10:55AM EST

WATCH: Why Roy Moore's Racism, Homophobia and Alleged Sexual Relations With Teenagers Should Bar Him From Congress

Moore wants to represent Alabama in the United States Senate. Democracy Now! breaks down the Republican candidate’s record.
Black woman in black jacket and pants and white blouse holds black microphone and sits in grey chair next to grey chair in front of black background
Sameer Rao  Dec 7, 2017 3:58PM EST

ICYMI: Gabrielle Union Laments Empathy Gap Between Black and White Survivors

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence whose pain has been taken seriously. Whose pain we have showed historically and continued to show.”