We Said Enough or WeSaidEnough is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2017. It is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, sexual harassment and assault within employment and academic settings. We Said Enough is based in Sacramento, California.
In 2017 California lobbyist, Adama Iwu had been in a conversation about sexual harassment and violence with friends who worked in California politics, all of whom had "Me Too" stories to share. [1] Iwu herself had been sexually harassed in front of people at a political event where no one called out the behavior. [2]
Iwu approached her close colleague Samantha Corbin to help pen a bipartisan letter that was published on October 17, 2017 alongside an article in the Los Angeles Times. [1] with over 140 signatories.
The letter was signed by California Capitol staff, legislators, lobbyists, and political consultants. It brought attention to the culture of sexual harassment they faced at work. [3] The We Said Enough letter became the first open statement by women working in politics calling out a pervasive culture of harassment and abuse within a capitol community. During the initial launch of its letter, We Said Enough organizers released a series of stories that victims and survivors of harassment and sexual violence had submitted to the We Said Enough website.
We Said Enough has stated it wants to increase protections for victims and improve due process in order to hold those who harass others in the workplace accountable. [4]
We Said Enough has outlined several reforms to make the California Capitol a safer place to work. This includes asking for a confidential hotline for victims to report abuse [5] and "whistleblower" protections for Capitol employees. [6]
Additionally, We Said Enough has also been asking questions about how the process of investigating sexual harassment are conducted. [7] The group wants an "independent publicly accountable entity to handle investigations for both legislative houses" in the California State Legislature. [8]
Following the We Said Enough letter and subsequent movement, the California State Assembly convened the first hearing of its newly formed Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response. [9] We Said Enough Leaders Christine Pelosi, Samantha Corbin, and Alicia Lewis testified on behalf of the organization.
Due to the significant news coverage and attention brought forward by the We Said Enough movement, Adama Iwu was featured on the cover of Time Magazine for its Person of the Year: "The Silence Breakers". Also pictured was strawberry picker Isabel Pascual (pseudonym), actress Ashley Judd, software engineer Susan Fowler, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, and a sixth woman, a hospital worker who wished to remain anonymous [10]
The We Said Enough campaign was involved with Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra resigning when allegations of sexual harassment came forward in November. [11] State Senator Tony Mendoza had to step down from his committee chair and came under investigation because of allegations of workplace misconduct. [12] [13] Assemblyman Matt Dababneh resigned after women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. [5]
The We Said Enough website collects stories from women across the country. [2]
Some women have been shamed for talking about their experiences with sexual harassment and violence in California politics. [12] One lobbyist who signed onto the letter was fired from her job immediately after she notified her employer that she had signed it. [12]
Bradley James Sherman is an American accountant and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 32nd congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he first entered Congress in 1997. Sherman represented California's 24th congressional district for three terms, California's 27th congressional district for five terms, and California's 30th congressional district for five terms. His district includes parts of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the eastern part of the Simi Hills in Ventura County.
Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature which exists on a spectrum that may include a broad range of sexual behaviors considered unwelcome. This includes conduct considered inappropriate on an individual or societal basis of morality, sexual harassment and/or criminal sexual assault.
Robert Myles Hertzberg is an American politician who previously served in the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represented the 18th Senate District, which includes parts of the San Fernando Valley.
Antonio Mendoza is an American politician who served in the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represented the 32nd Senate District, which encompasses Buena Park and the Gateway Cities of Los Angeles County. In January 2018, the State Senate voted to suspend him for 60 days to investigate allegations of sexual harassment. He could not vote on legislation during that period, while contesting the suspension. Before a vote for expulsion was to be taken by the State Senate due to the released findings of an investigation that determined he likely engaged in a pattern of unwanted advances and sexually suggestive behavior toward six women, including four subordinates, over the last decade, Mendoza resigned on February 22, 2018.
Tony Cornish is a retired American police officer and former politician from the Republican Party. He was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He resigned in disgrace from the Minnesota House on November 30, 2017, following multiple accusations of sexual harassment.
James Andrew Vidak is an American politician. A Republican, he served in the California State Senate, representing the 14th Senate District, which encompasses Kings County, as well portions of Fresno County, Kern County, and Tulare County in California's Central Valley. From 2013 to 2014, Vidak represented the 16th Senate District.
Robert Andres Bonta is an American lawyer and politician serving as the attorney general of California since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the California State Assembly for the 18th district from 2012 to 2021 and as a member of the Alameda City Council from 2010 to 2012.
Raul Justo Bocanegra is an American politician, and a former member of the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat who represented the 39th Assembly District, encompassing northeastern San Fernando Valley.
Cristina Garcia is an American educator and politician who served in the California State Assembly. She is a Democrat who represented the 58th Assembly District, which encompassed parts of southeastern Los Angeles County, including her home city of Bell Gardens. She had served in the Assembly since 2012.
Matt Dababneh is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represented the 45th Assembly District, which encompasses most of the western San Fernando Valley.
Eric Carl Bauman is an American political operative who was, until 2018, the chair of the California Democratic Party. Previously the vice chair of the state party (2009–2017) and chair of the Los Angeles Democratic Party (2000–2017), he is known for his influence in Los Angeles County Democratic politics. He announced his resignation as head of the California Democratic Party on November 29, 2018, following sexual misconduct allegations.
Bill Brough is an American politician who served three terms in the California State Assembly. A Republican, he represented the 73rd district, encompassing southern Orange County. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, he was a Dana Point City Councilman. Previously, Brough served as chief of staff to California State Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, White House liaison at the Department of Veterans Affairs in the George W. Bush administration, and aide to former congressman Christopher Cox. In 2016, he founded the California Legislative Irish Caucus.
The 2017–2018 session was a session of the California State Legislature. The session first convened on December 5, 2016, and adjourned sine die on November 30, 2018.
#MeToo was a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape culture, in which women publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" is meant to empower those who have been sexually assaulted through empathy, solidarity and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace.
The Weinstein effect is a trend in which men and women come forward to accuse other famous or powerful men and women of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct. The term Weinstein effect came into use in October 2017, when media outlets began reporting on alleged sexual abuse against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
The 2017–18 United States political sexual scandals saw a heightened period of allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault, and resulted in the subsequent firings and resignations of American politicians. Some of the allegations are linked to the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse cases starting in October 2017 amid the wider MeToo movement.
A whisper network is an informal chain of information passed privately between people, typically women. It consists of gossip about people in a community alleged to be sexual harassers or abusers. The information is often shared between women by word of mouth or online in private communities, forums, spreadsheets, and crowd-sourced documents. The stated purpose of maintaining these lists is to warn potential victims of "people to avoid" in their industry. Whisper networks also purportedly help victims identify a common abuser and come forward together about a serial abuser.
Andrew Cuomo, the 56th governor of New York, was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women starting in December 2020, with the accusations covering a range of alleged behavior. He denied all allegations and has apologized for his comments being interpreted as sexually charged. On February 28, 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that she would hire and deputize a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. On March 11, the New York State Assembly authorized an impeachment investigation into the allegations. In August 2021, James released an investigatory report that stated that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women during his time in office, with actions such as unwanted groping, kissing and sexual comments. The controversy surrounding these allegations culminated in Governor Cuomo's resignation from office. Cuomo was replaced by his Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul.
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. Activision Blizzard is a current lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), now the Civil Rights Department (CRD) against video game developer Activision Blizzard in July 2021. The lawsuit asserts that management of Activision Blizzard allowed and at times encouraged sexual misconduct towards female employees, that the company maintained a "frat boy" culture, and that the company's hiring and employment practices were discriminatory against women.