Women's March Organization Issues Statement On Bill O'Reilly Firing
Photo via Fox News
Photo via Fox News
Following Wednesday's announcement from Fox News that they would be letting go of Bill O'Reilly, a statement has been made from Tamika Mallory, national co-chair of the Women's March.
The statement is below:
"21st Century Fox's announcement that Bill O'Reilly will not return to Fox News is yet another example of how when we put pressure on businesses and corporations, we come out victorious.
After years of allegations and complaints, Fox News finally held Bill O'Reilly accountable for his heinous actions against women —they did so because the voices of so many people demanded that companies take action. We demonstrated once again that by organizing, tweeting, and collaborating across movements; we win.
It's time that corporations, businesses, and organizations alike join us on the right side of history. We represent a majority of the public, wanting to see an America where equity, tolerance, and compassion are our hallmarks. Those businesses that stand for those values will receive our support; those that do not will see their power diminish. This isn't about partisan politics, it's about what’s right and wrong. Abusing human rights, exploiting systematic inequality, and profiting off destruction are inexcusable and intolerable.
We encourage Fox News to look further into their practices and policies to ensure that this doesn’t happen again and to commit to creating safe and healthy work environments for all of people."
Two other women's rights groups — the National Organization for Women (NOW) and UltraViolet — also spoke out in favor of O'Reilly's leave from Fox News.
"Bill O'Reilly is a serial sexual predator, a bigot and a misogynist. He will not be missed," Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, said.
"O'Reilly deserves this downfall," NOW president Terry O'Neill added. "The many sexual harassment allegations leveled against him reveal a clear and ugly pattern of misogynistic behavior. It would be an insult to women everywhere to allow him to retain his coveted primetime television slot."
The decision to remove O'Reilly from Fox News came after a report from the New York Times, where five women that accused O'Reilly of sexual harassment received a total of $13 million for agreeing not to pursue litigation or discuss their accusations.
