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Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Deb Haaland is confirmed as secretary of the interior, Chloe Zhao makes history, and women are protesting, from the U.K. To Australia; is anyone listening? Have a great Tuesday.
– ‘Enough is enough.’ In Australia and the U.K. In recent days, thousands of women have protested and marched to call for an end to violence against women.
In the U.K. On Saturday, mourners held a vigil for Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, who disappeared after leaving a friend’s house in London and was later found dead this month. But even that show of grief turned violent as London’s Metropolitan Police used aggressive tactics—including pinning female participants to the ground—to disperse the gathering officers said violated COVID-19 rules.
Many members of the public were outraged by the police response, especially since one of the force’s own—a Met Police officer named Wayne Couzens—has been charged with kidnapping and murder in Everard’s case. Critics are calling for Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to resign over the police’s actions. (She defended the tactics, saying the “unlawful gathering” posed “a considerable risk to people’s health.”)
Everard’s case had already sparked outcry in the U.K. As women used the hashtag #shewaswalkinghome to recall their own experiences with street harassment, share safety tips, and demand that male violence be taken more seriously. U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel said a government survey on violence against women and girls received 78,000 responses over the weekend, an “unprecedented” figure that she attributed to an “outpouring of grief.”
Then in Australia on Monday, tens of thousands of people, some dressed in all black or carrying ‘Enough is enough’ signs, took to the streets in dozens of cities and towns to decry sexual abuse and misogyny. The protests stemmed from allegations of sexual assault, abuse, and misconduct in the highest ranks of Australian politics.
A former government staffer in February revealed that she was raped by a colleague in Australia’s Parliament building. After she came forward, four other women said they’d been sexually assaulted by the same man, a former employee of Australia’s ruling conservative party, who hasn’t been publicly identified.
Attorney General Christian Porter also faces an allegation that he raped a 16-year-old in 1988 when he was 17. He’s vehemently denied the claim, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected calls for an investigation into whether Porter is fit for office.
In front of Australia’s Parliament on Monday, Brittany Higgins, the former government staffer, told the crowd, “We fundamentally recognize the system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place and there are significant failings in the power structures within our institutions.”
In the U.K., Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday acknowledged the wounds Everard’s case had ripped open, though he didn’t address the police’s response to the vigil. “Women,” Johnson said, “must be heard.”
But the question facing the thousands of women, half a world apart, is whether anyone—finally—will listen.
Claire Zillman
[email protected]
@clairezillman
The Broadsheet, Coins2Day’s newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women, is coauthored by Kristen Bellstrom, Emma Hinchliffe, and Claire Zillman. Today’s edition was curated by Emma Hinchliffe.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
- Cabinet history. The Senate confirmed Deb Haaland as secretary of the interior, a historic vote that makes her the first Native American cabinet secretary. The 51-40 vote included yeses from Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. CNN
- And the nominees are. 2021's Oscar nominations came with a few milestones, including Chloe Zhao's nomination for Best Director for Nomadland— making her the first woman of color nominated for the award. Emerald Fennell's nomination in the same category marks the first time two women have been candidates for the directing award at once. New York Times
- Staffing up. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has a lot of protégés. Many of them are now working in the Biden administration, helping push for Warren's progressive policy priorities even though she didn't end up with a cabinet role. Politico
- Equal employment? A Black woman, who remains anonymous, filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that she was rushed through interviews for a Facebook job in global partnerships that she was qualified for and told that she wouldn't like the position—that Facebook was looking for a "culture fit." Facebook says it takes allegations of discrimination seriously. The Intercept
MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Nike Jordan Brand's global VP and GM of women's Andrea Perez joined the board of Hims & Hers. At UNICEF USA, Darla Silva was promoted to chief global programs officer; V. Renée Cutting joined, from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as chief philanthropy officer; and CARE USA's Muna Idow joined as managing director of diversity, racial equity, and belonging. Deloitte Digital hired former Ogilvy exec Leslie Sims as U.S. Chief creative officer. Media platform Teads hired Heather Unsinger as group director.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- Not quite accepted. The Vatican issued a statement on Monday determining that the Catholic Church won't bless same-sex unions because God "cannot bless sin." The Church, on behalf of Pope Francis, stood by its earlier determination to welcome and bless gay people—but chose not to extend the same mission to their unions. AP
- Slow going. The slow rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Germany is starting to hurt public support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democratic Union. On Sunday, CDU candidates were defeated in regional elections—a worrying sign for the party ahead of a general election later this year. Wall Street Journal
- Time's up? There's a controversy playing out within Time's Up Healthcare, the health care arm of the women's rights organization. One of the health care division's founding members, Dr. Esther Choo, allegedly failed to report allegations of sexual harassment against a colleague. Members object to Time's Up's handling of the situation, and 18 have resigned from the organization in protest. Time's Up, in a statement, stood by Choo; she declined to comment in this story. The Holllywood Reporter
ON MY RADAR
New York City’s new school leader seeks to expand summer school Wall Street Journal
N.C.A.A. Women’s basketball: What you need to know New York Times
In an Australian beach town, the bus driver is an ex-world champ who’s just now getting her due Washington Post
PARTING WORDS
"Can you be an athlete? If you aren't, no one is."
-From a new Nike ad featuring pregnant women and new mothers. The ad defines an athlete as someone who "deals with the pain, hits her limit, and pushes past it."
