Weinstein convicted of rape: small big win for #metoo
On Monday 24 February 2020, a historic ruling was issued. Harvey Weinstein, the former film producer overwhelmed by sexual assault allegations in 2017, was found guilty and convicted on two out of 5 counts. First-degree sexual assault against his former production assistant, Miriam Haley, and third degree rape of former actress Jessica Mann. Unfortunately, however, the sexual predator escaped the danger of life imprisonment, having been cleared of the other three even more serious charges, including that of predatory sexual assault. For the moment, Weinstein is in prison, where he will have to wait until 11 March 2020 before knowing the final sentence that will establish how many years he will have to serve in prison, from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 25.
The New York Times investigation that started it all
It all began on October 5, 2017, the date on which an article was published in The New York Times denouncing the abuses perpetrated by the co-founder of Miramax (the same production company that produced masterpieces of the caliber of Pulp Fiction , Life is beautiful and Kill Bill, just to get an idea of the power concentrated in one person). Since that time, everything has changed, in Hollywood, but also in the rest of the world.
Although Weinstein's conduct was already known to most, no one had ever had the courage to expose themselves and report. After the publication of the report, however, many women finally found the strength to free themselves from the weight that had held them prisoner for years and tell their traumatic experience, among which we can include our local Asia Argento, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan and Uma Thurman.
#metoo: unite to report
In addition, on October 16, 2017, actress Alyssa Milano invited all victims of sexual violence to publicly share their experience using the hashtag #metoo, named after the feminist movement born in 1997 thanks to Tarana Burke. And so, at the sound of so many "me too" screamed in a loud voice, people are finally able to open up without the fear of not being understood, listened to or, worse, blamed.
An important battle
Our thoughts today go to women without whom all this would not have been possible. One of all, Annabella Sciolla, protagonist of the TV series The Sopranos, whose complaint dates back to 30 years ago. Their example has been and still is a great inspiration for people, of all sexes, who find themselves in the same condition and, for fear of repercussions on a professional level, they opt for the path of silence, not denouncing.
Even if the "war" is still long, because of Harvey Weinstein, unfortunately, the world is full, today an important battle has been won and we can only rejoice.
