WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.240 In December Sports Illustrated published an expose today 2 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:06.899 detailing allegations of work place misconduct. And sexual 3 00:00:06.899 --> 00:00:09.259 harassment against Carolina Panthers owner Jerry 4 00:00:09.259 --> 00:00:11.969 Richardson. The team announced it was launching an 5 00:00:11.969 --> 00:00:14.919 internal investigation which he and it fell to go over shortly 6 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:18.109 afterwards. Meanwhile Richardson put the franchise up for 7 00:00:18.109 --> 00:00:21.629 sale. It's now April and little has happened Jerry 8 00:00:21.629 --> 00:00:25.029 Richardson still owns the team fellow owners most notably 9 00:00:25.049 --> 00:00:28.524 the Texans Bob McNair had voiced their support. And we 10 00:00:28.524 --> 00:00:31.569 have no update on the investigation. Now woman who 11 00:00:31.569 --> 00:00:35.219 calls herself quote a Jerry Richardson victims still too 12 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:39.199 afraid. Has written here in Sports Illustrated first person 13 00:00:39.199 --> 00:00:42.629 letters to all of those she wants to be held accountable. Not 14 00:00:42.629 --> 00:00:46.289 just Richards then that coach Ron Rivera the NFL. And 15 00:00:46.289 --> 00:00:49.989 though she calls the enablers. He's also shared with SI 16 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:52.429 photos at hand written notes she claims are from 17 00:00:52.429 --> 00:00:56.199 Richardson that they things like if I kinda. I changed your 18 00:00:56.199 --> 00:00:59.949 length and asking if she used him as a second father a 19 00:00:59.999 --> 00:01:04.179 second husband. A boyfriend. Or otherwise. SI 20 00:01:04.179 --> 00:01:07.109 provided all the Panthers and Richardson's personal 21 00:01:07.109 --> 00:01:09.969 attorney is an opportunity to review the notes and 22 00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:13.149 authenticate his handwriting. No response was provided to 23 00:01:13.149 --> 00:01:16.449 these requests. So it. We welcome the co- founder of 24 00:01:16.499 --> 00:01:20.119 ultraviolet a woman's rights organization fighting sexism. 25 00:01:20.419 --> 00:01:23.779 Shawna Thomas a shot at. Are you surprised that we 26 00:01:23.779 --> 00:01:27.439 haven't seen any actual action on this. And fortunately 27 00:01:27.469 --> 00:01:31.809 now. And this isn't a real pattern parity out 28 00:01:31.809 --> 00:01:35.529 that really ever since. I think that they're the nature of 29 00:01:35.699 --> 00:01:40.729 Expos day you're here where the culture in the Al. Really 30 00:01:41.039 --> 00:01:44.949 Kiki she's like is very seriously at all with every race he's 31 00:01:44.949 --> 00:01:48.609 few years ago and yeah felt really. Strictly just terrible 32 00:01:48.839 --> 00:01:52.349 feeling that we scenic you know typically what they do is 33 00:01:52.579 --> 00:01:56.699 they come under fire at their culture is exposed. People 34 00:01:56.699 --> 00:01:59.949 demand accountability. And they do that. They care. 35 00:02:00.009 --> 00:02:03.179 Minimum they can to establish that they recognize that 36 00:02:03.179 --> 00:02:05.949 there's a problem there's a need to do it and and the 37 00:02:06.259 --> 00:02:09.969 cameras go away and then the national spotlight and think 38 00:02:09.969 --> 00:02:14.179 it's they go back to business as usual all out and women 39 00:02:14.179 --> 00:02:18.309 in particular eighteen to eat. I'm just horribly victimized 40 00:02:18.309 --> 00:02:22.269 by that culture because. We'll get it I'll chose Mary Jo White 41 00:02:22.269 --> 00:02:25.059 a former US attorney and securities and exchange 42 00:02:25.059 --> 00:02:29.089 commissioner to overseen its investigation. In her letter to 43 00:02:29.089 --> 00:02:32.269 the NFL evict them says her attorney reached out to Mary 44 00:02:32.269 --> 00:02:35.439 Jo White but with told. The league couldn't protector if she 45 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.399 breached the NBA that she signed with Richards sent. She 46 00:02:38.399 --> 00:02:42.039 writes you say you're arguing a thorough investigation. 47 00:02:42.279 --> 00:02:46.249 You had zero power and you're at investigation. Is a farce. 48 00:02:46.619 --> 00:02:50.079 So why it isn't and ostensibly powerful woman like Mary Jo 49 00:02:50.079 --> 00:02:54.569 White able to do more and. And faster. Well I'd say 50 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:58.719 it's it's kind of incredible that he and a well it's sort of point 51 00:02:59.289 --> 00:03:03.399 eight single woman to overcome. The procedural. 52 00:03:03.689 --> 00:03:07.984 Coliseum cultural obstacles that exists or. There'd be kind 53 00:03:07.984 --> 00:03:11.649 of just resolution this problem at this team or any other 54 00:03:11.649 --> 00:03:15.429 team currently and she doesn't have the power. They she 55 00:03:15.449 --> 00:03:19.269 eats to make it changes that are required but the reality that 56 00:03:19.289 --> 00:03:23.609 Eric Mitchell to follow it. It you know it the resolution 57 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:27.119 comes about is unsatisfactory to the other people watch it's 58 00:03:27.119 --> 00:03:31.289 a horrible position for her and the problem. It is situation 59 00:03:31.289 --> 00:03:34.829 start the top insert the owners and it starts with record down 60 00:03:35.229 --> 00:03:38.449 the head of the Al and tiny and the crew that they don't see 61 00:03:38.499 --> 00:03:42.469 this as prop. Seriously. When you talk about it calling 62 00:03:42.469 --> 00:03:44.409 leadership into accountability one of the things your 63 00:03:44.409 --> 00:03:47.019 organization has done in the past is called for their 64 00:03:47.019 --> 00:03:50.359 resignation of Roger Goodell. How much of it is they get 65 00:03:50.359 --> 00:03:54.569 dealt problem. Birth is an institutional. Problem in the NFL. 66 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:59.869 It's really they go hand and had wrecked dal. Has 67 00:03:59.869 --> 00:04:04.639 proven time and that he's not high earns. Arabs 68 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:09.089 are of creating a culture and and driving well. 69 00:04:09.409 --> 00:04:12.649 Tricky out there in the culture change needs to happen and 70 00:04:12.649 --> 00:04:16.989 sneak of who the T teams itself state space 71 00:04:16.989 --> 00:04:21.549 for all its employees at. I think the institution 72 00:04:21.549 --> 00:04:25.689 just will not and not change as a threat Ellis eat. 73 00:04:26.369 --> 00:04:30.189 He's had a long he's the person who is at least at the town. 74 00:04:30.369 --> 00:04:34.579 For elite can and will eat it. In her letter that victim talks 75 00:04:34.579 --> 00:04:37.579 the ballot V complete and total power that Jerry Richardson 76 00:04:37.599 --> 00:04:41.279 has as the owner of the team. And technically the owners 77 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.789 and play Roger Goodell also. How do you even begin to 78 00:04:44.789 --> 00:04:47.919 find accountability for someone like Jerry Richardson when 79 00:04:47.919 --> 00:04:52.299 he has no Bottke at the top of the food chain. But 80 00:04:52.299 --> 00:04:56.559 that is the hard reality of this situation in the Al and number 81 00:04:56.909 --> 00:05:00.309 histories were out. Owners who this decision makers 82 00:05:00.309 --> 00:05:04.339 people hold all the power as you rightly put it. Aren't 83 00:05:04.409 --> 00:05:07.579 people who need to be held accountable and beat all eat 84 00:05:07.609 --> 00:05:11.709 real. Oh wait hold people accountable for 85 00:05:11.739 --> 00:05:14.819 their eat you know public acknowledgment that it's probably 86 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:18.709 Republican hands church each. This isn't opportunity races 87 00:05:18.709 --> 00:05:23.209 this is they get to this incredibly courageous person. Team 88 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.609 is giving us which is to say look these are the that there 89 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:30.879 isn't a horrific acts. Of assault and 90 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:36.799 harassment. She people ops. And and 91 00:05:36.829 --> 00:05:40.939 who remind the country. Who we are as a as I 92 00:05:40.969 --> 00:05:44.829 eat and eat it and there aren't important out of the. And 93 00:05:44.829 --> 00:05:49.099 clearly a a very big and pervasive problem in. I applaud the 94 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:51.329 the bravery and this woman and yours as well and your 95 00:05:51.329 --> 00:05:54.239 platform shot and we thank you so much for your voice and 96 00:05:54.239 --> 00:05:56.069 for your time today. I.