See women’s history come alive on screen at Star Hall on April 18.
Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center is hosting a free screening of a film about Anita Hill, a woman who challenged a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Anita: Speaking Truth to Power” begins at 7 p.m.
In 1991, Hill delivered testimony to the U.S. Senate when it was considering the candidacy of Clarence Thomas as an associate justice for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Hill testified that Thomas sexually harassed her when she worked for him. Thomas denied doing so. Despite the allegations, Thomas was eventually confirmed to the nation’s highest court, although the votes represented a historically low margin.
Is has been nearly 30 years since Hill testified. Now the public is invited to see “a rare glimpse into her private life with friends and family,” says the website for the film.
The film screening is one of several events planned and hosted by Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Mock, the documentary includes recorded messages and footage of the testimony during the hearings.
Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center Director of Programs Abi Taylor said films are one of the many ways the organization helps to facilitate prevention education through community events. The nonprofit provides supportive services in the community to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence, Taylor said.
Taylor said Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center is showing “Anita: Speaking Truth to Power” as a way “to highlight a very public incident of sexual harassment and encourage dialogue with Moab community members.”
“The publicity and polarized political atmosphere of Anita’s experience of sexual harassment is unique,” Taylor said. “However, other aspects of her story are well-known to others, including accusations of dishonesty, victim-blaming and a tarnished reputation. The power imbalance between herself and Clarence Thomas is at the core of her experience and is currently a hot topic in our society, one Seekhaven encourages our community to explore further.”
Bringing attention to the power imbalance in Hill’s experience, former president Joe Biden recently spoke about the 1991 hearings; he was on the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time.
“To this day I regret I couldn’t come up with a way to give her the kind of hearing she deserved,” The Associated Press reported Biden saying on March 26.
The documentary’s screening time is about an hour and a half. Following the screening, a victim advocate will talk about the training opportunities offered to the community, said Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center Volunteer Coordinator Tess Barger.
The trainings include workplace sexual harassment and bystander intervention. Additional services provided to local businesses include updating and creating sexual harassment policies. Barger said she will answer any questions from the audience.
Moab resident Steph Hamborsky said she is interested in seeing the film.
“I think it’s important to learn the stories of women, and especially women of color, who have spoken out against their experiences with sexual harassment, assault and violence, and think about how we can better support the women in our own communities,” Hamborsky said.
“I think it’s important to learn the stories of women, and especially women of color, who have spoken out against their experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and violence, and think about how we can better support the women in our own communities.”
When: Thursday, April18, at 7 p.m.
Where: Star Hall, 159 E. Center St.
Cost: Free; donations accepted
Info: Visit seekhaven.org or call 435-259-2229
Seekhaven screens film on Anita Hill’s legacy
