Anita Hill: Justice Clarence Thomas Calls Her 'My Most Traitorous Adversary' (280 hits)
October 11 *On this date in 1991, Anita Hill a University of Oklahoma law professor gave her senate testimony accusing Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of s*xual harassment. Too many, Hill's claims or to those opposed the Thomas nomination on other grounds, his appointment was a defeat.
Yet, the Hill-Thomas controversy had other long-term consequences beyond his life-term on the Supreme Court. National awareness about s*xual harassment in the workplace heightened greatly. According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filings in the five years that followed, s*xual harassment cases more than doubled, from 6,127 in 1991 to 15,342 in 1996. Over the same period, awards to victims under federal laws nearly quadrupled, from $7.7 million to $27.8 million.
Though eight years had passed since she had worked with him, Hill testified that her memories of their alleged interactions were vivid and vulgar, but the delayed accusations raised much speculation. They surfaced just after Thomas had been nominated to the Supreme Court. When asked by Roberts {of Good Morning America} why she didn't come forth sooner, Hill said, "It is amazing how much we tolerate in the workplace," explaining that people stay in problem jobs for a number of reasons, ranging from personal to financial.
..."In an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America" today, Hill told Robin Roberts, "I understand that he {Justice Thomas} is very angry and wants to vindicate himself, but my testimony was truthful..."
