►
From YouTube: Public Comment on #MuteRKelly Resolution 1-31-2019
Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, January 31, 2019:
Public Comment on Councilwoman Helen Gym's Resolution:
"Declaring solidarity with and support for the #MuteRKelly campaign, a grassroots movement that
seeks to remedy decades of silence surrounding the sexual abuse of young Black women and girls
by denying R. Kelly a public platform within the City of Philadelphia and nationwide."
Read the resolution: http://bit.ly/2FXfv8H
A
Good
morning
City
Council,
President
and
city
council
members,
my
name
is
dr.:
Monique
Howard
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
the
women
organized
against
rape,
the
only
rape
crisis
center
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
I
want
to
thank
council,
council
members,
Helen
Ginn,
Blondell,
Reynolds,
Brown,
Derek,
green
and
Cheryl
Parker
for
the
introduction
of
the
resolution
at
the
Clare
of
solidarity
and
support
for
the
mute,
our
Kelly
campaign.
As
a
nation,
we
were
witness
to
the
narratives
of
the
many
survivors
of
sexual
assault
and
abuse
that
were
depicted
on
the
lifetime.
A
Doctors
surviving
our
Kelly
for
three
consecutive
nights.
We
heard
and
saw
six
hours
of
horror
stories
of
rape,
child
sexual
abuse,
sexual
grooming
and
his
sex
cult.
Our
Kelly
is
the
true
definition
of
a
sexual
predator.
He
pries
on
mostly
young
girls,
those
who
are
vulnerable,
easy
to
manipulate
and
most
likely
starstruck.
Some
of
his
victims
may
have
experienced
abuse
in
previous
relationships.
His
story
is
not
a
news
story.
We
have
heard
about
his
crimes
for
decades.
A
His
crimes
are
outlined
in
his
music
and
his
moniker,
as
the
Pied
Piper
clearly
explains
what
he
does
and
how
he
operates.
How
did
this
happen
for
decades?
The
answer
is
to
race
and
money.
Robert
Kelly's
victims
were
young
black
girls,
undervalued
and
under
cared
for,
according
to
a
report
from
the
Center
on
poverty
and
inequality
at
georgetown
law,
adults
view
black
girls
as
less
innocent
and
more
adult-like
than
their
white
peers,
especially
in
the
age
range
of
five
to
fourteen
survey.
A
Participants
receive
that
black
girls
need
that
less
nurturing
less
protection
to
be
supported,
less
comforted
less
and
a
more
independent
know
more
about
adult
topics
and
know
more
about
sex.
These
results
apply
that,
even
if
these
girls
told
the
truth,
no
one
would
believe
them
chance.
The
rapper,
a
musician
who
has
worked
with
our
Kelly,
was
quoted
as
saying
I
didn't
value
the
accusers
stories
because
they
were
black
women.
These
are
the
beliefs
of
our
Kelly
relied
upon
to
protect
his
behavior.
We
must
believe
survivors.
A
We
must
make
sure
that
black
girls
know
that
they
matter
and
that
they
will
be
believed,
and
let
us
not
forget
money
again.
Decades
of
allegations
and
crime
city
still
sells
out
venues.
It
makes
monies
for
critics
for
cities
and
for
other
musicians.
War
has
been
providing
services
since
1971
and
2018
we've
received
five
thousand
19
telephone
calls
to
the
hotline.
We've
provided
counseling
service
to
four
hundred
and
thirty
nine
children
who
were
victims
of
child
sexual
abuse.
These
children
will
suffer
post-traumatic
stress,
disorder,
drug
abuse
and
other
major
depressive
opportunities.
A
B
C
Good
morning,
City
Council
and
all
that
are
present
today.
Thank
you
specifically,
two
council
members,
Helen
gem
shall
Parker
Blondo,
Reynolds
and
Derrick
green
for
standing
in
solidarity
with
support
from
the
mute
our
Kelly
campaign.
My
name
is
Leticia
Anthony
and
I'm.
A
local
organizer,
the
founder
of
voice,
victory
over
inconceivable,
currently
experiences
a
sexual
abuse
survivor
network
in
the
education
and
training
specialist
at
women
organized
against
Rieff,
but
most
of
all
I'm,
a
survivor
of
childhood
sexual
abuse
and
campus
assault.
C
More
specifically,
that
black
women
and
girls
matter
Malcolm
s
said
this:
that
the
most
disrespected
woman
in
America
person
in
America
is
a
black
woman.
The
most
unprotected
person
in
America
is
the
black
woman.
The
most
neglected
person
in
America
is
the
black
woman,
but
yet
today,
as
a
black
woman
and
a
survivor,
this
is
a
great
step
in
making
me
feel
protected.
Respecting
care
for
and
supporting,
banning
our
Kelly
were
offers
similar
sentiments
of
others.
C
It
takes
more
than
just
this,
though,
the
efforts
of
groups
like
war
and
voice
and
other
community
partners
to
end
sexual
violence
and
our
community.
It
takes
dismantling
systematic
protections
and
allowances
that
allow
predators
to
remain
in
their
positions
of
power
and
influence.
Today's
the
day,
we
shatter
those
systems
making
a
declaration
to
all
predators
that
they
are
not
allowed
in
this
city
and
I.
Thank
you
all
today.
Thank.
B
D
Good
morning
my
name
is
Kenya
Barnes
and
I
am
the
National
co-founder
of
mute
or
Kelly
I
just
want
to
say.
Thank
you
to
the
ladies
who
spoke
before
me.
Thank
you
to
counseling
again
mr.
chairman
I
flew
all
the
way
here
in
six
degree
weather
from
Atlanta
Georgia
to
stand
in
this
space
today
to
say
thank
you.
D
Thank
you
as
a
political
body
for
taking
a
stance
and
saying,
without
a
doubt
that
black
girls
matter,
when
my
co-founder
or
Nikkei
odelay,
a
and
I,
decided
over
coffee
and
mutual
outrage
in
Atlanta
Georgia
to
launch
the
Munich
healthy
movement.
It
was
a
modest
venture.
We
simply
wanted
to
stop
the
concert
in
Atlanta.
At
that
point,
we
gained
the
anonymous
approval
in
support
of
the
Fulton
County
Board
of
Commissioners
in
the
the
out
the
outrage
and
the
activism
of
Buner
Kelly
began
around
the
country.
D
While
we
were
focused
on
our
concert,
five
concerts
around
the
country,
canceled
survivors
began
to
come
forward.
Our
phone
lines
were
inundated
help
us.
How
can
we
do
this?
In
15
months?
The
mute
our
Kelly
movement
has
12
chapters,
including
two
chapters
internationally
in
Amsterdam
and
Germany.
We
have
had
eight
act
of
protest
at
concerts,
we've
canceled
twelve
concerts
in
an
estimated
1.75
million
dollars
in
lost
revenue.
What
we
are
clear
is
that
this
movement
is
about
accountability.
This
movement
is
about
acknowledging
that
black
girls
matter.
D
This
movement
is
about
saying
enough
is
enough
and
no
longer
can
we
allow
people
to
rest
on
hero,
worship
and
have
the
capital
to
buy
themselves
out
of
accountability.
A
very
quick
story
before
my
time
is
up.
I
do
have
a
Philadelphia
connection.
I
am
an
alumni
of
Temple
University
and
I
worked
at
shop.
Yes,
I'm
an
owl
in
2002
I,
worked
at
shop
and
founded
a
program
to
the
Youth
Study
Center
that
looked
at
high
risk
behaviors
among
sexually
active
youth,
and
my
original.
D
E
E
Having
viewed
dream,
a
dream,
Hampton
surviving
our
Kelly
I
was
inexplicably
disgusted,
took
pause
at
how
such
a
troubled
person
could
get
away
with
such
alleged
repetitive,
atrocities
I
shudder
to
imagine
how
the
lives
of
those
young
girls
would
be
forever
altered,
never
to
be
the
same
again.
The
brilliant
black
sister
dream
Hampton
produced
the
documentary
as
a
tool
to
systematically
dismantle
gender
violence
and
give
voice
to
the
vulnerable.
E
However,
long
before
the
documentary,
a
plethora
of
courageous
woman,
one
who
just
spoke
by
performing
was
speaking
truth
to
power
about
the
atrocities
of
our
Kelly,
who
built
an
ecosystem
around
his
predation.
Much
like
most
movements
to
support
suppressed
people
groups,
the
groundswell
support
of
voices
often
moves
at
horse
and
buggy
pace
before
justice,
as
one
do
too
often.
Overwhelmingly.
Tremendous
opposition
in
this
case
insert
fame
and
fortune
and
power.
E
Victim-Blaming
in
our
desire
to
reimagine
Andrea
propriate
the
demons
of
many
of
our
heroes
at
the
expense
of
their
gift,
and
you
have
a
recipe
for
decades-long
depravity
with
bated
breath.
I'll
watch
the
documentary
afterwards
I
merely
contacted
a
point
person
of
our
church's
sexual
assault
ministry
within
24
hours.
A
panel
discussion
was
planned
to
address
the
issues.
Panelists
included,
Malita
Johnson,
her
elder
director
of
Victim
Services
for
the
DA's
office
state
Rep,
Morgan
Sivas
was
doing
some
great
wolf
work
around
this
subject.
E
On
the
state
level,
Teresa
white
Wolfson
from
woman
organized
against
rape,
Lakeisha
anthony
found
her
voice,
an
incredible
organization
that
offers
resources
and
support
for
victims
of
sexual
violence.
We
were
intentional
about
hosting
this
discussion
during
the
time
of
our
usual
midweek
worship
Bible
study
hour,
because
it
was
just
that
important
therapist
well
on
standby
resources
were
shared,
conversation
was
had
hearts
were
healed,
lives
were
changed.
Today's
resolution
does
not
directly
ban
our
kelly
from
philadelphia.
E
Obviously,
as
a
citizen,
however,
it
is
a
strong
statement
of
support
and
solidarity
with
a
plethora
of
voices
across
the
country
who
are
done
with
pedophiles
parading
on
platforms
for
praise
enough
is
enough.
This
is
a
strong
statement
of
support
for
young
girls,
who
have
felt
disrespected
disgraced
and
disgusted
made
to
feel
ignored,
underrepresented,
uncared-for,
unprotected,
unwanted
and
less
than
human.
Lastly,
let's
be
clear,
no
one
is
beating
up
on
black
men.
This
has
nothing
to
do
with
race.
It
has
everything
to
do
with
rape.
E
The
truth
be
told
our
Kelly
and
Harry
Weinstein
should
be
cellmates.
This
is
not
an
attack
on
black
men
and
as
an
attack
on
rape,
culture
that
newts
victims,
but
gives
voice
to
the
perpetrators.
Let's
believe
and
support
black
women,
let's
believe,
a
support,
black
women,
brown
women
and
white
women,
let's
support
and
believe
women.
Let's
stop
muting
victims.
It's
time
to
hashtag.
We
are
killing
factory.
Testimony.