Women Of Color Of Time's Up Movement Join #MuteRKelly Campaign

The Time's Up movement is now calling out R. Kelly. On Monday (April 30) morning, the Women of Color in the movement joined in the #MuteRKelly online campaign.

"For too long, our community has ignored our pain," their letter reads. "The pain we bear is a burden that too many women of color have had to bear for centuries. The wounds run deep."

It continues: "The recent court decision against Bill Cosby is one step towards addressing these ills but it is just a start. We call on people everywhere to join with us to insist on a world in which women of all kinds can pursue their dreams free from sexual assault, abuse and predatory behavior. To this end, today we join an existing online campaign called #MuteRKelly."

Some notable women who are WOC activists in the Time's Up movement include Shonda Rhimes, Rashida Jones, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lena Waithe, America Ferrara, Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Ava Duvernay and more. They've since taken to social media to address Kelly and his decades-long career that has been filled with countless sexual assault allegations and scandals with underaged girls. 

“The scars of history make certain that we are not interested in persecuting anyone without just cause,” the letter adds. “With that said, we demand appropriate investigations and inquiries into the allegations of R. Kelly’s abuse made by women of color and their families for over two decades now.” Their letter reads, "During this time, he also ...

• Married a girl under 18 years of age;
• Was sued by at least 4 women for sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, and furnishing illegal drugs to a minor;
• Was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography;
• Has faced allegations of sexual abuse and imprisonment of women under threats of violence and familial harm."

Now, the group is calling for investigations into the singer's many allegations, which many say is long overdue. See tweets supporting the Women Of Color of the Time's Up movement and #MuteRKelly below. 

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