Thread by @UltraViolet

THREAD: Closing arguments have wrapped for #BillCosby’s retrial. Over the years, nearly 60 women have accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, but this retrial hasn't received a lot of attention. Here’s what you need to know about Cosby’s predatory behavior and the retrial:

Bill Cosby is facing three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Last year, the first trial against Cosby ended in a mistrial because jurors couldn't come to a unanimous verdict on any of the three charges. usatoday.com/story/life/peo… #MeToo

The woman at the center of the retrial is former Temple University employee Andrea Constand—she accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2004. Constand sued Cosby in 2005 and received a settlement, but came forward again in 2015. nytimes.com/2018/04/13/art… #MeToo

Bill Cosby's lawyers’ tactics of choice have been slut-shaming and victim-blaming, and they even called Andrea Constand a "con-artist.” Supermodel and survivor Janice Dickinson didn’t fall for their tricks during her testimony:
jezebel.com/bill-cosby-s-l… #MeToo

In today's closing arguments Cosby's lawyers even tried to blame the #MeToo movement to paint Cosby as a victim: fox6now.com/2018/04/24/in-…

Though Cosby is only facing three charges of sexual assault, nearly 60 women have accused him of sexual assault and the accusations stretch from 1965 to 2008. You can read all of the survivors’ stories here: washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifes… #MeToo

A horrifying pattern in Cosby’s predatory behavior: drugging women with quaaludes. Two-thirds of his accusers said he drugged them before assaulting them, and in 2005, Cosby admitted to buying quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with. cnn.com/2015/07/07/us/… #MeToo

Sharon Van Ert accused Bill Cosby of drugging and assaulting her in her car in 1976: “He was touching me and rubbing my leg. The next thing I remember was waking up in my car, my head hanging down from the seat, alone.” people.com/crime/more-wom… #MeToo

Cosby used his power in Hollywood to convince women that he could help their careers. Barbara Brown: “Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old aspiring actress in 1985, brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times.” washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifes…

Author and fitness coach Lisa Christie had a similar experience with Cosby. She said Cosby promised her a movie audition, lured her to a hotel room, tried to kiss her, and told her, “You're never going to make it in this business unless you sleep with me!" people.com/crime/more-wom…

Donna Barrett was officiating an international track meet in Cosby’s hometown of Philadelphia in 2004 when she says Cosby forcefully pulled her toward him, groped her, and told her, “Hey, back that thing up here girl. Back it on up!” washingtonpost.com/graphics/lifes… #MeToo

The accounts from survivors show that Bill Cosby is a sexual predator who used his power to sexually assault women. It doesn’t matter how famous or “likable” he is—rapists must be held accountable. And all of Bill Cosby’s accusers deserve to be heard and believed. #MeToo

We also need to be LOUD about Cosby’s retrial to make sure survivors’ stories aren’t forgotten. "Last year, reporters were packed onto courthouse benches, sitting arm to arm with hardly a free seat to be found. This year, there’s plenty of space." jezebel.com/theres-so-much… #MeToo

We believe Andrea Constand. We believe survivors. It's long past time For Bill Cosby to be held accountable for his actions: weareultraviolet.org/pressrel/women…