After Hurricane Harvey left the mainstream news stories, another Harvey popped up. Over a week ago, a New York Times report exposed rape and sexual assault allegations on a Hollywood film producer, executive of Miramax and one of the major democratic benefactors, Harvey Weinstein.

The report uncovered that Weinstein had been engaged in this wild act for the last three decades, where he had battered many colleagues including young actresses, assistants, interns and even reporters.

After the story broke out, multiple women encompassing renowned actresses, reporters and other Hollywood insiders quickly joined the stage of accusations and started sharing the dreadful attacks of sexual misconduct and harassment by the filmmaker.

The situation not only painted a grim picture of the film industry but also asserted that women aren’t safe in any walk of life.

In response, eminent celebrities and politicians condemned this disgraceful act, and the Weinstein Company’s board has fired Harvey Weinstein last Sunday. However, in spite of total condemnation and dismissal from the office, Hollywood’s culture of silence around sexual abuse may not change, and no doubt, the problem will prevail.

Sexual misconduct and harassment is a grim stain on our society that needs to be addressed with iron hands. It is one of the major workplace problems and the most dreadful act of misconduct that can impact an individual’s participation in society.

This evil is so widespread that every day, hundreds of Americans are affected by sexual violence. Despite excessive awareness and workplace decorum, sexual harassment is still a prevalent issue due to reluctance in reporting, lenient accountability, tolerance and injustice to name a few. 

Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment attempts many times before but his power in the industry, paid settlements and influence in politics sheltered him from any meaningful accountability. But this time, money shouldn’t buy silence, society and political leaders should join hands to renounce and condemn this abhorrent conduct with women. Because justice never comes when people don’t.

In short, Weinstein should be punished and held accountable strictly for his bad behavior with women regardless of his affluence, power and influence. So that other perpetrators in society can learn a lesson and some real change can be envisioned. Otherwise, leniency in accountability can further fuel this behavior not only in the public, but also at universities and colleges.