There is a problem at the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual
Assault and his name is Louis Fortis. Louis is a local businessman
and former member of the Wisconsin State Legislature. He is
currently the head of the Board of Directors at WCASA. This
summer the Education and Training Specialist at WCASA and a
member of the board (not Louis) invited Andrea Dworkin to be the
keynote speaker at their conference in September.
Dworkin is a prominent feminist theorist, author, and speaker who
has been on the front line of the anti-rape movement for the past
twenty years. She has authored eleven books and given numerous
speeches world-wide. Dworkin accepted the invitation and sent back
her signed copy of the contract. She was waiting for WCASA to seal
the deal when she received a call from Louis. Louis told Dworkin
that she could not speak at the WCASA conference, regardless of
their verbal agreement, because he does not like her or her ideas. He
told Dworkin that she is against the First Amendment and
therefore cannot speak at a conference on ending sexual violence.
When asked what the First Amendment has to do with rape
prevention, he had no coherent answer.
When Louis heard that Dworkin was to speak at WCASA's
conference he attacked and misrepresented her work to the other
board members. He accused Dworkin of being pro-censorship, even
though her work contains numerous passages stating the dangers of
censorship. These lies about Dworkin's work and the vehemence
with which Louis attacked her resulted in the cancellation of her
speech. The Executive Board, headed by Louis, met in place of the
full board and voted to rescind the organization's agreement with
Dworkin. The Executive Board then attempted to lie to Dworkin
about why WCASA was canceling Dworkin's speech. They decided
to tell Dworkin that the funds which WCASA raised for her
speaking fee were gotten from a source reserved for direct service
only. This was a blatant lie, as the other speakers at the conference
are to be paid out of that same fund. The only reason WCASA did
not actually lie to Dworkin was due to a dissenting board member
who said that he would tell Dworkin the truth.
WCASA's mission statement declares that WCASA "promotes the
social change needed to end sexual violence in Wisconsin. Our
mission is to support a statewide network of concerned individuals
and organizations as they work toward this goal." This is not a
business venture headed up by a dictatorial CEO. Nowhere in the
mission statement does it read that the goal is for one man to
censor, discredit, and attempt to lie to women who have devoted
their lives to ending sexual violence. No where in the statement
does it read that one man will decide who and what this network of
individuals and organizations will be allowed to hear. If free speech
is as important as Louis himself claims to believe, then why did
Louis prevent Dworkin from speaking? The answer is quite simple:
Louis does not like Dworkin, he has the power to cancel her speech,
and so he did. Louis has done to Dworkin what he claims she
(somehow) does to pornographers and rapists: he has censored her
in the name of free speech.
WCASA's pamphlet states that the "members give the coalition
strength." How do the members of WCASA feel about Louis's use
and abuse of power? How do they feel about the way in which
Dworkin was treated? Louis has not only damaged Dworkin both
professionally and personally, he has also betrayed the spirit of the
coalition. He demonstrated total disregard for the Education and
Training Specialist and the board member who worked hard to
bring Dworkin to the conference. When Dworkin mentioned the
efforts of the Education and Training Specialist Louis replied, "she
is just an employee."
Louis's tyrannical and sexist behavior must not be tolerated at
WCASA. It is imperative for the integrity and effectiveness of the
organization as well as the movement at large that we make that
absolutely clear. Therefore, we demand that Louis Fortis resign
immediately from the board of WCASA. We are indignant that
WCASA canceled Dworkin's speech in the first place, and we are
outraged that WCASA would have lied to her. WCASA must
publish a public apology for the way in which the organization
mistreated Dworkin. To further make amends to Dworkin and to
those who were denied an opportunity to hear her, we also demand
that WCASA bring Dworkin to speak at a later date. Until they do,
WCASA will be part of the problem, not the solution.
Ever feel alone in your work against sexual abuse? Ever feel alone
in your respect and support of Andrea Dworkin's writings and work?
Don't miss this incredible signatories list.
Interview of Louis Fortis by Nikki Craft
(Unedited and Unaired version.) Interview
of Andrea Dworkin by Arlene Zaucha at WORT Radio.
Edited Interview of Andrea Dworkin on WORT Radio by Arlene Zaucha.
