-Hi, I'm -Eric Ford for made here -the documentary Backlash: -Misogyny in the Digital Age -from Montreal directors -Guylaine Maroist and -Lea Clermont Dion -follows four women -whose lives have been -particularly affected -by online violence -a politician in Italy, -a French YouTuber, -a young teacher in -Quebec and Kaih Morris, -a former Vermont -state representative.

-A warning -this film contains -language and scenes -!that some may find disturbing.

-Viewer discretion is advised.

-You can watch backlash -and other great made here -!films streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the film -and thanks for watching.

-<punk rock music> -<car horn & yelling> -There were so many things -that happened.

-The danger for women is that -women -are not believed when it -comes to any sorts of crimes.

-We're -!not believed in cases of rape.

-!We're not believed in domestic -violence.

-We're not believed -!in sexual abuse or harassment.

-Discrimination.

-So the danger becomes -that we have normalized -not listening to women -when we know -that something is wrong.

-!Don't be fooled by this woman.

-She's a fraud.

-The more I deal -with women, -the more they piss me off -so bad.

-Every woman in the world.

-It's crazy.

-Our country would be -a better place -if our women would stay home.

-Know your role -and shut your mouth.

-Now that women are becoming -more prominent, -!more influential now, many men -decided, you -know that that is too much.

-My name is Laura Boldrini.

-I am a member of Parliament -in Italy.

-Here we are -at the Chamber of Deputies.

-La Camera dei deputati.

-And in this corridor here, -we have a lot of busts.

-this one is, De Gasperi.

-Here we have a Martellotti, -Tourati, Orlando.

-They are all men.

-!This is why I decided to open, -you know, in all to -the vote in all specific -space to the women, -the women of our republic.

-I decided to put two mirrors -because I didn't have -any pictures -of, the first -woman prime minister -and the first woman -president of the Republic.

-So because, no woman has -obtained, you know, -so far, such a recognition.

-When girls come here, -they like to take a picture -of themselves with -!the president de la Republica.

-Meaning is a way for them -to think about it.

-It passes a -message of empowerment.

-And girls -and women need empowerment.

-They need also -!to increase their self esteem.

-They have to know that -everything is possible -if they want.

-In 2013, -I was elected President of -the Camera dei deputati.

-So the one who had to run -the parliamentary activity.

-The first day I was elected, -I was asked to make a speech.

-So I was not ready -to be elected -and not even for the speech.

-And I had three hours -to prepare the speech.

-So I thought, -the only thing I could do -is to, you know, -put down my values.

-<speaking Italian> -So I tried to put down -all the values, starting from -the need of, -having to put at the center -of our activities, -!women's right, and give women, -you know, the role -they deserve.

-<speaking Italian> -So the parliament reacted, -they all didn't react -the same way in a sense that, -on the left side, left -center side, you know, -MPs were enthusiastic -about this.

-And the other part -was not at all.

-So I really wanted to -underline these values.

-And because of this, -I also became -a target of hate.

-The Five Star Movement -was launched -seven years ago, -founded as a protest party -by the -Italian comedian Pepe Grillo.

-The aim was to win the -traditional political class -in the country.

-It is now on its way -to becoming -the second pulse -of parliament.

-!All started when Beppe Grillo, -the head of Five Star -Movement, decided -to destroy my reputation.

-He put my big picture -in a car and innocently -asked his followers, -what would you do to -Boldrini in a car?

-The answers were absolutely -awful.

-Thousands -of violent comments.

-Death threats.

-Rape threats, -attacks were violent -and sexist.

-It was terrible.

-It was an awful strategy.

-And then Matteo Salvini, -who is now -the deputy prime minister -and minister of Interior.

-He was the second one -who implemented -such a strategy.

-<speaking Italian> -During a rally, -he took an inflatable -sex doll, and he said, -here we have the President -of the Camera dei deputati.

-So imagine the reactions, -which followed, you know, -!what do you do with a sex doll?

-And then Matteo tweets, -let's send -rapist to Ballerina's house -so she will smile again.

-A Mayor doing this -has a strange idea, -very dangerous idea -about rape.

-This strategy is aimed -at telling women and girls, -you know, keep far.

-This is a business for men.

-Go back to the kitchen.

-Go back to the kitchen.

-<Bell rings> -<laughter> -No, it's a sweet treat.

-My name is Kiah Morris.

-I am a mother, -I my wife, I am a politician -and an elected official -from the state of Vermont.

-I came to visit.

-I was in the middle -of a major life transition.

-And there was so much beauty -that I saw here.

-It was a huge contrast -from Chicago.

-But I loved the green -and the mountains, -having access to nature.

-And Vermont -was full of possibility -and hope and opportunity.

-And so I decided -to take a chance and -make a life out here -for myself.

-!I had been asked several times -by many different people -to consider -running for office.

-So I actually entered -into a training program -through Emerge America, -and was in the first cohort -of women -who were being trained to run -and win elected office.

-I got in -and I ran and I won.

-I've always been a fighter, -and I've always been -someone who will stand up -for others.

-And speak truths.

-And they saw that, -and they saw that I had -a strong hard work ethic and -that I could really mobilize -and support our community.

-Hello.

Hi.

-Hi, Im Kiah.

-Hi, I'm Cameron.

-Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

-How are you?

-Oh, you know, sweaty, -working hard.

Yeah.

-I printed out a script.

-It's just everything -that all of us are saying, -not what you're saying.

-Just in case -you wanted to follow along.

-And someone's working -on, like, -an introduction -for you right now.

-You know, every -single bill that I get, -I pay myself.

-It is tough.

I'm -a single person.

-I live in a mobile home, and -every cent counts, you know?

-I've been here 39 years, -and I've only gotten -a 50 cent raise once.

-And then they drop this down -to $0.30.

-I mean, I, I would just -like to have a raise.

-This is hard and emotional -for me, -as it could be for many.

-!I have been in these positions -where you have to work -two and three jobs -to make ends meet.

-The inequality -and the wealth gap -that we're talking about here -today, -the dichotomy of our economy -!that maintains a service class -!and devalues the work of those -who are tracked -into what becomes -an invisible work force.

-You have to -press for that equality.

-We have to move forward -from a position of strength.

-!And it's important to remember -right now that history does -have its eyes on you.

-You're needed in this fight, -and we have work to do.

-So get to work.

-Thank you.

-<applause> -Chanting: -Ready to fight?

Damn right!

-There were -always a few things -that might pop up here -or there, -but nothing on a scale -of what I started -to experience in 2016.

-!during my reelection campaign.

-Hello.

-My name is Kiah Morris, -and I'm running for state -!representative in district 22.

-I'm running because -I love our community.

-Make American great -again, U.S.A. -I am officially running for -President of the U.S.A. -and we are going to make -our country great again.

-Things started to bubble up -quite a bit more.

-We had a national campaign -for the presidency -and Donald Trump -!as the front runner candidate.

-You've called women you don't -like fat pigs, dogs, slobs -and disgusting animals.

-The level of hateful rhetoric -that was coming -through the airwaves -and into every community.

-That was a real stump.

-The President -of the United States -of America, Donald Trump.

-Hail Trump, hail our people.

-Hail victory!

-There was a well-known -website, -The Daily Stormer, -that had identified and -connected me up with a local -neo-Nazi in the community.

-he was actually -in my district, -so someone that I represented -and really, -!they were asking the question, -how did this black woman -get into office?

-This happened, and you're -on your watch, essentially.

-And it was, it became -sort of an open season -because this lived -in the world of Twitter, -where things -move at lightning speed.

-We started seeing -different types of messages -that were threatening.

-All sorts of really -hateful language -used to describe me.

-But there was no safe -space for me -other than Africa.

-I would have messages -placed on my Facebook page -from people -who basically said, here -is this Black woman -who came here from Chicago -and is coming to destroy -everything that's beautiful -about white Vermont.

-It's the misogyny.

-Here I am, a woman, -incredibly powerful -and that frightens people.

-I'm surprised -that there are people -who have seen the extent -and the severity of digital -!misogyny, and that they aren't -more concerned -and more horrified by it.

-Sometimes it's prominence -and success.

-It's a way of -of cutting women down -when they -!become most visible and vocal, -and they seem to be having -the most influence.

-and often those attacks -come at exactly that moment -when the woman -steps out into the spotlight, -when at the first moment -when people -have heard her name -!and, and it's designed to take -something -that should feel triumphant -and exciting -and instead -to make her terrified -and to try to silence -her and shut her down.

-There's -a slight difference between -large scale attacks -that happen all at once, and -attacks that happen sort of -over a longer period of time.

-Those tend to be targeted -!toward women who have had long -careers, -who have made inroads.

-And it's just a steady -stream of hatred meant -to remind them that -they can never fully rest.

-The rise of misogyny online -really worries me, -and the normalization -!of misogyny, the the spread of -the idea that misogyny -!is normal and natural and that -feeling that men are superior -to women is just -a normal feeling.

-That really concerns me.

-He was actually -in my district.

-A madman terrorizing my life -with glee -and openly -saying that he can.

-I reached out -to try to get support.

-I called local -law enforcement, -and it really was.

-Well, couple of bad tweets, -what are you going to do?

-That's part of what happens -when you're -in office.

-!I did not want to pretend that -this was just another thing -online.

-That was something that -needed to be taken seriously.

-Because of the nature -of the words used, -!the tone of the words, symbols -that were utilized, -and the like that -this does cross the line -from speech -to something that would cause -emotional distress.

-I was able -!to get an order of protection, -which also included that that -person could not contact me.

-Once that -order of protection ran out, -that individual -started back up again.

-I really hadn't been watching -or been looking for him -in those spaces, but -!he had started all over again.

-And by this point had started -collecting people -and had really been -gaining a following.

-Hey everybody.

-!Kevin Hoyt, live from beautiful -Bennington, Vermont.

-We don't want people like -Kiah Morris in our community.

-When I say that has nothing -to do -with the color of her skin, -everything to do with her -!lying, cheating, sneaking butt -and all the crimes -that she has committed.

-!Don't be fooled by this woman.

-She's a fraud.

-Someone who -is a non-Vermonter.

-Someone who was here to wreak -havoc to race bait, cause -a mass -division among the people.

-We don't want -people like Kiah Morris -in our community.

-It was a frightening, -frightening experience -to have emails and postings -from people -who would create these insane -accusations -that I was fraudulent, -and I was stealing funds, -that I had committed -all of these sorts of crimes.

-There have been postings -talking about the necessity -of having me being raped -because it's -a corrective action, right?

-It's a corrective action -meant to silence -and meant to dehumanize -and meant to make someone -live in terror.

-Its all absolutely -part of this intense game -that these people are playing -with our lives -and our humanity -and our civil rights.

-I don't accept the fact -that this can be considered -normal.

-It is not normal.

-And I don't want, you know, -girls and women -to decide -whether to stay in the web -and accept costs -and humiliations -or to leave internet -to leave social media.

-That's not the -kind of choice we have to do.

-I wrote -a letter to Mark Zuckerberg -inviting him to be more -active to tackle -hate speech.

-I don't want the internet -and social media to -become a place of violence, -and I would like them to take -their own responsibilities.

-The answer -I got was very disappointing.

-Our rules in Italy -are not necessarily -the rules of Facebook, which -has an international policy.

-And so what is a crime -at the national level, -like, you know, -promoting hate speech, -it is not a crime -for Facebook.

-!And this is a serious problem.

-So if the platforms in which -this occurs -doesn't take any measure -to stop it, than -you are part of the problem, -not part of the solution.

-I think that social media -platforms are aware -that the biggest problem -they have is the -content that they solicit.

-What I mean by -that is these platforms -!without user generated content -would be empty vessels.

-They would be nothing.

-In order -to entice people -to use the platforms, -they solicit people's -self-expression.

-They set up -their business model -to need that and to need it -relentlessly and endlessly.

-So just as one example, -YouTube alone gets 400 -hours of video -per minute, per day, -every day.

-The platforms are aware -that when they -open the floodgates, -some portion of -that is going to be deeply -!objectionable and problematic.

-Why are all women so stupid?

-It becomes actually -!an issue of where is the line?

-If we legalize rape, -women will be more careful -with their bodies -and not go into the private -rooms of men -that they -don't want to have sex with.

-A lot of material that's -popular are things -that just straddle the line, -things that play on tropes -and stereotypes and misogyny.

-Women are becoming sluts.

-Women are peak sexy -when they are submissive -and obedient.

-If I can't have you, girls, -I will destroy you.

-Content -that is disturbing or -contains -hate speech or contains -other kind of material -that's offensive -can actually be lucrative -in a number of ways, -and it can be lucrative -in the sense that -it can drive engagement.

-I feel like, -there's -a longer trajectory to this.

-Like what happens, -for example, -when you grow up online, -being desensitized -to misogyny.

-We have a whole generation -of people -who have - -who are in the process -of growing up -with these platforms.

-We don't know who they'll be -or how these things -will impact them -on the other side just yet.

-It seems to me that there -will be a social toll -associated with that -!going forward that we have yet -to really fully realize.

-I want to be a vet -when I grow up, -so I can help animals -feel better.

-Tomorrow -is April 3rd and -April 3rd, -six years ago, -I picked my daughter up -at a counselor's meeting, -and I drove her home -to her mom's house, -and I didn't know -when I was driving away -that I'd never see her -alive again.

-That was the last time -I ever saw my daughter.

-That was the last time -she said, I love you -Dad, last time I heard it, -And she was my only child.

-So I'm here today, -!doing this talk because I know -!I truly do believe in my heart -that what happened to -my daughter was preventable.

-In November 2011 -she went to a -!sleepover at a friend's house.

-And there was two boys there.

-The boys had some vodka, -so she had, -a couple shots of vodka.

-She remembers doing that.

-And then she remembers, -waking up the next morning -between two boys -that she didn't know at all.

-And her clothes -were partially undone -and partially removed.

-!And the way she described it, -she said she knew something -had happened to her body, -but she wasn't sure what.

-On the Monday -she went into school -in the morning -and realized that the story -has already started.

-The story -that she slept with guys.

-They had actually taken -a picture of themselves -doing this to her, and it -spread all around her school.

-She heard about that and that -pushed her -right over the edge.

-People would laugh at her -and make fun of her -and ask her -if she's the whore -hanging out the window.

-Because she was assaulted, -they actually carried her -to a window -because -she was so intoxicated, -she started to throw up.

-And they hung her out -the window and thats -when they took the photograph -of one of the boys -assaulting her -when she was in that state.

-But the people -just made fun of it.

-And it was -it was just brutal, you know?

-I mean, her mom always said -that, -you know, -!when the boys did this to Ray, -when they assaulted her -and took that picture -and spread it around, -it's like they put -a bunch of bullets in a gun.

-People -were writing on her Facebook -that sluts aren't -welcome in the school.

-She'd -constantly be getting texts -from guys who would just say -filthy things.

-You know?

-There was a girl -who let Ray know that -no matter what -high school, -because she had to -change high schools -and they were whatever -high school you go to.

-I'm just going to make sure -everyone at that high school -has the picture.

-People were absolutely -vicious and so unforgiving.

-It was merciless.

-The torrent of abuse was was, -was too much.

-She was a ghost -of who she used to be.

-She lost almost everything.

-We couldn't get her back -into a school to stay.

-And when we did try that, -you know, -there would be people -in the school -who would start attacking -her almost right away.

-We were powerless as -parents to do anything -about this at all -because we had contacted -the police.

-They just, not a single time -intervened -in trying to stop the photo -from being spread around.

-Not a single time.

-They didn't -go talk to anybody, -hold anyone accountable, -try to get it -out of the schools.

Nothing.

-They told us -it wasn't a police matter.

-It was a community matter.

-And they just didn't -do anything about it.

-The April -following her assault, -her aunt came home, -and Ray had actually been -in her bedroom with a belt.

-and she was getting ready -to hang herself.

-And this was almost a year -to the day -when she actually did do it.

-I think she was a victim of -misogyny at a systemic level.

-I think, sure, her life had -less value than a boy's life.

-I think that was -the driving force -behind the police -investigation.

-You know, it's a rape -culture.

-It's a misogynist culture.

-Women can tell you -they're attacked all the time -online and -harassed and ridiculed and, -it's brutal, man.

-It's just, -it allowed the worst -of our community -to have a voice.

-And that's the biggest -downfall of it all, -people who -before kept to themselves -and now feel brave enough -to say anything they want to.

-And some of them -just take pleasure -in being as ignorant -as they can.

-The online world -shows you the depth -of what's really lying -underneath.

-The online world is -but a reflection -of the conversations -that used to happen -behind closed doors.

-This is not something -that is just -the bad result -of a prank gone wrong.

-!This is a means of mobilizing.

-It is a means of connecting -those -!who maybe haven't even defined -what their ideologies -might be, -but they're finding resonance -in something -that's being said, -and it validates -what they want to believe -!and what they see in the world -around them.

-I reached out to our Federal -Bureau of Investigation, -as they're -the most reasonable entity -to do -!any kind of investigative work -to find out -what was happening, -because we had been -seeing signs -that there -!was white nationalist movement -that was taking place, -recruitment fliers that were -left in different places.

-Graffiti that had been found -both in public spaces, -and vehicles of local youth -in the woods where -I would walk with my son.

-There were swastikas found -and painted on the trees.

-There -just was not an understanding -and a willingness -to really admit -that there was something more -to this, -because of the fact that -it began in an online space.

-Women are often -left to fight our own battles -in everyday life, -and especially online.

-You never know who they are.

-!I tried to have a normal life.

-You always have -you know, at the end, -a sort of thinking -that here -Everything can happen.

-I don't know, -I was threatened by people.

-They had weapons at home.

-There could be -somebody here in the crowd -who may want to hit me.

-Should we be afraid?

-Is a loaded question.

-I guess the better question -is, are we afraid?

-What happens online finds -its way into the real world.

-Those calls to action -to bring about violence -against women.

-They are happening -so it's not a question of -should we be afraid?

-But are we afraid?

-And does that fear -cause us to retreat?

-Does it cause us to feel fear -in a way that -is effective -for their purposes?

-We need to see that -these are crimes -of a new modern age, -and that terrorism -gives a direct pathway -to real violence -in the physical world.

-!They just stomped on the porch -bow, bashed up -against the doors and stuff -like that, and then took off.

-And, so we call the police, -The fence that's over there, -that sounded like somebody -running with a stick across -it, like bicycle spokes, -like that.

-A little bit later, -!they were shooting paintballs.

-And then the whole side -of the shed, roof side, -everything was all covered.

-Somebody drove by -and yelled out the window, -F you bitch.

-Go back to Chicago.

-It was 4:00 in the morning.

-There was a guy -standing up here, -and he was talking to -the other gentleman -that was down on the road, -and I came out the kitchen -door and confronted him.

-Was right there -in between the telephone pole -in those bushes.

-We come to find out later -that one of his buddies -was in the cellar downstairs, -and so he must have been -trying to keep me busy, -So I didn't find out -that his guy was down there.

-I changed everything.

-I changed everything.

-It completely took away -any sense of security, -any sense of safety -that we had -in our home.

-Do you know what it's like -to talk to your mother -when she's in tears -and begging you -to leave the state -and never come back?

-To know that there is -someone living in, -your mother is living in fear -for her daughter's life, -for doing -what she raised her to do, -which is to stand up -for other people, -which is to be a positive -force for good.

-And that is threatening -the life of her child.

-She has to worry about me.

-She has to worry about her -grandson.

-No one should have to -live that way.

-No one.

-<phone dings> -I had -had a message sent to me, -telling me that if I didn't -put my wife in her place, -they were going to have -to come to it for me.

-I did report that -to the chief of police.

-Let's send -rapists to Bodrini's house -so she will smile again.

-A Mayor, so -an institutional figure.

-Is it possible -to accept this way -of doing politics -in a democratic country?

-<notification dings> -Instigation -to rape is a crime.

-I decided -that I had to react to this.

-I decided to sue him -for defamation.

-<gavel banging> -<applause> -<speaking Italian> -After that, his supporters, -they put my effigy on fire.

-The heaviest, -it was the day -when I received, -by post, -a bullet.

-When you receive a bullet, -it's concrete.

-It's real.

-It's, a clear threat -to your life.

-That day, -!I realized that we had entered -a new stage of violence.

-<gun shot> -Look at, Jo Cox in the UK.

-Jo Cox was an MP.

-She received -threats on the social media.

-And then she was killed.

-She was killed?

-Shes somebody who -dedicated her life -to human rights -and to justice.

-She became an MP for the area -where she was born -and grew up.

-In Parliament, -she was respected -across the whole house.

-Some people take a passion -for human rights and justice.

-For two years -we lived in my husband's -!childhood home feeling unsafe.

-Vermont's Attorney -general, TJ Donovan says -after four months -of investigating, -there's not enough evidence -to prosecute anyone -for some of the incidents.

-That includes vandalism -and a home invasion, -and he cannot -take negative commenters -to court.

-I find the statements -presented -to us in this matter, -while racist, insulting -!and degrading, are not subject -to prosecution.

-The Constitution -does not permit us -to prosecute racist speech -because we find it offensive.

-When we ask Morris for her -reaction to Donovan's report, -there is absolutely nothing -that can be done.

-Her response was interrupted -by the man -who admits to harassing her.

-Oh wow.

No no, no.

-It came as a shock -to many in the room.

No.

-Why is this -allowed?

Why is this allowed?

-I asked Morris if she wanted -to comment on the unexpected -end to the press conference.

-However, she declined.

-It's also worth -noting that she seemed shaken -by the turn of events.

-You are never, -ever required -to tolerate hate, -to tolerate intimidation, -to tolerate harassment.

-No one, no one is required -to endure that.

-It was not going to be worth -me risking my life.

-That of my family, -for a system that was just -not ready to deal with -this new world of technology.

-So it was a really difficult -decision.

-!But I made that choice to step -away, and I made that choice -to resign.

-After all that has happened -!and the things that we need to -move forward -with for our future, -we realized that we need -to move to a place that will, -allow for us to have -a fresh start -in many ways.

-That sense of what we want -!to say is safety is also about -feeling at peace at the place -where you call home.

-Oh, and it goes beyond -the lot lines of this -particular piece of property, -and it spills into -so many other worlds.

-And now in the online world, -we have a whole nother -dimension -of spaces and places -!that exist that have suspicion -built around them, that have -distrust built around them.

-And that's that's a lot -for anyone to have to endure.

-And it has really negative -outcomes for us.

-We have no delusions -about the fact that this -is going to follow us online.

-They have already put out -there that we're moving -and where we're moving to.

-Hey, everybody.

-!Kevin Hoyt, live from beautiful -Bennington, Vermont -once again.

-And I've got good news -and bad news today.

-The good news is, -I see Representative or -shes no longer -Representative, -Ex-Representative Kiah -!Morris has her house for sale.

-She's actually leaving -Bennington, which is awesome.

-The bad news, unfortunately, -is for our neighbors.

-to the west, -Brattleboro, Vermont -is going -to get a new resident.

-So it looks like -she is looking for homes.

-I know she has friends -and connections.

-Everybody, have a great day.

-And, thanks for watching.

-We can't underestimate -the cyber violence anymore.

-!Next step is working on a law.

-I'm now working on -establishing -a team of experts -to work at a bill -on hate speech and fake news -and on the platforms, -a responsibility -like the German law.

-In Germany, -Facebook, for instance, -they had to invest -in monitoring the messages -and remove -the violent messages -within 24 hours.

-So if they don't do this, -they have to pay -a very heavy fine.

-I don't know -if this bill would -be, you know, voted for, -but at least I think -I have the duty to work on it -and to -and to try.

-If we keep silent, -we risk to lose -what we obtained: -Decades of work.

-!Because our rights are at risk -everywhere in the world.

-Now is the time to react.

-<chanting in Italian> -Each individual -has to find their courage -to stand up and scream -from the rooftops.

-As a woman, -my courage must work -towards the eradication -of issues of race, -gender equality -and the promotion of -our human and civil rights.

-You cannot -accept to live with violence.

-This is not acceptable.

-We have to say -no at all levels.

-We have to speak out.

-!If we speak, we change things.

-Vermont Public, partnering -!with local filmmakers to bring -you stories made here.

-For more, -visit vermontpublic.org.