Foreword

My name is Lili Bernard. I’m Cuban born. My family and I immigrated to this country when I was about three years old.  I was raised primarily in New Jersey and attended New Jersey public schools from kindergarten through tenth grade, and then I graduated from the American School in Japan in high school.  I attended Cornell University. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from City University of New York, and I have a Masters in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design.

I am a wife, a mother of six, a visual artist, an actor and a community organizer.  I played the role of Mrs. Minified who was a main character in the last season, in an episode of The Cosby Show, and it came with great suffering.  We have the statements that we made yesterday, that tell you a little bit more about that, if you would like copies — and today I’m going to read the statement that I prepared for this demonstration which is entirely different than the statement I read yesterday.

Statement

Rapists lie. They frighten and often threaten their victims to silence.  They rely upon that silence in order to continue their crimes without accountability. It took me twenty-three years to shed the fear that resulted from Bill Cosby drugging me, raping me and threatening me.  The process of taking back my power has been long and painful, but worthwhile.  It has also been educational. I have learned that the devaluation of women and the dismissal of our voices are epidemic.

In my healing, from the trauma that I endured at the hands of Bill Cosby, I have come to realize that if I were to remain silent to the public; I would be enabling Bill Cosby’s criminal lifestyle.  I would be enabling his duping of his adoring fans.  I would be enabling the revictimization of the courageous women who have stepped forward and proclaimed that they survived being drugged and sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby.  If I were to remain silent to the public; I would be enabling the silencing of others who have been raped or will be raped and find themselves paralyzed in fear.  I would be enabling the culture of rape — a culture which obstructs “the arc of the moral universe” as it strains to bend towards justice.

Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us, however, to not be despaired. He said that we must, “carve a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.” And so I stand here today, speaking truth, truth to power, in order to serve as an example of strength and resilience for my six year old daughter and my five sons — to encourage all victims of sexual assault, female and male, to release the silence and take back your power.  Seek help immediately.  Report the injustice committed against you.  In speaking out, you will find support and peace. You will be renewed.