XPost: alt.atheism, rec.music.classical, sac.politics   
   XPost: talk.politics.guns   
   From: mephew@splcenter.org   
      
   Two members of the New York Philharmonic dumped for the second time over a   
   14-year-old rape allegation want the country’s most prestigious orchestra   
   and their union to face the music.   
      
   The orchestra’s associate principal trumpet, Matthew Muckey, and the   
   principal oboist, Liang Wang, are each suing the Philharmonic and the   
   musicians’ union Local 802 after being ousted for the second time in four   
   years.   
      
   They had been investigated and lost their jobs in 2018, during the MeToo   
   movement, but got their seats in the orchestra back in 2020 after their   
   union took up their cause and won a binding arbitration.   
      
   But in April they were told they would not be playing indefinitely when   
   the alleged victim spoke in detail to New York Magazine and the orchestra   
   announced a fresh investigation into the orchestra’s “culture” by an   
   outside attorney.   
      
   Now Muckey, 39, and Wang, 44, have for breach of contract and are asking   
   for their jobs back and unspecified damages, according to federal lawsuits   
   filed Wednesday in the Southern District of New York.   
      
   In the article Cara Kizer, 44, a former horn player with the Philharmonic,   
   detail her allegation that the pair drugged and raped her in their rented   
   condo in Vail, Colorado, during the 2010 Bravo! Vail Valley music   
   festival.   
      
   Kizer reported the alleged rape to Vail police but the district attorney   
   ultimately decided there was insufficient evidence to press charges.   
      
   The alleged attack was an open secret in the world of classical music but   
   was not made public until the height of the MeToo movement in 2018 when,   
   under pressure from its members, the Philharmonic suspended Muckey and   
   Wang and commissioned a former judge to investigate.   
      
   The probe resulted in Muckey and Wang being dismissed but their union,   
   Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, contested their   
   firings.   
      
   An independent arbitrator found they had been removed without cause and   
   the Philharmonic had to reinstate them in 2020.   
      
   “We are profoundly disappointed by the arbitrator’s decision,” the   
   Philharmonic said in a statement at the time, adding “we will, as we must,   
   abide by the arbitrator’s ruling.”   
      
   But the tables have turned on Muckey and Wang once again by being removed   
   from the orchestra’s line-up.   
      
   This time they are also suing their union, which is no longer supporting   
   them and has called for a change in the orchestra’s “culture.”   
      
   “The matter has been investigated and put to bed and it is time for it to   
   end,” Steven Hyman, Muckey’s attorney told The Post.   
      
   “The fact is the Philharmonic has acted inappropriately and the union in   
   some ways even worse. Matt should be back working at the Philharmonic   
   again.   
      
   “It’s unfortunate if the donors and trustees find it uncomfortable but   
   that’s what the judicial system has determined.”   
      
   Wang’s attorney, Alan Lewis, said, “Local 802 has not stood up for its   
   loyal member, Liang Wang, even when he has been subject to mistreatment   
   from his employer – without being accused of anything.”   
      
   The Philharmonic declined to comment but shared an email sent from CEO   
   Gary Ginstling to its members which announced the new investigation and   
   Muckey and Wang’s suspension “while we work through this process.”   
      
   “Nothing is more important than the culture of our orchestra and the   
   safety of our musicians and staff, and it is only through this process   
   that we will build the kind of vibrant and inclusive culture we all want,”   
   Ginstling wrote.   
      
   The Post has reached out to Local 802 for comment.   
      
   Kizer did not return a call from The Post but told New York Magazine that   
   after their concert on July 24, 2010, she had gone to Muckey and Wang’s   
   condo after learning that her husband was going to be delayed in arriving   
   in Vail.   
      
   Kizer said Wang brought her a glass of red wine after the two tried to get   
   her to join them in the hot tub — and doesn’t remember anything after   
   that.   
      
   Kizer told the magazine that she woke up naked and sick in Muckey’s bed   
   and saw vomit stains around the bed.   
      
   Muckey later told Vail cops that the two had had consensual sex.   
      
   The local DA did not pursue charges.   
      
   Kizer, the second woman ever hired for the orchestra’s brass, had been on   
   probation and left in 2012 with a six-figure settlement, according to New   
   York magazine.   
      
   Amanda Stewart, the first orchestra member to see her after the alleged   
   rape became one of her staunchest supporters and is now her romantic   
   partners after Kizer’s divorce.   
      
   “The Philharmonic is so f—ed right now,” a classical musician who knows   
   some of those involved told The Post.   
      
   “To win a seat in the New York Philharmonic is like winning a gold medal   
   at the Olympics. If you’re Muckey and Wang you don’t want to give that up.   
      
   “But if the Philharmonic didn’t suspend them again now, it’s clear they   
   would be facing massive blowback from donors and board members.”   
      
   Jack DiPasquale   
   3 hours ago   
      
   Me too movement is a farce and a joke. Not a word from them since Biden   
   and the Democrats let boys and men infiltrate girls and women's locker   
   rooms. Letting boys and men take awards and scholarships from real girls   
   and women. Me too movement has no interest in protecting real girls and   
   women privacy and their right to equal treatment.   
      
   Lester Gruber   
   2 hours ago   
      
   July 20 1969 :  John F Kennedy put a man on the moon   
      
   Sept 18 2016 :  Barak Obama puts a man in a women's restroom   
      
   Feb 10 2021  :  Joe Biden puts a boy on a girls swim team   
      
   We sure have come far under democrats leadership !!   
      
   Lee ????   
   1 hour ago   
      
   Me too movement doesn't even seem to care about all the child actors both   
   boys and girls being sexually assaulted in the industry. They were always   
   one big lie...just like B L M   
      
   E G   
   2 hours ago   
      
   Ok. This is how the game works: 1. If you're a woman who makes spurious   
   rape claims, society loves and believes you. 2. If you're a woman who just   
   got your teeth kicked in at an athletic competition by a man claiming to   
   be a woman, you're on your own. Are we clear?   
      
   https://nypost.com/2024/05/01/us-news/musicians-suspended-after-rape-   
   claims-sue-ny-philharmonic/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)