The victim of this monster's actions wrote an open letter to him, (link here) which I started reading, and could not stomach finishing because it was absolutely gut wrenching and disturbing, the clear evidence of the failure of the justice system, and a stark reminder of the existence of white supremacy, because don't even for a moment fool yourself into thinking that the outcome would've been the same if someone of a different race and social status was involved. The fact that the judge, a freaking judge, justified his ruling by stating that a long sentence would have a "severe impact on his life" blows my mind. Yes sir, because that's who we care about, whose rights we're trying to protect. The rapist. Never mind the woman whose life has been irrevocably altered. Whose morals were put into question, because, obviously, she has to carry the blame. Whose savior was so distraught by what he'd witness being done to her that he couldn't coherently speak to the police, he was sobbing so much.
I'm mad. And I'm scared. For myself, for victims of rape and sexual assault out there. What do they feel when they see stories like this? Where it seems the very system that is supposed to protect them from the monsters is looking for every opportunity to pin the blame on them. Like every other pressing, important issue pertaining to the rights of human beings whose plight does not afflict us, we're not talking about it. We're the first to rally and protest and downright raise hell when a gorilla is put down without cause, the media and news outlets all over stories like that. This we gloss over. This, the story that we hear is of a swimmer with a high GPA who made a drunken mistake he shouldn't be held accountable for because it's nobody's fault.
As I read her letter, I tried and failed to even begin to imagine what she has been going through, and I admire her strength for making her voice heard, despite all she had endured from the trial. Words fail me, and had I been in her place I can only imagine having such a yearning for vengeance that only the wrath of God could satisfy. I've seen the offhanded comments. It's the internet, after all. Shifting blame to her. The "I'm sure he..." comments make my blood boil, because no, you'e not sure of anything, and are basing assumptions off of the warped realities of rape culture. So let me end with this: I appeal to you, and particularly the men out there, to speak up about these issues. Raise your kids/cousins/nephews/nieces right, and lead by example. There are far too many injustices we have grown tolerant to.
