Before reading this article, please be warned that sensitive topics such as sexual assault and abuse will appear.

2017 has definitely been a tumultuous year for American politics. Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20th of this year, amongst sexual assault allegations and lawsuits. The fact that a man such as this could hold such a prestigious position in our government sparked a dialogue regarding sexual assault and pedophilia in our leaders — where does one draw the line?

Why aren’t these people held responsible for their actions?

Recently, the state of Alabama held its election for its state senator. Alabama is a state that is consistently known for being a red state, with the majority vote typically going to Republican candidates. This election, the Republican candidate was Roy Moore. Among Moore’s campaigning and running as a senator, accusations of pedophilia and assault were revealed.

Obviously, this sparked a huge discussion throughout the nation. Where does one draw the divide between political beliefs and personal morals? The majority of Alabama may identify as republican, but would they still vote for someone with sexual assault allegations looming over their candidate? The time came for Alabama to decide who would represent their state in the Senate: Roy Moore or Doug Jones? Tensions ran high going into the vote, and the poll results were almost equal throughout the vote. However, Doug Jones pulled through as the winner of the election, with a small margin of 1.5% more votes than Moore.

The question then remains: what do these results signify?

The fact that citizens are finally standing up for victims of these heinous crimes seems to provide a silver lining for the upcoming year. Although there are people who will continue to hurt and manipulate others, it’s good to realize that most people are no longer willing to overlook such atrocities.

I hope that in 2018, those who are able to vote in the United States will realize that those who hold positions in our government are a direct representation of themselves. It is my own hope that the American people continue to stand up for victims of violence and abuse. Do not be silenced, stand strong, and vote for the contender you will be most proud of.