Mr. Turner,
I am a white fraternity male just like you. I have been at the parties and enjoyed every aspect of the college life. My friends and fraternity brothers have done the same. However we have one important difference.
What you did was, unequivocally, without exception, absolutely wrong!
I have walked many girls home from parties. Some in groups, some alone, some intoxicated, some not. They all trusted me to get them back to where they needed to be for the night. Did you ever stop to consider that, because of the stereotype, they might not now? Did you ever consider that any amount of alcohol disqualifies a woman from giving consent, making your supposed court argument invalid? Did you ever stop to consider that no reasonable woman would ever consent to sex behind a dumpster in an alley?
I think you did. I think in the moment that you knew the wrong in your actions.
That’s why you ran.
You ran from the bikers who approached you, innocent bystanders who became unseen heroes in stopping a crime. You ran from the accusations in court, trying to establish legal consent instead of admitting your crime. You ran from the sentencing phase, trying to make yourself the victim instead of the woman you assaulted. You gave, and continue to give, excuses instead of apologies. You continue to work to lessen the burden on yourself, instead of on the lives you changed.
I couldn't believe your actions until your father spoke.
I can’t believe it. I can’t believe a father would do this. As a parent, you are charged with loving and supporting your children, not condoning their every action and taking every step possible to ensure they do not face justice. You are the reason why people mock millennials, the reason why we are so enabled to do things without a thought for the consequences.
There is simply no way to condone this type of parenting. You didn’t give a thought to anyone else except your son when you referenced his, “20 minutes of action.” You didn’t even care about the millions of victims of sexual assault around the world that need a voice. You had a chance to take a stand. You had a chance to sound a message of hope for your son and the lives that he has affected, but you didn’t.
As a result of the actions of both of you, I have to worry now when I offer to help girls get home from parties. I have to deal with the fact that some will refuse my help, and walk back alone, because of you. You, Brock, have reinforced the negative stereotype of the privileged white male, and you, Mr. Turner, have enabled him to do so.
Well I’ll make my message clear to anyone who happens to read this letter: you can take your privilege, your legal nitpicking, your attack on the victim’s character, your evasion of the truth, your 20 minutes of action and you can shove it up your ass. I’m tired of your excuses. I want justice.
Sincerely,
A Furious Frat Guy
