Tired of hearing about Brock Turner, the rapist? Too bad. He is the biggest example of white, male privilege alive in today’s society. I doubt that his story will be pushed aside for a while.
“Emily Doe,” the young woman who he sexually assaulted, brought national attention to her case when her victim-impact statement went viral. Her statement sounded off the rest of the world’s outrage toward the case. Our anger was heightened not long after that. Brock Turner was sentenced to 6 months’ prison time for sexually assaulting “Emily Doe,” yet the recommended sentence is six years. This was because the judge believed that Brock Turner’s future as a swimmer would be ruined. Brock Turner’s parents described the incident as “20 minutes of action” that were not worth years in prison.
This only tells victims of sexual assault that justice merely depends on the abuser’s race, class and privilege. Brock Turner quickly left Stanford after the incident and was banned from the campus, as well as being banned from ever applying to join the United States Olympic Team.
Brock Turner was released on September 2, 2016, after only serving three months of his six-month sentence. He was released on good behavior and was back with his family without ever really paying any time in prison.
As a female college student, nothing scares me more than a person getting away with something as vile as sexual assault. The victim’s statement was enough to have me and many other women in tears, but the court treating Brock Turner as if he did nothing makes me sick to my stomach. It shouldn’t matter where you were or where you are going. Sexual assault is just that, and there should always be justice for the victim. Your race, class and gender should not matter, and neither should your outside life.
The media has surrounded Brock Turner, making him a household name for all the wrong reasons. During the case, his family pleaded with the prosecution, swearing that their son was not a rapist and would never intentionally assault someone. As unfortunate as it is to hear that your son raped someone, the justice system should protect the victim and not make exceptions because of who the defendant is outside of the courtroom.
That is where the case ended. Since then, petitions have been passed around social media, asking to recall the judge’s sentence. Unfortunately, I do not see that being successful at all.
As soon as Brock Turner was seen after his release at his parents' Ohio home, protesters began to spring up outside the home. Signs that they held up included sayings like "castrate rapists" and "if I rape Brock will I only do 3 months." The signs can be hard to read and are quite brutal, but the protesters are raising questions months after the sentencing. The fight is not over, and they are reminding us of that.
Brock Turner’s story could have been a moment of change for rape culture and the consequences of rape had he been properly sentenced. Now, he is an example of how the justice system can shape a case and change it for the worse. Brock Turner was turned into a victim of alcohol of college culture, rather than just being a person that made a bad decision and now has to pay for it.
The entirety of this article was not only to educate those who have not heard of this insane case, but to also try to make sure that people understand what kind of example this sends to the country.
If you’re white and rich with talent that is worth something, you can cheat the system. If you are assaulted, you might not get proper justice. Rape culture is growing in the United States. We need to reform sexual assault laws fast. Brock Turner isn’t the first person to not have to fully answer to the law, and he won’t be the last. For your children’s sake, stop letting people get away with these things because of who they are and what they look like.
His name is important. That is why Brock Turner is referred to by his whole name in this article. I hope he and others begin to realize the severity of his crimes
