Mr. Turner,
I would like to start off by saying thank you. You have taught me many things in the last few weeks. Thank you for bringing about a serious and necessary conversation the public needs to have about consent. Thank you for demonstrating the selfish and childish behavior of a man who wants to blame everyone else for his own problems. And most importantly, thank you for showing not only the American public, but the world, the flaw and greed of the American judicial system, for we failed a young girl, and held rich, white men on a pedestal yet again.
Mr. Turner, your son is not innocent. It is as simple as that. He was caught abusing another person, which, in your letter, you describe as simply, “twenty minutes of action.” Mr. Turner, you know what else can happen in twenty minutes? President Obama delivered his entire inauguration speech in 19 minutes. A woman can push a baby out of her body in less than 10 minutes. The fastest mile run by a person was three minutes and 43 seconds. The average wedding vows last between 45 seconds and two minutes. It takes an optometrist 20-50 seconds to preform laser eye surgery. You see, Mr. Turner, all these actions that are listed, have impacted peoples' lives, even though their duration is relatively short. However, these actions all brought good things to the world. They brought leadership, life, inspiration, love and hope.
What your son did to that girl, is more than just “twenty minutes of action” and it brought nothing but negative, repulsive side effects. Those 20 minutes will forever change her life, her family's lives, and the lives of every person this story will touch. Sexual assault is just that: assault and its impacts are detrimental. In your letter, you neglected to mention something that is very important. Your son’s victim is the only victim. I do not share any empathy for your son, for he is an adult and responsible for his own actions. You talk about you son, stating, “[his] life has been deeply altered forever by the events of Jan. 17th and 18th.” Mr. Turner, it is clear to me that in your life you were never educated of the aftermath of what sexual assault does to victims, so I would like to take this time and provide you with some valuable education I hope you can pass on to other people like yourself.
Sexual assault can leave short and lasting effects, both mentally and physically. You say that your son's life has been altered forever, but have you ever considered the toll that your son's actions have taken on this young woman’s life? You think that this woman is going to be her “happy-go-lucky self with easy going personality and welcoming smile?” Do you truly believe your son is the only one entitled to feel that way? The mental side effects that come along with being the victim of sexual abuse include “worry, anxiety, fear and depression,” the very things you believe your son is experiencing. There is no pity for people suffering at the hands of their own actions, Mr. Turner. No one forced your son to bring that girl behind that dumpster. No one told him to force her clothes off. No one made him behave the way he did.
You’re worried your son isn’t eating because he was a good cook? Your son may never be able to keep down his steak or eat his favorite snacks, but you know what else he can’t do? Take away his actions. You are acting like Brock is this innocent child, but Mr. Turner, your son is 20 years old. Twenty years and you think someone would know the definition of the word “no” or “stop.”
Your family is “broken” and “shattered?” The young woman awoke in a hospital bed and had to explain to her family about the actions your son had done to her. Her family had to watch her hurt, watch her suffer the pain caused by your son. Imagine your baby girl, telling you about how this stranger abused her. Imagine the hurt her family is going through.
I do not care how fast your son can swim in a pool, and frankly, neither do most people. Just because he worked hard in swimming does not work as a “get out of jail free” card. Just because someone works hard and doesn’t have a criminal record does not mean they are not capable of doing bad things, and your son is living proof of that. For the hundredth time, Mr. Turner, your son brought this future on himself. No one else is to blame. Not the victim. Not “party culture.” Not the alcohol. Nothing. Do you know how many people have gone to a party and not done this to someone? You think a sex offender is a good example to teach the “dangers of alcohol consumption?” The “unfortunate results” you talk about ruined someone’s life, and it isn’t your son's.
And to be honest, I would be embarrassed to have someone like your son represent me and my country in the Olympics many said he would be in, because this is not the behavior our nation should be supporting. I am disgusted you even communicated with the judge during the active trial like this. If your son was educated about consent and about basic human decency, maybe he wouldn’t have found himself in this situation, and judging by your letter, I think we can see where the lack of education comes from. You may have money for fancy lawyers and defense teams, Mr. Turner, but at the end of the day, you and your son both have to deal with the reality of who you are.
And finally, Mr. Turner, it’s not called “sexual promiscuity,” it’s rape.
Very respectfully.
