Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week and a half, there's a pretty good chance you've heard about that swimmer for Stanford that's going to jail for rape for only six months because any more time would "severely impact him."
Yes, you completely read that correctly.
In January of 2015, Brock Turner had raped an unconscious girl behind a dumpster following a party. Two friends saw the assault, immediately running to help the girl and catch Turner to turn him into the police. Turner was charged with one count of raping an unconscious person, one count of raping an intoxicated person, two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object, and one count of assault while attempting to commit rape.
Prosecutors requested 6 years in prison for the assault. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky stated at Turner's sentencing in late May of 2016 that since his lack of a criminal record and his young age, he felt that a six-month jail sentence with probation was an appropriate punishment. He also stated that if Turner acts in good behavior, he can be released after three months. Judge Persky claimed that he "didn't believe Turner was a danger to others."
Now, I didn't think I'd had to sit here and actually state what the hell is wrong with this situation, but it looks as if I'm going to have to anyway.
Just because Brock Turner goes to a prestigious university does not mean he is in any means a good person. Just because Brock Turner is an athlete does not mean he's a good person. Just because he is basically getting away with raping somebody does not mean he's a good person. And I have no f**king idea how his behavior is being treated like a slap on the wrist as well as excusable, with his father referring to the assault as "20 minutes of action."
The victim released as 12 page letter to the judge about the ruling, which gave excruciating details on how she was found, the horrifying aftermath of the event and how her life has been forever changed — you can read the letter here. She also replies to the statement he made following the conviction, which will truly leave you trembling.
"And then, at the bottom of the article, after I learned about the graphic details of my own sexual assault, the article listed his swimming times. She was found breathing, unresponsive with her underwear six inches away from her bare stomach curled in fetal position. By the way, he’s really good at swimming. Throw in my mile time if that’s what we’re doing. I’m good at cooking, put that in there, I think the end is where you list your extracurriculars to cancel out all the sickening things that’ve happened," she writes.
"Never mentioned me voicing consent, never mentioned us even speaking, a back rub. One more time, in public news, I learned that my ass and vagina were completely exposed outside, my breasts had been groped, fingers had been jabbed inside me along with pine needles and debris, my bare skin and head had been rubbing against the ground behind a dumpster, while an erect freshman was humping my half naked, unconscious body. But I don’t remember, so how do I prove I didn’t like it."
This girl was brutally sexually assaulted, and the court system is concerned with his life being the one to be severely impacted.
This girl may have been unconscious, but it no means was she able to consent and enjoy this. There were witnesses, visible bruising, objects forced inside of her.. and Brock Turner is not a threat? Why? Well, Turner would have you believe the issue here was because he was drinking. Yep, he's blaming alcohol. Truth be told, alcohol did not make you take an innocent girl behind a dumpster and penetrate her with pine needles. Alcohol did not make you remove her clothing and insert yourself in her while she was completely unconscious. No Brock Turner, that was all you.
"The probation officer’s recommendation of a year or less in county jail
is a soft timeout, a mockery of the seriousness of his assaults, an
insult to me and all women. It gives the message that a stranger can be
inside you without proper consent and he will receive less than what has
been defined as the minimum sentence. Probation should be denied
," writes Turner's victim.
What kind of example does this set for victims of sexual assault? Well, this is exactly what it's doing; it's basically slapping them in the face. It's pushing them back into hiding. It's making little of their assaults because the legal system is proving that they don't give a damn about the victim, just the reputation of the rapist - and a successful swimmer at an Ivy League? Yep, that's the ultimate kind of rapist they'd want to protect.
I could sit here and rant about this for hours, I truly could. But ladies and gentlemen, I am begging you - SPEAK UP ABOUT THE INJUSTICE WHEN IT COMES TO RAPE. The social status of a person, the color of their skin, the education they receive, the career they have, or the amount in their back account DOES NOT EXCUSE RAPE. The amount of alcohol that you ingest DOES NOT EXCUSE RAPE. I'll just make it easier for you all to understand.
NOTHING WILL EVER EXCUSE RAPE.
So to our court system, from the entire world, get your s**t together. With cases like this one, you are basically telling victims that it is useless to try and get justice for themselves because they do not matter. You are telling victims that speaking out will not accomplish anything, but make a messier situation. You are telling victims that no matter what, your concern will be the minimal punishment for the offender instead of doing the right thing by the victim. You are forcing victims into silence, and you are making yourselves look like the biggest a**holes money could buy.
Brock Turner's case is a wake up call to everyone about the rape culture in America. It is repulsive, disheartening and concerning. If this was happening to a member of your family.. would you be okay with this sentencing? Would you be okay with the injustice? Would you be okay with your rapist getting off with nothing but a slap on the wrist? Didn't think so.
So wake up America. It's time to speak up about the injustice that comes with rape when victims come forward. It's time we let the world know that we will fight for safety and what is right. We will not be bullied into silence any longer, and our voices will be heard. You just wait and see.
