Stanford: A Call to Action
Potential Trigger Warning
By now most of us are familiar with the harrowing details of the Stanford University rape. A story of an unconscious young woman being violated behind a dumpster at a campus party, only to wake scared and alone in a hospital room, facing before her a humiliating investigation into her personal life and the circumstances of that evening before — finally — a jury of twelve people found her attacker Brock Turner guilty on three counts of sexual assault. These included: assault with the intent to commit rape, sexual penetration with a foreign object of an intoxicated person, and sexual penetration with a foreign object of an unconscious person.
The survivor of these hideous offenses gave a victim impact statement that has been widely circulated online. Her letter is a devastating, exhausting account of a joyful, productive young woman being robbed of her safety, her security, her confidence, her happiness, her physical and emotional health and well-being.
“My damage was internal, unseen, I carry it with me,” she wrote. “You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, until today.”
Then Judge Aaron Persky took even more from this young woman, sentencing Turner to six months in jail — a sentence which could be reduced to just three months in the event of good behavior.
“A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him,” the judge said in his ruling. “I think he will not be a danger to others.”
So the individual who not only violated this young woman, but practically boasted about his attack through texts and photos, is really a good egg underneath it all? I see.
In the wake of this grave miscarriage of justice, so many of us find ourselves overwhelmed with feelings of rage, sorrow, even hopelessness. How can this happen in 2016? And what can we do to try and make sure that it never happens again?
We take action, that’s what we do. We mobilize. We join forces, raise hell, and lift our collective voices until we’re screaming for change.
At this point, some readers might be questioning my use of the word action in this column, this owing to the fact that, in his statement to Persky, the rapist’s father, Dan Turner, said that any jail time served on behalf of his son would be “a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action.”
Well today, in honor of all the survivors triggered by these words, I am taking it back and purifying it. Now when you hear the word action, think instead of all of the people out here taking action on your behalf, just as those two brave, incredibly kind young men rode in on bicycles to save the Stanford survivor. Just as Stanford University professor Michele Landis Dauber is leading an organized effort to remove Persky from the bench. You have inspired our actions. You brave survivors empower and inspire us, and we love you every one.
The first order of business involves meaningful protest against the judge who handed down this shameful sentence. From recall efforts to petitions to letters and phone calls, there’s so much we can do:
Judge Aaron Persky
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
191 N 1st St
San Jose, CA
95113–1006
Call Persky –
Courtroom Clerk: (650) 462–3880
Public Information Officer, Joseph Macaluso: (408) 882–2715
To join the recall effort contact Michele Dauber at Stanford University, 1(650)723–2512.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/demand-an-end-to-rape
What else can we do? Well it’s important that we share resources for survivors of these crimes. The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 800.656.HOPE (4673). Also visit the website of RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, here.
We all have the option of volunteering and donating at our local sexual assault and domestic violence shelters, and to start our own efforts. We can write to our senators and representatives, demanding tough legislation on these matters. We can write blogs, record podcasts, and support survivors that we come across in daily life.
Rest assured that the other side is taking action too, with numerous Internet commenters mocking the survivor and a Brock Turner Family Support Group page going up on Facebook (It’s real, report it to Facebook). Our voices have to be louder than theirs; we have to show that there will be no more tolerance for rape and its apologists. (Editor’s note: we won’t link to the page, but please do report it.)
To this end, the Stanford rape survivor (though I can think of some other words for her, like heroine, activist, and one of the bravest people ever) ended her groundbreaking letter with these words:
“And finally, to girls everywhere, I am with you. On nights when you feel alone, I am with you. When people doubt you or dismiss you, I am with you. I fought everyday for you. So never stop fighting, I believe you. As the author Anne Lamott once wrote, “Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.” Although I can’t save every boat, I hope that by speaking today, you absorbed a small amount of light, a small knowing that you can’t be silenced, a small satisfaction that justice was served, a small assurance that we are getting somewhere, and a big, big knowing that you are important, unquestionably, you are untouchable, you are beautiful, you are to be valued, respected, undeniably, every minute of every day, you are powerful and nobody can take that away from you. To girls everywhere, I am with you. Thank you.”
So now let’s fight for her, and for all of those like her.
Are you with me?
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