I reported my assault to NYPD. Like Jussie Smollett, I was arrested. His case is harmful to the survivor community.

Originally published at www.onesurvivorstory.com.

Empire actor Jussie Smollett was arraigned, after being indicted on March 7 for allegedly staging a violent hate crime against himself. As of today, March 14, he pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts for falsely reporting an assault to Chicago police. I am a woman of color, who’s been an assault victim, and had the police turn on me after reporting. In light of everything, I’m sharing my story and how this case affects me, and the survivor community, at a profound level.

In February of 2018, I was violently assaulted, physically, by an ex-lover. When I finally mustered the courage to come forward and report it to NYPD in early March, I was met with arrogant skepticism by the detective on my case. His first words to me were, “Why did you wait so long to report this, Jessie?”

It had been less than a month since the attack. I was startled by his opening question. I had a trove of evidence — injury pictures, doctor’s notes, x-ray results, open case files with both Manhattan Family Justice Center and Safe Horizon, therapy referrals, and more. Initially, I could not understand why the detective did not seem to believe me.

Watching the tangles of the Jussie Smollett case come apart, I understand now.