Katherine Fritz cannot comprehend Judge Persky’s statement that convicted rapist Brock Turner “will not be a danger to others.” The power of privilege is a danger to us all.
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This is Brock. He’s eighteen in this photo.
He’s a Stanford University student and an all-star athlete, a once-promising Olympic hopeful.
This is CJ. He’s sixteen in this photo.
CJ grew up in Louisiana and has a long history of mental illness. He’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and was prescribed a long list of medications including Wellbutrin, Abilify, Seroquell, and Hydroxyzine.
Both Brock and CJ are convicted rapists.
What CJ did was horrifying: he’s been convicted of the rape and assault of an eighty-one year old neighbor. The brief from his trial is difficult and shocking to read; the elderly woman was treated in the ICU for fractures, bruises, and trauma consistent with graphic sexual assault.
CJ’s father stated to the local paper that “under normal circumstances,” he didn’t believe that he would commit a crime so graphic and heinous, but “without his medication, anything is possible.” CJ was found mentally fit to stand trial, tried as an adult in 2009, and sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor without the possibility of parole.
What Brock did was horrifying: he’s been convicted of raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster, penetrating her with foreign objects as well as his fingers and penis. He attempted to flee the scene when he was discovered by two grad students, who held him captive until the police arrived. The coverage from the newspapers is difficult and shocking to read: the victim has issued a statement that she read in court, and it is the most important piece of writing I have read in a very, very long time.
Brock’s father has also spoken to the press, arguing that Brock should not have to pay a steep price for “20 minutes of action” out of his 20 years of life. (Not “rape,” please note. “Action.” Paying a steep price for “20 minutes of rape” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.)
Brock has been sentenced to six months in county jail. He will likely only serve three.
From The Guardian:
The judge, Aaron Persky, cited Turner’s age and lack of criminal history as factors in his decision, saying, “A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him … I think he will not be a danger to others.”
I think he will not be a danger to others.
I think he will not be a danger to others. I think he will not be a danger to others. I think he will not be a danger to others.
I suppose, then, that we should ignore the victim. That if he will not be a danger to others, it is acceptable that he was only a danger to her.
I suppose, then, that we should continue to show Brock Turner’s yearbook photo, rather than his mug shot, in the media. That we perceive him first and foremost as an “all-American college athlete” rather than “convicted rapist.” I suppose that will not be a danger to others. Especially not when paired with the evidence suggesting that there is staggering racial disparity in the justice system, particularly when applied to juveniles of color.
I think that he will not be a danger to others.
I think that the vast majority of rapes go unreported. I think that only two percent of rapists will serve time.
I think those things because there is hard evidence to back those claims up, and I think that those facts are a hard, cold, DANGER. This is dangerous to others. This is dangerous to me. This is dangerous to the one-in-five women who will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, and the four-in-five who will still experience the effects of living in a culture that diminishes the horror of rape, a system in which the victim is inherently mistrusted.
I think it is dangerous that cops do not believe rape victims. Which, for the record, they frequently do not. I think that every single college administrator, judicial system worker, police officer, and human should read this and understand:
In the past decade, neurobiology has evolved to explain why victims respond in ways that make it seem like they could be lying, even when they’re not. Using imaging technology, scientists can identify which parts of the brain are activated when a person contemplates a traumatic memory such as sexual assault. The brain’s prefrontal cortex—which is key to decision-making and memory—often becomes temporarily impaired. The amygdala, known to encode emotional experiences, begins to dominate, triggering the release of stress hormones and helping to record particular fragments of sensory information. Victims can also experience tonic immobility—a sensation of being frozen in place—or a dissociative state. These types of withdrawal result from extreme fear yet often make it appear as if the victim did not resist the assault.
This is why, experts say, sexual assault victims often can’t give a linear account of an attack and instead focus on visceral sensory details like the smell of cologne or the sound of voices in the hallway.
I think that Brock will not be a danger to others because he will educate college students about the “dangers of alcohol consumption and sexual promiscuity.”
From Brock’s victim’s statement, which I again encourage you to read in full:
Alcohol is not an excuse. Is it a factor? Yes. But alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground, with me almost fully naked. Having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that I admit to, but it is not criminal. Everyone in this room has had a night where they have regretted drinking too much, or knows someone close to them who has had a night where they have regretted drinking too much. Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting sexual assault. We were both drunk, the difference is I did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately, and run away. That’s the difference.
I think that he will not be a danger to others.
The Brock Turner case is inherently dangerous to others. To us all. For teaching us that the trauma of being raped behind a dumpster is less important than the trauma of losing a swimming scholarship to Stanford.
For showing us that all the education in the world has not taught this young man, or so many others, the simple lesson that no one’s body belongs to you except your own.
Perhaps Judge Persky is right on one count: I don’t think that a long sentence in state prison will teach him how to respect women, to understand the value of consent, to learn that he is not entitled to shove himself into a woman’s body who has not explicitly invited him in. Prison doesn’t work, and I’m not sure that a lengthy stint in state lockup, even if he was only allowed to read the complete works of Audre Lorde and bell hooks, would do much good either.
But even if the system is fucked, can’t we at least pretend that justice for all is a thing? Because Brock Turner is emblematic of justice for all but the wealthy, the white, the elite, and the powerful.
I don’t know how I would have sentenced Brock Turner. But to slap him on the wrist is provoking immense outrage, none of which will change the fact that he raped a young woman. A young woman’s life is ruined. Brock Turner, and his father, don’t believe that he’s done anything wrong.
He’s not alone in thinking this way. A staggering percentage of young men don’t actually believe or understand that rape is rape.
And perhaps that is the biggest tragedy of all. That we don’t educate our children about consent. That we don’t believe our victims when they report their rapes. That we subject our victims to barrages of questions, interrogate and question their motives, reopen the wounds in the court of public opinion. And that even when our rapists are caught in the act, thrusting into a motionless woman behind a dumpster — even when rape is rape is rape is rape is rape, cannot be anything other but rape, caught-in-the-act unequivocal rape rape rape rape, that was a rape and will always be a rape — even then, in the case of the wealthy, we treat the rapist as white, as an athlete, as “once-promising,” as cautionary tale, as a human, as Brock… before we treat him as a rapist. That is the power of privilege. That is the danger of it, too.
That is a danger to others, Judge Perksy.
That is a danger to all of us.
Source: 30dB.com – Stanford and Rape and Judge
“The sentence is not being received well in social media where the judge it the case is indexing at 90% negative so far today.” — Howard K. 360db
** To read the victim’s statement in full, please click here.**
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Photo Credit: Cover (Stanford Dept. of Public Safety), Final Image (Author)
This post was originally published on the I Am Begging My Mother Not To Read This Blog.
One final comment: I’m not in complete agreement with the feminist movement. I happen to be pro-life, and I’m also opposed to same-sex marriage — both nonnegotiable items with the feminists (and progressives in general). But I have no respect for the so-called Men’s Rights Advocates. I do believe that the important role of fathers has been denied. That mindless attitude has really hurt the family, which is the foundation of society. On the other hand, the MRAs include many rape apologists and defenders of bullying in the schools — in other words, the “blame the victim” crowd. There’s a… Read more »
“But when it comes to issues of men hurting other men and/or boys, there seems to be little, if any, outrage on the part of the MRAs.”
Then you haven’t been listening. I’m not surprised, but that’s not the MRAs fault.
So Bill, you are ok with the denying the rights of gay people, but men seeking simple equality you have no respect for? That lack of respect is predicated upon the fact that MRA’s, in your mind, believe in rape and bullying rather then to address such as it is occurring to men and boys?
Ok, I see where you are coming from…
One thing to consider. Why is the level of outrage and the media coverage so great in this case and nearly non-existent in the other cases that were cited in this article and Alyssa’s? Isn’t the molestation of 74 students not worth media attention? I don’t think Sandusky molested as many and the media attention and pressure on Penn State. Yet, a woman commits a crime and Shhh. Don’t you see she’s upset. We can’t try her. and it’s not one judge. What does that say about society and societal beliefs? What does that say about who society believes isn’t… Read more »
These comments are upsetting. Is this rape case your platform to change the subject to rapes committed by women? Why don’t we just stick to the facts here. Which are abhorrent.
“Is this rape case your platform to change the subject to rapes committed by women? Why don’t we just stick to the facts here. Which are abhorrent.” Why would it make a difference? Doesn’t the article talk about a specific thing, the belief that the defendant poses no risk to society? Doesn’t the article make the case that this should be irrelevant because the victim deserves justice? Doesn’t the article imply that this has unduly affected the sentence and was a denial of justice to the victim? Why then is there an issue of talking about other cases where people… Read more »
Mike- you’re right the facts are abhorrent. Brock’s sentence is too lenient. Do you remember Sam Ukwuachu? Prominent Baylor football player? Read the testimony of his victim. Read about what he did at Boise State before he transferred. Guess what his sentence was? 6 months in jail. Same as Brock Turner’s. Sam is a black man. Where was your outrage when Sam was given a joke of a sentence? Rape sentences can be a joke no matter who is convicted. Sentencing disparities are also a joke. You say the comments upset you. You know what upsets me? Horribly insufficient sentences… Read more »
Well, Mike, perhaps if the issues of male rape, domestic violence, sexual abuse of boys by both men and women, father’s rights, and the many oppression of men were addressed with the same compassion that we do with women, or addressed at all, random posters would not have to take opportunity to as this to ebb the bias and sexism. It is 2016 and all those issues are still in the dark, with little hope of being exposed. Do you feel the same unsettling when a woman speaks of largely ignored women’s issues? Perhaps that unsettling feeling is your coming… Read more »
I’m not attempting to besmirch anyone here, but just speaking of the entirety of this issue. We share here, right? Well allow me to share my arse off for a few minutes. Really troubles me that the gender feminist elite utilize the pain and suffering of these women to pound their drum They are not seeking answers to sexual assault, domestic violence, or even rape, but using it as a weapon. If they were there would be outrage that the VAWA is exclusionary of male victims of DV. If they did, there would be outrage over false accusations, female on… Read more »
Sorry, I don’t mean to be that mean, but understand who does society routinely believe to not be a danger to any one else? It’s over overwhelmingly women. Women get an 80% sentencing discount. Alright, there’s a one in ten chance that rich + white = women, but am I supposed to lose my sh*t over the 1 in 1,000 guy who got the same sentence that women routinely get? If yoiu talk about false rape accusations, it’s even worse. I’m not suggesting this one’s false. It’s pretty much a slam dunk true. I’ve only seen one idiot question it… Read more »
So, you think conservatives have a clean record? Breitbart recently claimed that all rape accusations against football players and other school athletes are false. Is that your position? I notice you say nothing about the victims of such rapes (which are usually gang rapes) being persecuted by sports fans. Do you really believe that young women who are raped have an easy time of it and receive a lot of moral support? Are you aware of the torment women rape victims go through when they are verbally raped by defense attorneys in the courtroom? Concerning rape (and bullying in the… Read more »
“Are you aware of the torment women rape victims go through when they are verbally raped by defense attorneys in the courtroom?” No because men are not only unlikely to ever report being raped especially be women, but even if one did, it’s unlikely the prosecutor wouldn’t plead it down to a non-sex crime. “I notice you say nothing about the victims of such rapes (which are usually gang rapes) being persecuted by sports fans.” Do I need to? It’s not like there aren’t a hundred articles and even anonymous bringing that to light. Does this story really need 4,000,001+… Read more »
Or this case http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2600488/Sex-crazed-Angelina-Jolie-lookalike-given-suspended-sentence-forcing-taxi-driver-sex-twice-stabbing-not-manage-time.html I’ve looked at cases where women have raped men and in the rare case that she’s charged in the U.S. has never been convicted of rape. The steepest sentence for a woman raping a man was 4 years. Ask yourself why has no prosecutor ever brought a rape charge against a woman for raping an adult man to trial. Each of these women plead guilty to attempted rape. Why are prosecutors allowiing women to pead guilty top lesser charges when they have the evidence to convict them of rape? “A 53-year-old Longmont woman was arrested Wednesday… Read more »
Brock’s sentence is too light- agree. But if you want to rant and rave about privilege you need to consider the 90 day sentence of Shelley Dufresne (not even in jail but rather an in patient facility).
Sometimes they just drop the sex part of the charge altogether and charge her with some other crime.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/prosecutors-drop-oral-rape-charge-against-rebecca-helen-elder/story-e6frea83-1226331446306
Can’t have women convicted of a sex crime. People might think that she deserves to be in prison or something.
That reminds me of something. Do you really believe that female on male rape is as prevalent as male on female rape? Also, you seem to have a great preoccupation with female on male rape, but you don’t see fit to even mention male on male rape — which undoubtedly occurs at a greater frequency than female on male rape. Surely, you don’t think female on male rape is more heinous than male on male rape?
“Do you really believe that female on male rape is as prevalent as male on female rape?” No, but I don’t believe that the difference is as great as you imply. “you seem to have a great preoccupation with female on male rape, but you don’t see fit to even mention male on male rape” Because I try to stay on topic as much as I can. How many men who’ve raped other men are not seen as a danger to others? How many men who’ve been convicted of raping men have gotten weekends in prison? Find something that relates… Read more »
Do you really believe that female on male rape is as prevalent as male on female rape? Why does that matter? Is prevalence taken in to account with other crimes? Do you ask how often black people rob white people when a black person is charged with robbing a white person? Also, you seem to have a great preoccupation with female on male rape, but you don’t see fit to even mention male on male rape — which undoubtedly occurs at a greater frequency than female on male rape. That’s because the previous comment specifically referenced female against male rape.… Read more »
Hi Danny- just to clarify. I think this case got highlighted because of a convenient confluence of gender, race and class. As a well off, white, male Brock Turner represented a “jackpot” for the progressive outrage mob. I mention Shelley Dufesne and Sam Ukwuachu only to point out the fallacy of “proving” privilege based on a single case. Sam got the same sentence for the same crime and though was also highly publicized due to his role as a football player at Baylor, did not arouse nearly the vitriol Brock did. His parents and others even advocated for probation only… Read more »