**This is a very important read, but also very grown-up and graphic. Please come get us before you read any more. We want to be with you when you read this post.**
A story made the news last year about a girl who was being sexually assaulted behind a dumpster on a college campus. Two strangers, the "helpers" I tell you to look for in the world, were passing by and saw what was happening and stopped it. They chased the bad man, tackled him to the ground and held him down until the police came to take him away.
The bad man, Brock Turner, went on trial for the horrible thing he had done. The jury unanimously voted GUILTY on all counts. The victim wrote an impact letter to read to Brock Tuner in open court, in front of everyone, and luckily it was released to the public because - as difficult as it is to read about sad and horrible things - people always need to know how their actions effect others. And this victim has worked very hard to piece herself back together enough to make her voice heard.
Even though Brock Turner was found guilty on all counts, the judge had the ultimate say on what his punishment would be. What Brock Turner did was unforgivable and horrible, but unfortunately our justice system is broken. Not all of it - there are always good people fighting for us - but sometimes someone in power, like a judge, does not do the right thing. This judge could have put the bad man in prison for 14 years. The judge instead decided to only put in in a local county jail for 6 months. Do you think it is fair that a bad man who ruined lives of other people only be punished for 6 months when it could have been 14 years? I don't, and luckily it seems a lot of other people in the world agree, which is why this has become such a popular topic in the news.
I wanted to post these here because one day, when you are a bit older, we will sit down as a family and discuss this case (and others, I'm sure). It is important for you to be aware of what goes on in the world, and how crimes against other's effect everyone's lives. I want you to read this woman's letter and feel proud that she was able to write something so important, but also get a glimpse of the pain and sadness she has endured. I want you to have a sense of what is right and wrong, and for you to feel empowered to help guide other's around you into fighting for what it right.
Here is something I posted on social media about the whole incident - my thoughts at the time:
UGH. I know this is another in a sea of posts about this topic, but this is a train wreck that I can't stop feeling enraged over. Classism, Sexism and Racism at it's "finest". Also a prime example of our broken and corrupt justice system.
Use this as a learning and teaching moment for parents everywhere. Teach your children to value and respect others. My worst fear is that this kid and his parents, who you KNOW are thinking "One day this attention will die down and people will move on and forget"...will be right. We have the attention span of fleas. I want peace and a resolution for the victims in this case - they shouldn't be made to see this kid's mug everywhere they look for the remainder of their lives, but WE have to do better and NEVER forget that THIS is the face of rape culture in America. And this happens ALL the time...this is not the first, and it (horrifically) won't be the last.
Rapist Brock Turner, welcome to being a poster boy for your actions - and no. not swimming.
And to all of the countless victims of rape and sexual assault, those who are silent and those who have found a voice...we are with you.
(And this is the accompanying video)
https://www.facebook.com/DeFrancoNation/videos/10154252026224407/
This is the letter of impact, written by the victim in this case. Please come talk to dada or I before reading this - we would like to read it with you:
Impact Statement
And this may be deleted by the time you get around to it, but this is a video of a newscaster, Ashleigh Banfield, emotionally reading the Impact Statement.
And...this outlines the prejudice and broken system I referred to:
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