The man pictured above is named Brock Turner. He is 20 years old and is a former Stanford University swimmer. He was a star athlete, loved by his peers, and did well in his studies.
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On January 18, 2015, Brock Turner attended a party on campus and, like any other student, had a bit too much to drink. At that same party, a woman who was out having a fun night with her sister also had a bit too much to drink. There's obviously no harm in drinking when done responsibly, but, mistakes do happen and it's up to the drinker to act accordingly. Unfortunately, Brock Turner did one of the worst things you could ever do to another human on that night after being too intoxicated. Outside in the cold, behind a dumpster, he raped an unconscious 22-year-old woman and only stopped when two graduate students witnessed him and scared him off.
About a year after this horrific accident, the anonymous victim courageously spoke against her attacker and pressed charges. Unfortunately, this poor woman will never have justice served for her, as Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Turner to only six months of county prison, despite the unanimous decision from the rest of the jurors to prosecute him for six years. This, of course, is what sparked the outrage from the nation, not only at Brock Turner and his family, but at the judge as well.
Turner was protected by our trusted justice system and, as a result, that same justice system failed the rest of us. Judge Aaron Persky should have provided justice to this victim and sentenced Turner appropriately but, instead, was swayed with outrageous appeals from the Turner family. Turner's father appealed to the court for the sake of his rapist son because of how depressed he has become and that "he can't enjoy his favorite food" all the while his son's rape victim won't be able to enjoy her life. Just because Brock Turner is a star college athlete does not entitle him leniency, especially after the unanimous decision of the original sentencing. Judge Persky justified his decision saying "a prison sentence will have a severe impact on him."
Well, isn't that the point? The fact that this so-called judge was so easily swayed by the Turner family's ridiculous appeals baffles my mind. The Turner parents could've spoken until they were blue in the face and still would not come up with a reasonable excuse for their son's actions. Unless Turner is held accountable for his actions and get the help he needs only then can he become a functioning member of society again. If Turner is depressed how do you think his victim feels?
If you haven't read the victim's letter, I suggest you do so. Just when I thought words could never express how tragic this situation is, she eloquently did so. As a society, we need to get past the idea of victim blaming and understand that in no circumstances is rape EVER okay. In no way should this victim ever be blamed because she was drunk and unconscious. If a person is drunk you make sure they are okay, you don't sexually assault them. Just because they are not saying anything does not mean they consent to you raping them.
On that note, I would like to say how proud I am for the victim speaking up. It is never easy confronting your attacker no matter how long time has passed. You went through such a traumatic experience between that night, speaking to the court, and hearing the injustice from Judge Persky's sentence. Just know you have a whole nation behind your back with love and support. You are one of the most courageous and strongest women on this Earth and I wish you nothing but happiness for the rest of your life.
If Turner was a true man he should've known that in her state of mind she would in no way consent to any sexual encounter. Since that horrific night she had to be the strongest woman she could be to live with what happened to her that night knowing that her rapist is out there somewhere doing it again to another woman. For over a year, this brave woman had to fight the psychological damage her rapist gave her. Now, because of Judge Persky, she will have to live with the fact that her rapist is able to walk away from this. They used her unconsciousness against her even though there should be no excuse for Turner's actions that night. She did not protest or comply, therefore it is rape.
The reasons are obvious as to why I, and millions of other people, absolutely despise Brock Turner, but what this case has done makes my blood boil. The American Justice System failed us for having Judge Persky allow this rapist to walk freely after six or less months in prison. There are thousands in this country that get persecuted for much less heinous crimes than rape that face life sentences in prison. There are thousands more that do get convicted correctly for similar crimes, so why does Brock Turner get the easy way out?
As a college student who resides on campus, I want to be assured that I can live in a safe and healthy environment. I want to be able to excel and build relationships with my peers and have an positive college experience. Therefore, when someone poses as a threat to me or anyone else on campus, I want that person held accountable for. If they committed a crime on campus, whatever it may be, they should be punished appropriately so it will not happen again.
Lately, this country has been in turmoil over numerous occasions ranging from Black Lives Matter, Anti-Police Sentiments, refugees, LGBTQ discrimination, the presidential race, and much more. The questioning of whether or not rapist Brock Turner should go to prison should not be something to be discussed when seemingly the rest of the nation agrees that he should be accountable for his actions. There have been countless movements against rape and as a nation we were moving forward by being educated enough to know that nonconsensual sex is, in fact, rape. The fact that Brock Turner was not able to distinguish this woman's unconsciousness as consent and that Judge Persky is giving him a shorter sentence shows that we haven't moved forward as I would have hoped for.
I lived in a household that perpetuated the idea that a woman should cover up and hide away in fear because of men like Brock Turner. The men like Brock Turner who had a dad that defended his son's raping by calling it "20 minutes of action." I want my children to grow up where they are not in fear because "boys will be boys" and that "women are asking for it because they wore this, said that, blah blah blah." Women and girls need to be able to live in this world where people like rapist Brock Turner will be held accountable for their actions, and rape is virtually eliminated or at least minimized to the smallest occurrence rate.
I wrote this because rapist Brock Turner's six month sentencing made it acceptable for him to rape this innocent woman. It shouldn't matter what his accomplishments were in college or his swimming records were. Those facts do not erase or justify his actions. I cannot believe they were even considered in the argument in the first place. Once Turner committed the rape those accomplishments do not mean anything. He ruined another life, and no swimming record can ever justify that.
People need to stand up and realize that this man, who in just six months or less will be able to roam around because his daddy said so. As much as I hate to admit it, his privileged status gave him the upper hand in this situation and we as a nation must stop people like this from avoiding the consequences.
College students should be able to go about and enjoy life without having people like Brock Turner raping them and walking free shortly after. Brock Turner had his whole life ahead of him, but because of his actions he not only ruined his victim's life, but his life as well. No matter what his accomplishments were, they will never describe better than the word "rapist" does. Had he done the right thing that night he could have continued his academic career just like his peers and have a great future.
I have faith that society will not accept this man back as easily as Judge Persky did, but we must also take a stand to make the world a better place without people like Brock Turner. In an academic establishment, it needs to be a safe environment where students and faculty can be comfortable with the people around them, instead of hiding in fear.
I'm not asking to further ruin Brock Turner's life, he already did that to himself, I am asking to raise awareness to this devastating cause so that people like Judge Aaron Persky will not be able to hold such power and endanger other people by letting someone like Brock Turner walk freely after six short months when his original sentencing was six years. I want people to understand the victim's pain of having to know that a night out with her sister ended up being the worst night of her life. I want people to also recognize that his "accomplishments" as a student who had no criminal history and was a star student athlete does not help his case. Those were facts of the past that does not apply to his inexcusable actions of that one night. Anyone with a sense of mind knows that it only takes one tragic action to ruin the rest of your life.
I know I'm not the only one talking about this story on the internet, and I most certainly won't be the last. I, however, want to be one of the many who will perpetuate rapist Brock Turner's name and reputation on the internet so that everyone will that he, like his victim, will never live the happy and normal life he deserves.
