Warning: This email concerns sexual violence committed against a 16 year-old girl. It may cause distress among survivors!
Please consider signing this petition then unsubscribing from the organization if you wish.
Note: I have been asked if I think the rape of boys or men is acceptable, since I have only passed on petitions concerning sexual violence against women and girls. Hell NO, and that is a Sick Question! Our sons deserve the same protection as our daughters and the Right to report sexual crimes against them Without humiliation!
The rape of a 16-year-old girl was witnessed by dozens of people and documented on
Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. But witnesses aren't talking--and none of the people
who took photos and made jokes instead of trying to stop the attack have been arrested.
If we all speak out, we can get justice for the survivor.
Can you add your name to the petition?
click here
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In August, a 16-year-old girl was raped by members of the Steubenville , Ohio
school football team.
She was carried, unconcious, from one party to another so the boys could repeatedly
violate her throughout the night. She was reportedly urinated on.
1
Witnesses--as many as 50 party-goers--not only watched, but posted photographs, videos,
and comments about the crime to Twitter, YouYube, and Instagram. One boy tweeted
that night "some people deserve to be peed on.
2
" Another posted "never seen anything this sloppy lol."
3
The entire event was documented in real time by teens on their phones.
But months later, only two boys have been charged with the rape--when dozens of others
participated in taking video, posting photos on the internet, and helping cover up
the crime. Police claim that witnesses are not coming forward, but the truth is that
the police have been dragging their feet for months and special prosecutors have
taken over the case. One of the football coaches of the boys who have been accused
even said "The rape was just an excuse, I think... What else are you going to tell
your parents when you come home drunk like that and after a night like that?
4
" That's why special prosecutors had to be appointed in the first place.
But almost 6 months later hardly enough has been done.
We need justice for the survivor and we need it fast. Ohio Attorney General Mike
DeWine and the special prosecutors assigned to the case need to know that everyone
who participated in this crime or in covering it up needs to be be held accountable.
If we all speak out we can pressure them to prosecute all those involved. Can you
sign this petition?
Add your name to the petition.
Months after the attack, witnesses in Steubenville
Much of the evidence has been deleted from social networks and cell phones, and
many in the town are blaming the girl for the attack against her and rallying around
their local football heros. The head football coach said he had no reason to punish
players who photographed the attack instead of trying to stop it--he didn't even
bench them for a single game. Another coach complained that "people are trying to
blow up our football program because of" the rape and cover up. And a defense attorney
for one of the boys told the
New York Times
that comments the girl had posted to Twitter long before this attack could be used
to defend his client by discrediting her.
5
But the story got national attention last month when the New York Times published
an lengthy article about the events of that night, the investigation, and the community's
response. Then, on January 1, a video surfaced online that shows one of the teens
involved--but not charged with any crime--bragging and making jokes about the attack.
The video, which is over 12 minutes long, is sickening. The boy brags on camera that
"they raped more than the Duke lacrosse team" among many other horrifying admissions
about the crime.6
The video was posted to YouTube months ago--but someone tried to delete it when
they realized it could get the teens in trouble.
7
The recent attention to this story, and the evidence that is now surfacing online,
could help get justice for the survivor. But it's outrageous that it has taken this
long. If we all speak out, it will get even more attention and put more pressure
on the Attorney General and the special prosecutors.
We need justice for the survivor--and justice means that everyone who participated
in the crime or helped cover it up needs to be prosecuted.
Can you sign this petition?
Add your name to the petition.
Thanks for speaking out.
--Nita, Shaunna, Kat and Karin, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1.
Rape Case Unfolds on Web and Splits City
, New York Times, December 16, 2012
2. Ibid.
3.
, Prinniefied.com, August 26, 2012
4.
Rape Case Unfolds on Web and Splits City
, New York Times, December 16, 2012
5. Ibid.
6.
Rape, Lawsuits, Anonymous Leaks: What's Going On in Steubenville , Ohio
, Slate, January 3, 2013
7.
Blogger on her findings regarding the Steubenville
, CNN, January 3, 2013
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