The Protesters of the Steubenville Rape Case Inspire Real Change

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicususa.com/male-group-anonymous-standing-rape-culture.html


The Protesters of the Steubenville Rape Case Inspire Real Change

By: Sarah Jones
Jan. 6th, 2013



Even as Anonymous was leading a second protest in Steubenville yesterday, the sheriff announced that no other people would be charged in the alleged gang raping and kidnapping of 16-year-old Jane Doe by football players referred to as members of the “rape crew”.

This case appears to be steeped in cover-ups and conspiracies, from the County Prosecuting Attorney reportedly being the mother of one of the “rape crew”, at whose house an assault may have taken place, to the victim’s ex-boyfriend allegedly setting her up to be drugged and gang raped as revenge for breaking up with him. It’s disgusting and shameful and horrifying, but it’s also sadly not that unusual.

What is unusual is that this time a group of mostly men, in a subset of Anonymous called Knight Sec, is leading a public charge against the rape culture and demanding justice.

Anonymous’ protests aren’t just impacting this case; in fact, because of the attention the Steubenville case has gotten, San Luis Obispo rape crisis agency in California has launched a “Start by Believing” campaign in order to promote the reporting of rape. Sexual Assault and Rape Prevention (SARP) Associate Executive Director Jesse Torrey explained, “If somebody discloses they’ve been sexually assaulted, you need to start by believing them. And if they are responded to with support, with validation, with ‘how can I help?’, with ‘this wasn’t your fault’…that’s the road to healing.”

Out of this horror, some salvation.

snip//

Anonymous protested again Saturday, and they are fiercely going after the folks who are protecting the alleged rapists. A victim who was reportedly drugged and lured into a trap for the specific purpose of being punished via gang rape and public humiliation is suddenly not alone.

Alexandria Goddard and a group of mostly men in Knight Sec found the rape culture protecting Jane Doe disgusting, so they took a decided, defiant stand against it. Hundreds joined the Anonymous-initiated protests against the way this case is being handled. What we have here are men and women united against the rape culture — united in valuing humanity. Their actions are generating awareness and change. It may not be a cultural shift yet, but it’s a very good start.

[CrispyQ]

1. It's happening in India, too.

It's time. We rape our women. We rape our planet. It's time we, as a collective, realize how rape diminishes our humanity.

[freshwest]

6. Agreed all.

[Voice for Peace]

2. good. k/r

[Downwinder]

3. Could we say that Ohio stands with the rapists?

The Ohio legislature has adopted a set of budget amendments that would defund Planned Parenthood in Ohio. Specifically, the amendments would make PPSWO ineligible for a number of federal grants that fund our educational programming and family planning services.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/swoh/stand-ppswo-37438.htm

[northoftheborder]

4. Very heartening to see men organize against this degradation of women.

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

[freshwest]

7. Since they're into public humiliation for a 16-year-old girl, let them learn how it feels.

That's not even violent. What was done to her was and will leave physical and emotional scars for life for her and her family. But the enablers didn't see what was done to her as wrong. And they are the ones making the claim she 'deserved it' (for no crime of her own) so they shouldn't squawk about some public humiliation now. They should hang their heads in shame until they have taken it upon themselves to right this wrong or confess they are nothing but brute beasts.

[riqster]

8. The names are here:

http://localleaks.blogs.ru/2013/01/01/steubenvillefiles/

Use them loudly and frequently.

[duhneece]

9. It IS a very good start

Very inspiring.