Are you all sick of this perverse blame game? What if this becomes your loved ones?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

http://feministing.com/2012/11/29/this-week-in-victim-blaming-11-year-old-gang-rape-survivor-as-seductive-spider/

[okaawhatever]

1. From the story:

Two years ago, an 11-year-old Cleveland, Texas girl was gang-raped by 20 young men. The crime was recorded on cellphones and circulated amongst students at the local school before finally coming to the attention of the police. And since then plenty of allies have stepped forward to rally around the “real victims”: the rapists.

First the New York Times ran an article focused on the terrible strain the investigation had on the community. Forget about the survivor’s trauma: “The case has rocked this East Texas community to its core” and, as one concerned neighbor pointed out, “These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives.” The paper was also criticized for its focus on the young girl’s appearance and friends. Author James C. McKinley, Jr. wrote, based on local gossip, that “she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground.”

Now defense attorney Steve Taylor thinks that the 11-year-old rape victim, not her assailants, should be punished. As detailed in a Tuesday Chronicle article:

Former Cleveland Police Department Sgt. Chad Langdon, who was the lead investigator on the case, also testified that an 11-year-old – due to her emotional immaturity – legally cannot give consent for a sexual encounter.

Taylor questioned why the underage girl had not been charged with anything for choosing to violate that rule, indicating that she was “the reason” that the encounters happened.

“Like the spider and the fly. Wasn’t she saying, ‘Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly?’ ” Taylor asked.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. WHICH PRE-TEEN GIRL DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR MAKE-UP AND DRESS "OLDER THAN HER AGE?"

I'M SICK OF THIS [CHINESE SATELLITE] BULLSHIT!

[riderinthestorm]

2. I literally gasped out loud reading this story

Have the police and prosecutors learned nothing??

This is an 11 year old!

A child. A baby.

[TorchTheWitch]

6. WTF do police or prosecutors have to do with anything???

Cripes, THEY'RE the ones that investigate, arrest and try the RAPISTS!!!

It's the fucking DEFENSE that always blames the victims! And this asshole like thousands before him blames an 11 year old CHILD for her own gang rape! The DEFENSE - this cretin, Taylor, is the one blaming her and calling this BABY as you yourself called her as "spider" that should be PROSECUTED for being gang raped!!!

Just what the FUCK are you whining about the police and prosecutors for???

[daredtowork]

3. Is it really because of the adversarial court system?

Maybe there should be limits placed on that where juveniles are concerned - at least as far as public statements are concerned. This is sick.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. There should be limits placed on news writers...

The New York Times writer and editor tried and prosecuted the child before the trial! Then, the Texas newspaper engaged in a cover-up!

[brer cat]

4. This is so vile

it is almost hard to believe it isn't sick fiction.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. beyond sick of it

I also think it's reprehensible to call a victim's words before their death hearsay or savage and blame a victim who is dead and obviously has no way to face up to their accusers.

If a victim's words on tape or in writing are thrown out as hearsay because they're dead and the accused has no way to challenge them in court then how is it NOT hearsay to bring up anything or say anything that blames the victim also as hearsay since the dead victim has no way to challenge it?