Brave doesn’t even begin to describe the victim in this DISGUSTING case.
On Friday, Buzzfeed News was given access to a letter written by the unnamed victim in the Stanford University rape case.
The emotional, powerful, and incredibly articulate message is in response to her attacker, Brock Turner, receiving just six months in prison for sexually assaulting her.
Related: Demi Lovato Shares A Powerful Post About Victims Of Rape & Sexual Assault
For those who don’t know, Brock was a freshman at Stanford when he raped a college graduate at a campus party. The woman in question, who is now 23 years old, was at the party with her younger sister when she became extremely intoxicated and incoherent.
Turner took advantage of her fragile state and savagely assaulted her behind a dumpster until two witnesses intervened. The details of that assault are graphic, disturbing, and a distinct reminder that America’s rape culture is still thriving.
While the brutality and sick nature of the crime seemed to warrant the maximum sentence of 14 years in jail, a judge disagreed due to the defendant’s age and promising swimming career. Brock’s father argued to the judge that a longer jail sentence would be a “steep price to pay” for “20 minutes of action”.
Despite the clear lack of fairness in this case, Turner’s victim has come forward with a perfect response to the injustice she has faced. From detailing the despicable assault to addressing all the other countless victims out there, the letter is a must read.
In one particular segment of the testimonial, the woman recounts how horrifying it was to have to fight against powerful lawyers who went above and beyond to damage her credibility despite the evidence stacked against their client:
“I thought there’s no way this is going to trial├ì┬╛ there were witnesses, there was dirt in my body, he ran but was caught. He’s going to settle, formally apologize, and we will both move on. Instead, I was told he hired a powerful attorney, expert witnesses, private investigators who were going to try and find details about my personal life to use against me, find loopholes in my story to invalidate me and my sister, in order to show that this sexual assault was in fact a misunderstanding. That he was going to go to any length to convince the world he had simply been confused. I was not only told that I was assaulted, I was told that because I couldn’t remember, I technically could not prove it was unwanted. And that distorted me, damaged me, almost broke me. It is the saddest type of confusion to be told I was assaulted and nearly raped, blatantly out in the open, but we don’t know if it counts as assault yet. I had to fight for an entire year to make it clear that there was something wrong with this situation.”
Absolutely disgusting.
To make matters worse, Brock went as far to claim the victim had offered her consent, which she unequivocally refuted:
“Next in the story, two Swedes on bicycles approached you and you ran. When they tackled you why didn’t say, ‘Stop! Everything’s okay, go ask her, she’s right over there, she’ll tell you.’ I mean you had just asked for my consent, right? I was awake, right? When the policeman arrived and interviewed the evil Swede who tackled you, he was crying so hard he couldn’t speak because of what he’d seen.”
Wow. We’re truly at a loss for words.
Regardless of all the pain and anguish, the woman ended her letter with a plea of support to all women out there:
“To conclude, I want to say thank you. To everyone from the intern who made me oatmeal when I woke up at the hospital that morning, to the deputy who waited beside me, to the nurses who calmed me, to the detective who listened to me and never judged me, to my advocates who stood unwaveringly beside me, to my therapist who taught me to find courage in vulnerability, to my boss for being kind and understanding, to my incredible parents who teach me how to turn pain into strength, to my grandma who snuck chocolate into the courtroom throughout this to give to me, my friends who remind me how to be happy, to my boyfriend who is patient and loving, to my unconquerable sister who is the other half of my heart, to Alaleh, my idol, who fought tirelessly and never doubted me. Thank you to everyone involved in the trial for their time and attention. Thank you to girls across the nation that wrote cards to my DA to give to me, so many strangers who cared for me. Most importantly, thank you to the two men who saved me, who I have yet to meet. I sleep with two bicycles that I drew taped above my bed to remind myself there are heroes in this story. That we are looking out for one another. To have known all of these people, to have felt their protection and love, is something I will never forget. And finally, to girls everywhere, I am with you. On nights when you feel alone, I am with you. When people doubt you or dismiss you, I am with you. I fought everyday for you. So never stop fighting, I believe you. As the author Anne Lamott once wrote, ‘Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save├ì┬╛ they just stand there shining.’ Although I can’t save every boat, I hope that by speaking today, you absorbed a small amount of light, a small knowing that you can’t be silenced, a small satisfaction that justice was served, a small assurance that we are getting somewhere, and a big, big knowing that you are important, unquestionably, you are untouchable, you are beautiful, you are to be valued, respected, undeniably, every minute of every day, you are powerful and nobody can take that away from you. To girls everywhere, I am with you. Thank you.”
How beautiful and poignant. This woman is clearly a very strong person deserving of so much more than the world has handed her thus far.
You can read the full letter, which details the victim’s disappoint in the verdict and more, HERE.
[Image via NBC Bay Area.]
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