Putting a rapist back on the streets
Subject: Putting a rapist back on the streets
From: info@weareultraviolet.org
To: d
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:10:23 +0000
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A Georgia judge just overturned a jury's rape conviction because he felt the survivor, who has Down Syndrome, "didn't act like a victim."1
Yup, you read that right. A judge actually dismissed the jury's conviction of a man accused of repeatedly raping a woman with disabilities because he didn't like the way she "acted."
It's hard enough finding the courage to report a rape and to go through police interrogations and the emotional difficulty of a trial. But now rape survivors have to fit a stereotype of a victim before they can get justice?!
That's rape culture plain and simple. And a judge who resorts to victim-blaming rather than seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse doesn't belong in our justice system. In Georgia, the Judicial Qualifications Commission reviews complaints against judges, and if we all speak out now, we can get them to hold Judge McFadden accountable for his awful ruling. But if we don't act quickly, this story will fade from the national spotlight like other stories of victim-blaming, with no consequences for Judge McFadden.
Will you sign the petition demanding the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission remove Judge McFadden from the bench?
There's something seriously wrong with our justice system. Is it any wonder that only 40% of rapes are reported if just 8% are prosecuted and a mere 3% actually end with the rapist in prison?2 And even when survivors get a conviction, they can face judges like McFadden who put their rapist back on the streets because the survivor "didn't act like a victim."
Rape survivors may have post traumatic stress, develop eating disorders, suffer from depression, or may even try to take their own lives.3 Others simply move on and try to bury what happened to them. There is no right way to heal. But the process is only made more difficult by comments like, "You shouldn't have been drinking", "Just look at how she was dressed", or even "She was older than her chronological age."
That last comment was made by a Montana judge who blamed teenager Cherice Moralez instead of the middle-aged teacher who raped her.4 But 86,600 UltraViolet members spoke out and Judge Baugh, who had handed a mere 30-day sentence to Moralez's rapist, was recommended to the Montana Supreme Court for punishment.5
Actions like that have shown that when we all join together, victim-blaming doesn't stand a chance. Now it's time to come together once again for a young Georgia survivor so that this judge is never able to hurt another survivor again. Will you demand the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission disrobe Judge McFadden for his callous disregard for a rape survivor?
Add your name.
Thanks for speaking out.
--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Malinda, Adam, Gabriela, and Holly, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1. Judge overturns rape verdict because the victim "didn't behave like a victim", Salon, March 6, 2014
2. Reporting Rates, RAINN
3. Effects of Sexual Assault, RAINN
4. Montana judge criticized for 31-day sentence for ex-teacher who raped teen, Reuters, August 28, 2013
5. Board urges discipline for Montana judge who gave short rape sentence, CNN, February 4, 2014
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