There is a lot of controversy surrounding the rape case involving Brock Turner in the US, and I feel like rape is not often discussed, nor are the cases. Not to mention the vast amount of judicial bias that surrounds cases when they go to court.
So, grab a cup of tea because this one's going to be lengthy, stick with me.
*TRIGGER WARNING- SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE
Firstly, lets give you a little information about our rapist. Brock Turner is a 21 year old student who studied at Stanford University. He is a 3x all American swimmer and had a swimming scholarship. That's all the information I'm going to give you about him, because quite frankly he's a piece of shit and I don't care.
The court case itself was called People v. Turner, and the charges against him were as follows:
1) Rape of an intoxicated person
2) Rape of an unconscious person
3) Assault with intent to rape an intoxicated woman
4) Sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object
5) Sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object
Brock Turner pleaded not guilty to ALL of these charges, despite being restrained and turned in by two students who intervened.
The verdicts were as follows:
Count 1) withdrawn by prosecution
Count 2) ""
Count 3) guilty
Count 4) guilty
Count 5) guilty
I would also just like to point out that the potential sentence length of all of these charges is fourteen years. The prosecution recommended just six. But, that's not even the worst of it.
Brock was sentenced on June 2nd 2016 to six months incarceration (imprisonment) in Santa Clara county jail to be followed by 3 years of formal, probation. I'd just like to point out that formal probation means Brock will be supervised by a probation officer. Depending on the case, the criminal must meet the officer anywhere from once a week to once a month. That's it. That's what "formal" probation is.
Additionally, Turner must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, which means he can't live near schools or work with children, and he also was ordered to attend a sex offender program.
He can also never participate in competitive swimming for the US, shame.
You know what's fucked up? The law does not consider Brock as a rapist. California is among a handful of states that criminalise "object penetration" to a lesser degree than penile penetration. (Brock sexually penetrated the unconscious woman with his fingers). Apparently this isn't rape because it wasn't his penis. So using his fingers is somehow excused from being rape, even though a nurse who examined the victim determined she had suffered "significant trauma" including penetrating trauma. Is it still not considered rape now?
Even worse, Brock served half of his six month sentence. Three months. Three months for raping an unconscious woman. If I assaulted Brock Turner, I would get longer in prison.
In response to the case, the law was reformed. There is now a mandatory prison sentence for the sexual assault of an intoxicated/unconscious person. This is in the hope that "the next Brock Turner will end up behind bars"... the next Brock Turner. We'll just wait for another innocent person to be raped shall we? Then we'll have justice.
Naturally, the case blew up. Judge Persky was accused of judicial bias in relation to male and class privilege. Brock Turners parents (Dan and Carlene Turner) recently told the press they are "concerned for their son's safety"...
I don't understand. They don't have to be concerned in the same way that parents of young girls in your area do now. Girls who have probably been told constantly not to encourage boys, not to drink too much, not to be too revealing, not to talk to strange men, to never go off alone. Their son does not have to now live in fear, experience the pain, trauma, nightmares. She has to live knowing he is still out there. Free.
What they're concerned about is the protestors outside their house. Protestors with signs that say "castrate rapists" and "no sympathy for rapists". What did they think he was going to get for raping a woman? Chocolates? Flowers? A welcome home parade?
Brock's father protested the six month sentence, claiming it was too long. Yup, you heard me right. Dan Turner said
"its a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action out of his 20 plus years of life."
Lets evaluate this:
1) "a steep price"... steep price?! He spent 3 months in prison instead of fourteen years!!! A steep fucking price?! He fucking raped her?! He's essentially gotten away with it. Oh no, he can't swim or compete, what a shame. This is clearly the largest issue at hand here, not the fact that your own son seems to think that its acceptable to rape an unconscious woman and then lie about it under oath in a criminal court.
2) "20 minutes" oh don't worry. It was only 20 minutes. It doesn't count. Barely anything, she probably didn't suffer, it was only 20 minutes... give him a break.
3) "action"?! He's really calling rape "action? Well done son, got a bit of action did you? Had fun? He's talking like his son got lucky... he stripped a helpless woman of her dignity and then ran.
Answer me this, Brock Turner... if it wasn't rape, why did you run? And Dan Turner... if it was just 20 minutes of harmless action why did your son run?
What's important to remember is,
ALCOHOL DOES NOT CAUSE RAPISTS; RAPISTS CAUSE RAPISTS.
Brock Turner, the night after this happened, you said you thought your victim liked it because she rubbed your back. Did she say yes, Brock? Did she actively consent? Or do you consider a back rub a form of consent? Just like if she smiled at you or played with her hair, do they mean consent too, Brock?
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I'd also like you all to read some sections of the young woman's impact statement. Please note that the victim found out the graphic details of her rape via an article.
"at the bottom of the article, after I learned about the graphic details of my own sexual assault, the article listed his swimming times. She was found breathing, unresponsive with her underwear six inches away from her bare stomach, curled in a foetal position. By the way, he's really good at swimming."
I'd also like to note that newspapers described him as "Stanford swimmer, Brock Turner", never as "Brock Turner, rapist." Imagine after all that you've been to, your rapist getting glory for his favourite hobby. Why aren't we focusing on another little hobby of his?
"I was pummelled with narrowed, pointed questions that dissected my personal life, love life, past life, family life, inane questions, accumulating trivial details to try and find an excuse for this guy who didn't even take the time to ask me for my name."
Heartbreaking, isn't it?
What is wrong with the world? When did rape sentences come down to 3 months? I feel like I could say so much more in light of the situation. I feel like I haven't said enough, then again I also feel as if I have said too much. I'm going to leave you with a photo series entitled "It happens", by Yana Mazurkevich. This photo series not only reminds us that Brock Turner is a rapist, but that sexual assault can happen in many forms. Any gender, any religion, any race, any situation. It can happen to anyone.
if you would like to see the rest of Yana's work, visit yanamazurkevich.com
USEFUL CONTACTS
Childline - 0800 1111
National Sexual Assault Hotline (US) - 800-656-HOPE (4673)
NHS 111
Police 101
In an emergency, always call 999
Rape Crisis National Helpline - 0808 802 9999
24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247
Survivors UK (Male Victims) - 0808 800 5008
stay safe,
chlo x
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