Powerful letter from a rape survivor to her attacker

Republican senator and former prosecutor calling for stiffer sentence

His mum's quiet.

His mom set up a Facebook page, to raise funds for an appeal. It was swiftly taken down.

His lack of understanding completely shows why the sentence is too lenient. The little punishment won't teach him, anything. It would actually be in his own interests to have been sentenced sensibly

Yes that's true.

Another moving letter: from Vice President Joe Biden to the survivor

www.buzzfeed.com/tomnamako/joe-biden-writes-an-open-letter-to-stanford-survivor?utm_term=.mer4VVz7V#.odVjyyY9y

It is all over the world. Just had my husband ranting about what a disgrace the father is.

Maybe his father will take heed of this.

Stanford rape case: Father writes moving open letter to Brock Turner's dad | Americas | News | The Independent
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/stanford-rape-case-father-writes-moving-open-letter-to-brock-turners-dad-a7071951.html

His lack of understanding completely shows why the sentence is too lenient. The little punishment won't teach him, anything. It would actually be in his own interests to have been sentenced sensibly.

His dad has done him no favours either. All over the world we now know Brock is a rapist.
His mum's quiet.

Thank you for posting this thread op.

Have you read his statement to the court? I I I IIIIIIIIIIII. It's all about him.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/07/brock-turner-statement-stanford-rape-case-campus-culture

It's no wonder he did what he did, all he thinks about is himself and his well-being. He's got the empathy of a serial killer.

Reading the father's letter, I just wanted to shout "So what? So what?"

If he worked hard on a spelling test as a young boy, how on earth is that any sort of mitigation for committing a sexual assault as a young man? And we are supposed to feel sorry for him because he used to like eating crisps?

Has anybody read glosswitch's post about this?

www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2016/06/does-outrage-over-stanford-rape-case-do-anything-help-victims

The reference to him being 'All-American', is because he is a three-time All-American swimmer, from when he was in high school. In this context, it's a sporting honor, and in terms of swimming, someone who is an 'All-American' has finished top eight in an event in the championship meet for their high school/college.

The headline is still sickening though, because why should his sporting achievements even be mentioned, as it's wholly inappropriate (and irrelevant).

Ugh in that link what annoyed me the most was the bit about him being 'all-American'. No just no. He is not an all-American boy, he is a rapist who has been convicted (albeit with a ridiculous sentence) he should be thrown into jail, never allowed to compete again. That woman is so strong and powerful in her own way, I'm so glad she wrote that open statement.

Signed.

Totally agree, PalmerViolet. In every case of a rape by any ethnic minority in the US, the press leads with a mug shot. Not so here, where the Santa Clara police have not yet released the mug shot from his arrest, though the woman's description of what she saw on her body gives me a vivid picture of what a brute might have carried out those actions.

For me, the lasting impression from her letter is of her strength, and how much of that is contained in the relationship with her younger sister, how they will both carry this nightmare for the rest of their lives. Having been through similar, this resonates totally.

Here's another link to the mug shot cover up in Think Progress

A Stanford law professor (woman and friend of victim's family) is leading the campaign to have the sentencing revised.

I've signed this. Doubt it will achieve anything, but had to do something to manifest my disgust.
www.change.org/p/california-state-house-recall-judge-aaron-persky?recruiter=58868254&utm_source=petitions_share&utm_medium=copylink

The whole thing has been very carefully stage managed. The only pictures of the rapist available before his trial were his yearbook and stills from court. His mugshot casts him in a very different light.

Jezebel link (sorry)

The USA really needs to get rid of judges like Persky, possibly by not electing them any more. The whole narrative of this trial has been about the privileged white kid, star athlete, trying to get away with a crime he was caught red-handed doing. Can you imagine if Brock had been black or Hispanic? Poor?

The adversarial system is the best possible one right now but it is far too easy to manipulate it if you have money or position or connections and that isn't solely an American problem either. Rich white boys in the UK get away with murder too. It makes a mockery of our so-called rights to a fair trial. I don't know what the answer is, maybe all defendants should have a lawyer assigned to them in the same way as the CPS/DA doe, regardless of personal wealth.

God I've still got goosebumps and I read it ten minutes ago. I'm going to have DS & DD read this when they are old enough. There just isn't words for how powerful it is.

I am sadly not surprised at his pathetic sentence, not surprised at the campaign for Rio, not surprised at rape being called twenty minutes of action.
Rape is not a sex crime. It is not a man overcome with sexual desire he cannot help himself. It is about power, control and the degradation of women. Drinking culture is the mask rapists hide behind.

Given that this is the USA, how does pleading guilty affect any possible sentence?

Pleading guilty is usually part of a plea deal with the prosecutor; the incentive is usually a more lenient sentence and often involves pleading to a lesser crime.

Destinysdaughter - he's running unopposed, so he isn't even on the ballot, and thus he'll be reelected by default.

Anyone can sign the petition, but only residents of Santa Clara County can apply to have Persky recalled, with the assistance of a local attorney. Such a campaign has now been launched.

If Brock Allen Turner were not a former Stanford athlete, I'm certain he would be facing serious prison time.

Judge Aaron Persky is not only a Stanford alumni, but he used to be part of the athletics program (both as a student AND coach). He played lacrosse at Stanford during his time there, and was captain of the team for a season, and then later on was an assistant lacrosse coach.

According to reports, it is also not the first time he has shown apparent leniency to Stanford athletes who have appeared before him.

Just like you see with fraternities, athletic alumni tend to look out for their own.

Forgot link!

www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/heres-the-powerful-letter-the-stanford-victim-read-to-her-ra?utm_term=.xnzW4lOzM#.edjNgm9Kx

The comments under the Buzzfeed article are in the main v supportive, which is v heartening to see. Pp are not only angry at the perpetrator but also the judge who is up for Re election soon...

I wish there was a way of sending this brave young woman our support. I hope she knows how much we empathise with her and how she's not alone