One night in January 2015, two Stanford University graduate
students biking across campus spotted a freshman thrusting his body on
top of an unconscious, half-naked woman behind a dumpster. This March, a
California jury found the former student, 20-year-old Brock Allen
Turner, guilty of three counts of sexual assault. Turner faced a maximum
of 14 years in state prison. On Thursday, he was sentenced
to six months in county jail and probation. The judge said he feared a
longer sentence would have a “severe impact” on Turner, a champion
swimmer who once aspired to compete in the Olympics — a point repeatedly
brought up during the trial.
On Thursday, Turner’s victim
addressed him directly, detailing the severe impact his actions had on
her — from the night she learned she had been assaulted by a stranger
while unconscious, to the grueling trial during which Turner’s attorneys
argued that she had eagerly consented.
The woman, now 23, told
BuzzFeed News she was disappointed with the “gentle” sentence and angry
that Turner still denied sexually assaulting her.
“Even if the
sentence is light, hopefully this will wake people up,” she said. “I
want the judge to know that he ignited a tiny fire. If anything, this is
a reason for all of us to speak even louder.”
..........
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; 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.
Source:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/heres-the-powerful-letter-the-stanford-victim-read-to-her-ra?utm_term=.eeD9zynz7Q#.beEGBoDBQg
