What the hell!

[soc_puppet]

[Trigger Warning for sexual violence]

What. The. Fuck.

Here's the story: A woman in Michigan is raped by two high-profile university basketball players. That alone is horrific. The crap icing on the shit cake is as follows:

1) The woman wants to prosecute
2) Her story is corroborated by one of the rapists' statements
3) The police think she should file charges
4) And the cowardly-ass prosecutor still wants the case dismissed

Given the number of cases out there where it's difficult to even get one of the first three items, the fact that the prosecutor wants to throw out the case when all three are lined up is just beyond the pale.

For people in the mid-Michigan area, if you're interested and available, information on an informal protest being staged tomorrow outside the prosecutor's office can be found here.

Information on who to contact about this absolute mockery of justice can be found here.

The story itself (with surprisingly good reporting) can be found here [TW applies to the article]. For the love of all living things, believe me, you do not want to read the comments.

Comments

[redsixwing]

What in the love of little fishies is wrong with that prosecutor?

[soc_puppet]

Clearly he is a douchecanoe of the highest caliber with no respect for human beings.

[mommy]

I always forget just how much victim blaming happens when rape allegations come up. I should have followed your advice to not read the comments.

[soc_puppet]

It's sickening how much that happens :(

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

If the prosecutor refuses to apply criminal law as it was intended, fuck 'em. Talk to a lawyer and find a way to nail the rapist in civil court. That's often done in cases where there isn't enough to take it criminal.

Re: Well...

[soc_puppet]

That may be what ends up happening - which really sucks, because this is a case where there pretty clearly is enough evidence. It sets a nasty precedent, too; if a prosecutor won't try with this much evidence available, when the fuck would they try? What's it gonna take?

Re: Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Assuming the prosecutor isn't pulling this trick for purely personal reasons, the general idea is to manipulate women through sexual oppression. This is best dissuaded by multiple angles of attack, including but not limited to using oblique means of punishing rapists when direct means are foiled, and encouraging more women to take up legal careers. It's worth the hassle just to see the occasional rapist land in front of a female judge and a female lawyer. Hammer, meet testicles.

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

... Wait. The prosecutor wants to dismiss the case?

[soc_puppet]

Yes. He's an asshat >:/

[ningen-demonai.livejournal.com]

:| :| :|

[sohmamon.livejournal.com]

....I made the mistake of reading the comments. Remind me to listen to you next time.

[soc_puppet]

-_-b Shall do.

[dagronrat.livejournal.com]

*icon very much minus the ♥ with love part*

[soc_puppet]

Hear hear! Douchewad prosecutor needs to be less douchey.