Stand Up and Speak Out for Survivors
8 10 2009Join Alaskans Who Support Survivors of Rape
Where: In front of the Nesbett Courthouse
When: Friday, October 9 from 12-3pm.
The man who stands accused of fourteen felonies, including multiple counts of rape while on duty as an Anchorage police officer is out on bail. Six brave women have stepped up to make sure that this does not happen to other women.
Suspended officer Anthony Rollins will be under house arrest during his trial, and is monitored with an electronic ankle bracelet. His request to be allowed out of the house to run “personal errands” was denied by the judge. He will, however, be allowed to go to church on Sundays accompanied by a third-party custodian.
The prosecutor in the case is not happy, and members of the public feel that the state has not gone far enough. STAR (Standing Together Against Rape) agrees.
“The issue that the state has with electronic monitoring is that it’s not necessarily just where Mr. Rollins’ whereabouts are. It’s what he does with his time. This case involved numerous contacts with the victims in this case either through text messaging them, or phone calls,” said Sharon Marshall, the prosecuting attorney.
Victims and their families are concerned for several reasons.
*During bail hearings, the courtroom has been packed to over-flowing with his supporters, and few there to support victims.
*Original bail conditions were modified, at the last minute, with what they perceive to be inadequate arguments from the state.
* The original bail was $100,000 cash, but was altered to $50,000 cash, $50,000 performance (meaning 10% or only $5000 cash)
* Conditions were changed from having a third party custodian at all times (meaning someone within sight and sound at all times) to an electronic ankle monitoring house arrest with access to his wife’s duty weapon. She is also an officer.
* The third party custodian who is to take him to his church is wheelchair bound, causing obvious concerns.
* Being a former police officer, he is, more so than anyone, capable of avoiding detection should he attempt to escape, or attempt to contact victims.
The mother of one of the victime says she is worried that Rollins will stalk her daughter “like he did before.”
The judge asked that all computers and cell phones be taken away so he won’t be tempted to make contact. Rollins is under suspension from the police force.
Alaska is #1 for rape and sexual assault in the nation. How we treat and support the survivors of rape says a lot about who we are. Everyone reading this has a mother, many have sisters and daughters and wives. Many of you are women. These women who tell the story of being offered a ride home on a cold night by a police officer could have been anyone.
Those who join together at the courthouse Friday will be making a statement for these women, and for all women.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:59 PM
betcha neither Sarah Palin nor those xtains who were bused in during the Anchorage hearings will show up in support of the survivors of rape. will those folks ever get their priorities straight or are they gonna wait until St. Peter paddles their butts all the way down to hades?
October 8th, 2009 at 2:14 PM
I hope many show up to demonstrate their solidarity with/support of these victims- and others. May other churches be there–
A little far for me to travel, but I will be there in spirit.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I have never wanted to be in AK more than I do right now for this event tomorrow.
I have a BIG mouth and would use it to its fullest extent.
This is just an atrocity.
I wish those victims well with MUCH support.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Oh, by all means make sure he has access to a weapon. I REALLY don’t get that.
He has a wife!?!?! WTF!
My thoughts go out to the victims. Stand fast!
October 8th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
It warms my heart that supporters will show up FOR THE VICTIMS!
This is a wonderful thing to do – I, too, wish I could be there.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
If anyone attending has it in mind to have a sign, if there was one with signatures supporting the victims and urging for stronger penalties (such as NO bail), then I’d be glad to put my signature on it via the web, as I won’t be there in person.
AKM – Is it possible to have a petition of this sort?
October 8th, 2009 at 2:35 PM
OT, but not exactly; comments from Conservatives about Dick Cheney’s pregnant lesbian daughter. Very sad.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/
October 8th, 2009 at 2:48 PM
I am concerned that the motivations of this officer’s supporters is not clearly presented in AKM’s blogs and since we have already communicated via email on this topic, and AKM suggested that I write a response in comments here it is.
This is one point where I must disagree with how Mudflats is approaching this. There is nearly no correlation between the people who came to the Assembly meetings this summer and the people who showed up to support this officer. His pastor evidently was not in favor of the non discrimination ordinance but none of the churches other than Jerry Prevo’s had an ‘organized’ presence at the Assembly meetings. I don’t know the officer or anyone from his church, but I do know that Rollins is Black and attends a Black church in Anchorage. I am fairly confident that his ’supporters’ will be hurt and disappointed if he is found to be guilty. The loss of a prominent and strong male role model is fundamentally distressing in any community, but is especially disappointing in the Black community for obvious societal and historically embedded reasons.
I don’t write this with any great joy as I know everyone has a strong allegiance to Mudflats and I do not expect this to be well received, but I cannot in good conscience allow this discussion to continue with the consistent and I think unfair references to the Assembly meetings without speaking up.
Thanks for writing WfAK. As I mentioned to you in the email, my intention was to illustrate two different examples of an organized church gathering which I felt were showing up for the wrong side. I didn’t feel that race should enter into it, and at the writing of the initial post, was unaware of the race of the alleged rapist, or of the victims. I thought I had made it clear that I was not talking about the ABT in the second case, but “another Baptist church.” And just because I have a blog, doesn’t mean you have to agree with me!
AKM
October 8th, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I’m just wondering if that group of 1,500 Women from last year
( was it ” Mothers Against Sarah Palin” ? ) is still in existence and has anyone notified them to contact their membership, if they are still around.
Time to show up at that Courthouse with some new signs in their hands.
With enough News reporting of the event ( and some great pictures posted on blogs ) maybe the outrage will get some National News coverage and followup as well.
My comment the other night was something like ” I don’t want to insult the Judges intelligence “… but I’ll take THAT back.
IE : This 3rd person ‘ watching him’ in a wheelchair…. SERIOUSly..?
Wouldn’t Mr. Rollins be the one watching the wheelchair bound person? Who is the one in a more powerful or dominating position here. Rollins must love that…..Who IS in control..? He has proven he is a ‘ control freak ‘ with people.
The Judge is acting like an enabler and He ‘ IS ‘… an Idiot.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
I will be with those women in spirit as well. Does anyone know if any of his fellow officers were there to support him or was it just his baptist church?
Let the caring and the healing begin for these women…dang I wish I could be there!
How about a piece of the health care pie? Health care for women and children of domestic violence. What the heck happened anyway, the offenders get all the benefits and the victims get zip. B double S
October 8th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
@ Writing from Alaska (8):
You are well-received; I don’t know why you think you wouldn’t be. Your insights give us Outsiders a better picture of the situation. It helps a lot to know it is not Prevo’s church– and I can better understand why he had so many supporters there. That said, I hope the judge/ the officer’s support group will create a more respectful, serious environment at the next hearing or trial. Unless the reporting of a happy, social atmosphere was wrong?
From the reported conditions of the bail and the behavior of the supporters, it sounds to me that the victims were not respected.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I can not even begin to imagine the horror of a rape, or the anguish one would feel seeing the perpetrator walking free. But I do believe strongly in our justice system. Juries get it right almost every time. Until the trial is over, however, Rollins is presumed innocent and we should not put innocent people in jail. That is why our Constitution requires reasonable bail conditions. And reasonable means ensuring that the accused does not commit another crime while out on bail and also shows up for trial. Whether these conditions are the right ones is debatable, but what I hear is more of a belief that Rollins should be in jail until the trial, and that would violate our Constitution. When we start deciding which parts of the Constitution to follow and which to ignore, we end up with the Bush years.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I really wish I could be there. Maybe those who are able to attend could do paper cut out “people” to represent those who are there in spirit. I will be there in spirit, I am a survivor.
When I read the first post regarding this trial, I felt the show of people for the defendant was not so much to support him but more to intimidate the survivors. To change the minds of the survivors about testifying. (Thank you AKM for referring to these courageous women as survivors, not victims. I have always thought victims of rape are those who physically lost their lives.)
Only 16% of women and girls who are raped report the crime. Not really surprising considering the way they are treated. What often happens to survivors in the aftermath of rape is referred to as “the second rape”. The second rape may happen through their treatment by responding officers, the medical system, the legal system or even friends and family.
As a society we abhor the idea of rape but we fail miserably when faced with the reality. So much so that survivors carry with them some level of shame and/or guilt when they should have none. I think one of the reasons we fail is because it is frightening to realize how random the crime of rape is. To have to acknowledge that your neighbor, church member, police officer could also be your rapist is unsettling to say the least. What those who try to blame or find fault with the survivor really want is to believe that they can behave in a manner unlike the survivor and thus prevent themselves from being raped.
If you are able to go to the Nesbett courthouse tomorrow and show your support for these courageous women please do. Statistically, it is highly probable that you or someone dear to you have been or will be a victim or survivor of rape. The officer in question is innocent until proven guilty but that does not mean he should be given special consideration because he is an officer of the law or because he attends church. More importantly, he should not be given special consideration that is to the detriment of the accusers and our system of justice. Societal attitudes influence the reporting, arrests, trials, convictions and sentencing of rapists. Show the judge you will not tolerate special considerations or a lenient sentence if the officer is found guilty.
Something to remember, in a criminal rape trial, the survivors are NOT the plaintiffs, they are witnesses only.
Here are some statistics that cover only women and girls.
95,136 forcible rapes were reported by women in 2002. (remember, only 16% report) Only 38.7% of reported forcible rapes are cleared by arrest or exceptional means. Only 13% of reported rapes end in conviction. At least two studies found that over 80% of women and girls who reported being raped were raped by someone they knew.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
@ John (12):
You are correct about our court of law, but I think the outrage was more about the lenient changes to bail terms, and the overwhelming courtroom support for the officer- and what that implied about fair treatment for the alleged victims, whether that was accurate or not. The situation seems to be biased toward the defendant- notice I said seems- and the court should take pains to be seen as neutral/fair.
I have more issues with the judge than I do with the officer, at this point.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:31 PM
@CO almost native:
Yes, having that many supporters in the room would be intimidating. Especially if many of them are cops. The judge needs to take control of the courtroom.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Dr. Patois -
Cheers to you!
Let freedom and “your message above” ring around the world!
Likin’ having you in the mudpuppy hood!
October 8th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
GreatGranny2B Says:
October 8th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
and
13
Dr. Patois Says:
October 8th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I really like both those ideas! Please add my name to any sign if you are attending.
I wish I could be there in person to show support for these women.
I don’t wish to get into the whole argument about the judge. I would just like to let these women know they have support from other women, not only those in Alaska.
October 8th, 2009 at 3:57 PM
#8 Writing from Alaska makes an excellent point, regarding the parishioners’ support of the accused officer. They were not reported to be behaving badly, if I recall. If it was a friend or coworker of mine in his place, I too might be present in that courtroom. (Though if my friend were to be found guilty, I’d be the first to offer the victims whatever support I could, even if it was only the assurance that he’d had me completely fooled, too.)
Not that I’m in the LEAST suggesting that these women don’t deserve all the support the community can muster. If the charges are proven, they’ll have a very long road to healing ahead of them.
Since he is a police officer, the concerns voiced by STAR reps and others are, of course, valid; but consider too how the other prisoners would treat a police officer if he was thrown in among them in jail. Alaska IS a small town, remember. And if I recall correctly, the police dept in Anchorage is understaffed. He likely put a good many of those inmates in there. If he is innocent, a victim of a set-up or mistaken identity or whatever, that would be injustice, too.
He is accused. He is not convicted.
Please, let’s not be so quick to pick up the pitchforks and torches until we hear all the facts. WE’RE better than that!
October 8th, 2009 at 4:10 PM
@#8 — Thank you for pointing this out. In yesterday’s posts, I was able to get clarification that Rollins’ church was not the one Prevo leads, but even after that clarification, other posts seemed to assume it was. The support in court from Rollins’s church friends makes even more sense to me now. A black man accused of rape will definitely cause high emotions on both sides; Rollins’s friends know this and are showing him their support.
Let me remind you, again, that Rollins is innocent until proven guilty. I do not mean this to diminish the importance of supporting the victims, but almost all of yesterday’s posts assumed he was guilty. As #17 says, “Please, let’s not be so quick to pick up the pitchforks and torches until we hear all the facts. WE’RE better than that!”
October 8th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
The other victim in all of this is his wife. Not nearly to the same degree as the others, but she is in a terrible position. She is a police officer also. I am sure she despises rapists. Yet she is married to the accused and probably loves the person she thinks he is. Caught between a rock and a hard place.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Well, speaking of conscience – I want to apologize for this wording in my previous comment – #8 – “I don’t write this with any great joy as I know everyone has a strong allegiance to Mudflats and I do not expect this to be well received.”
I could hear Snoskred telling me I am being passive aggressive – mea culpa – and thanks for the astute followup comments.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Writing from Alaska @21 -
Here Here! It’s gonna be oooookaaaaay now.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:04 PM
What a horrible crime, I too will be there in spirit. Crime against women are terrible to witness. I am a SANE Nurse and though I have never experienced rape, I have taken care of far too many survivors of rape.
I am never in favor of leniency for the perpetrator, too many times has it equated to a “slap on the wrist”.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:04 PM
My 2 cents:
First and foremost, I think it is important to believe and validate anyone who comes forward as a survivor of rape.
However, innocent until proven guilty is the legal standard we MUST stand by. And prison is indeed a very dangerous place for a cop…if proven guilty, he gets no sympathy for his plight from me, but if there is the unlikely 6 cases of mistaken identification, or the even more unlikely conspiracy to frame him, than he does not deserve to face that even for the short time before trial.
That said, the court should be closed to media and supporters limited so that no one gets (further) victimized in the working process of the justice system.
Also, due to the nature of the crimes he is accused of, he should NOT have access to his wife’s service weapon, and he should be monitored at all times by a fully capable third party, not someone he can avoid simply by finding a flight of stairs.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Your support AKM and other Alaskan women will make the women who have to testify stronger. Not easy to get up in court and tell your story of how your body and mind were violated. It’s always been interested to me that as a rape victim you’re a witness for the state.
This police officer violated the trust of the women and every law enforcement officer in the United States. He should be ashamed of himself. I hope his wife divorces his sorry a$$. She’s a victim too.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
I could not care less if the officer were black or white, nor the heritage of the victims.
Good grief, these women didn’t make this up and neither the cop nor his wife’s victimization are the issue here.
Please support these women. I wish I could be there.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
#17 said “If the charges are proven, they’ll have a very long road to healing ahead of them.” A LONG Road? It’s more like a lifelong road. You don’t ever really heal from rape. Believe me, I know. I’d be WAY MORE than happy to sign a petition!
October 8th, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Where’s that guy Dexter when you need him?
October 8th, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Charges ‘proven’ ? There are a huge amount of rapists that go scott free. Mine did. And no, you never heal completely, you can learn to cope but it will always stay with you.
Please. Give these women some repect, please read AKM’s last post on this and support them.
October 8th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Women Unite!
My voice is yours!
Wish I were not “from the diagonal” of the continent!
October 8th, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Another interesting judicial decision regarding this trial that occurred in August.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/907318.html
October 8th, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Dr. Patois – thank you, hope that opens peoples eyes to the truth. It sure is sickening but it’s a fact.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
According to the report, there are 6 *known* victims. Given the severe underreporting of sexual assault, it is not a stretch of the imagination to wonder how many more victims there are. There are 14 felony charges currently pending against the officer. The mother of one victim claims a history of stalking. If the accused was anyone other than a police officer, would he be allowed house arrest pending the trial? Would he be allowed to attend church? Heck, his pastor can visit him at home or, better yet, in jail.
As for threats against him in jail, just stick him in a private cell.
The sensitivity and support shown to the alleged rapist was sadly lacking for the victims. I don’t care what color anyone is, or what church someone likes to attend, permitting the courtroom to be stacked with supporters of the charged man was insensitive and cruel to the victims. That kind of antic can also have a chilling effect on the women when they testify and be quite disconcerting – well known to attorneys. Small wonder so few report sexual assaults.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
I’ll agree with CO almost Native @11 in her response to Writing from AK @ 8.
Further, why should him being a role model impinge upon the right of a woman to not have her body and spirit violently invaded and battered? Her rights come before anyone else’s need(s). Plus, it seems to me that an alleged serial rapist isn’t exactly the type of guy I want as a role model to any of the children in the community. But that’s just my opinion.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:59 PM
RE:# 88 –my two cents–
This discussion reminds me of watching the decision in the Simpson murder case. The TV coverage showed the reactions of people around the country. I could not understand why most of the Black people they interviewed believed OJ was innocent. To me, he clearly was guilty. It was the first time I thought about how my reality is different from the reality of others.
From a black person’s perspective the justice system is not as just or at least a lot less just than I think it is. They feel this way beause that is their experience and their reality. I guess the support of his church is for this reason.
The women involved will need a lot of support from the community during the trial.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Add my name to the list of supporters for the survivors. I am behind them 100%. I wish I could be there to show my support.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Sauerkraut wrote –
Further, why should him being a role model impinge upon the right of a woman to not have her body and spirit violently invaded and battered? Her rights come before anyone else’s need(s). Plus, it seems to me that an alleged serial rapist isn’t exactly the type of guy I want as a role model to any of the children in the community. But that’s just my opinion.
AMEN to that, Sauerkraut.
Look. People can easily hide who they really are from the world, whether they belong to a church, regardless of race or sex or eye color or anything else.
Writing from Alaska is a mod, and we have had many discussions in the mod chat regarding religion. We are (at least I consider we are) excellent friends, however I disagree strongly with WFAK on a lot of things involving religion. That is ok, everyone gets to have their own opinion.
I personally don’t believe in organised religion or churches. I belonged to a church once, was even baptised, this did not stop some horrible things going on within that church. In fact it was worse, because those people justified their terrible actions by showing up at weekly services and believing they were “forgiven” for the terrible things they had done last week – and that next week, they could be “forgiven” for the terrible things they were planning for the upcoming week.
People seem to forget that churches are not perfect places, and that they are societies like any other – there are always going to be bad apples.
The same goes for the police force. There are many wonderful people who dedicate their lives to helping others and serving the community – and then there are the bad apples who are there purely because they get a badge and a gun and enjoy the power – and use that power to suit themselves, sometimes even to commit crimes.
But for ANYONE regardless of church affiliations/religion or race or sex or eye color or what they ate for breakfast to support someone who -
- was in a trusted position within the community (whether it be police officer, security guard, pastor, freaking electricty meter reader, I don’t care)
- is accused of raping and changing the lives forever of 6 (and probably more) women (and it would not matter if it were men, either, rape is rape and it is unacceptable)
Those two facts alone should be enough to have people supporting the victims instead of supporting the (alleged) rapist. (- thanks Dr Patois)
Things are very wrong in America. You have people mesmerized by the sex scandals of politicians and teevee stars. You have parents arrested for having innocent photos of their children in the bath – this is not child pornography, people! My parents have those photos of me and so do millions of parents across the world. And you have courtrooms packed to support a rapist instead of to support the victims.
A sense of right, and perspective, is desperately needed.
And yes, I often wish there were many Dexters, going around removing the rapists and murderers from our society. It is a great shame it is just a teevee show.
With that said, I don’t believe in the death penalty – costs too much money and rarely actually does what it is supposed to do which is stop people from committing these crimes in the first place. They all think they won’t be caught – and innocent people are sometimes caught instead.
Anyway, those are my 2 cents on this.
Still love ya, WFAK. 
October 8th, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Man I wish I could be there.
Let the accused walk the gauntlet tomorrow. Let him see faces that are not afraid of him.
I’ll be thinking of you PST.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Alleged rapist Snoskred, alleged.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:31 PM
I understand that these are only reports of what happened in that courtroom, and we weren’t there to know how it really was, and I’ll keep that in mind, but…
There is a survivor close to me, who I cannot speak for, but I observed how the approach of the court date was traumatic for her. She had to go through it multiple times, because the perpetrator was well connected and played Let’s Reschedule Court for literally, years. Each time, in addition to the emotional trauma of reliving it all, and mentally preparing to provide details in open court, she faced disruptions to the life she was trying to rebuild. She was on subpoena as a witness and had to be available to the court at its convenience, arrange time off from her employer, limit commitments and travel that could potentially conflict with the phantom court dates, etc. This in addition to other tactics that were being used on her in hopes she would give up and drop the charges.
I don’t personally care about the church angle on this one. And I don’t think that the people who came in support of the officer were themselves intending to intimidate anyone. Far from it, I’m sure. But the accused officer, who presumably knows courtroom dynamics pretty well from providing evidence himself in other criminal cases, had to have known the effect of this. Someone in a different line of work, maybe not so much.
I’m glad that people are gathering to show support for the women involved.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:39 AM
I cannot thank you enough for bringing attention to this outrage. I am the mother of a victim. The perp? My husband & her father. I write “victim” b/c my experience with the “justice” system has been demoralizing. We reported the incest & yet it is my 4 year old’s word against her father’s. The cards are completely stacked against vics. The judge who allowed a SERIAL rapist out? And we wonder why we lead the nation in sex crimes? My husband will not serve a day in jail for what he did to our daughter. This cop has a minimum 6 vics & he is free with community support? Alaskan women & children, we are not safe.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:57 AM
I hope this is an appropriate place to mention an upcoming fundraiser that’s happening for STAR (Standing Together Against Rape): Soul For My Sister. It’s happening on Friday, November 13th at O’Malley’s on the Green. Doors open at 6:30 but more importantly — MUSIC — and lots of it — begins at 7:30. Tickets are $50 each or $90 a pair and will give you admission, a complimentary appetizer buffet and music from some of the best acts in town including: Joey Fender, Melissa Bledsoe Fischer, Melissa Mitchell, Nervis Rex, PandaMonica, and Power of Ten.
Tickets are available at Metro Music and Books and at the door. Credit Card orders can be maid by calling 276-7279. For more info: SoulForMySister@gmail.com
It’s a great organization, a great cause, and should be a great night.
October 9th, 2009 at 5:11 AM
I will be there in spirit, but its impossible for me to travel that far.
As a rape survivor (and yes it is something you survive) and a sexual abuse hotline volunteer and PP volunteer, I can attest that rape is under reported–many victims reach out for help while avoiding the police. And after a horrendous experience with police 25 yrs ago I can understand.
I hope someone can and will tell these brave women that many across the nation do believe them and do support them. One in seven women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, thats peoples mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters and nieces.
Ladies I will be thinking of you and hopefully you will feel the spirits of many to give you strength!
October 9th, 2009 at 8:26 AM
This is absolutely chilling, appalling and outrageous! I live outside of NYC, where there was a recent case of police rape against ONE victim, the bail was set at $175,000 (still not high enough IMO), and let me tell you that NO ONE was interested in defending the SOB who did it or his partner who stood watch and allowed it to happen. The Anchorage cop is being charged with SERIAL sexual assault, and the judge seemed to be bending over backward to accommodate him and facilitate his bail. WTF?!! This piece of garbage doesn’t “need” to go to church — he NEEDS to be in jail!
October 9th, 2009 at 8:38 AM
[...] For the back story on this call to action, please read AKM’s post. [...]
October 9th, 2009 at 8:52 AM
How can anyone trust a police officer again…or court for that matter, when it is obvious that this man should be contained behind bars for the sake and sanity of his victims, until his trial…police have authority, like priests, teachers, and others who have abused their positions and put all others suspect. Our world has spun out of control as it is, we all need something (law), and someone to rely on to protect us (illusion apparently)…very upsetting times.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I can agree and somewhat disagree with all sides here — I am sending prayers for everyone gathering now at the courthouse, and for everyone involved with the case.
The matter is *already* heart-wrenching for the plaintiffs, all their families and friends, and for the accused and family and friends. If I’m willing to pray for GWB, I’m willing to pray for the accused. In fact, that’s about all I know how to do in response to news like this without breaking my own beliefs as a seeker and pursuer of peace.
Sounds like there might’ve been a much better way to handle the courtroom situation which would respect the rights of supporters on both sides (so long as they’re not just there to do a “Town Hall” heckling act) while truly respecting the assault survivors instead of tormenting them. For child victims in some northeastern states, they only get videotaped I think, and do not have to stand there and be forced to relive all this in front of a hostile crowd.
May justice be served and may healing continue…
October 9th, 2009 at 6:16 PM
#27 Peggy said: “…It’s more like a lifelong road. You don’t ever really heal from rape. Believe me, I know.”
I know about life after rape, Peggy. But healing CAN happen.
I know that, too.