Even as Anonymous was leading a second protest in Steubenville yesterday, the sheriff announced that no other people would be charged in the alleged gang raping and kidnapping of 16-year-old Jane Doe by football players referred to as members of the “rape crew”.
This case appears to be steeped in cover-ups and conspiracies, from the County Prosecuting Attorney reportedly being the mother of one of the “rape crew”, at whose house an assault may have taken place, to the victim’s ex-boyfriend allegedly setting her up to be drugged and gang raped as revenge for breaking up with him. It’s disgusting and shameful and horrifying, but it’s also sadly not that unusual.
What is unusual is that this time a group of mostly men, in a subset of Anonymous called Knight Sec, is leading a public charge against the rape culture and demanding justice.
Anonymous’ protests aren’t just impacting this case; in fact, because of the attention the Steubenville case has gotten, San Luis Obispo rape crisis agency in California has launched a “Start by Believing” campaign in order to promote the reporting of rape. Sexual Assault and Rape Prevention (SARP) Associate Executive Director Jesse Torrey explained, “If somebody discloses they’ve been sexually assaulted, you need to start by believing them. And if they are responded to with support, with validation, with ‘how can I help?’, with ‘this wasn’t your fault’…that’s the road to healing.”
Out of this horror, some salvation.
The Start by Believing campaign is a direct result of the Steubenville case. The SARP pointed out to Central Coast News, “(T)he Department Of Justice says only 36% of rapes are reported. Most go unreported for fear of shame or not being believed.”
“It’s horrifying to see the attitudes that we have in our culture,” says SARP psychologist Kimberly Lonsway. “Many people describe it as a rape culture where we go to great lengths to deny that rape exists, to trivialize it, to minimize it’s impact…even to the point of turning it into a joke.”
But with eyes now turning to social media, photos and videos documenting the alleged rape, nobody’s laughing.
Much of that evidence was deleted after the assault, but Anonymous found it and made it public again. Of course, no one would even know about this case were it not for a Alexandria Goddard, a blogger at Prinniefied in Ohio who covered it from the beginning and was sued over her coverage. Then Anonymous got involved and brought even more attention to it with their protests.
Anonymous protested again Saturday, and they are fiercely going after the folks who are protecting the alleged rapists. A victim who was reportedly drugged and lured into a trap for the specific purpose of being punished via gang rape and public humiliation is suddenly not alone.
Alexandria Goddard and a group of mostly men in Knight Sec found the rape culture protecting Jane Doe disgusting, so they took a decided, defiant stand against it. Hundreds joined the Anonymous-iniatied protests against the way this case is being handled. What we have here are men and women united against the rape culture — united in valuing humanity. Their actions are generating awareness and change. It may not be a cultural shift yet, but it’s a very good start.
Image: Screengrab from the protest via flickr.
If you have a tip, you can share it anonymously via LocalLeaks here.
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Reynardine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 8:28 am
I have often thought how every woman has lived her life in a war zone, from the time girls are old enough to understand, and what a toll it takes to simultaneously maintain this awareness at the threshhold and consciously ignore it, as one must do to do business and live life. How much energy would be liberated by not having to do that! The best-meaning men have a hard time understanding that, but it’s heartening to know some do.
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Older_Wiser
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 9:12 am
We must change the overall culture, which commodifies women as sexual objects for anything males want and encourages males’ pursuit of it. It’s not just Steubenville and it reaches further into American culture than we want to admit.
I’m an old feminist who is appalled by the regression of “women’s place” in the 21st century.
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aelfheld
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
The ‘overall culture’ has been changed over the past 5 decades. This behaviour is not an aberration but the result of the changes pushed by those who disguise their despite of women by calling themselves feminists.
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UncaJoe
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
I detect a fan of Rush Limbaugh’s “Feminazi” rhetoric.
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Reynardine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
‘Scuse, are you effing nuts? I’m old enough to know that not only were women being raped half a century ago, but that, so long as the victim was living, no prosecutor would bring a case to trial unless the victim was of “previous chaste character” and it was a stranger rape, even though that’s not what the law said. In the case of a conviction, unless either the accused was a minority and the victim a white woman of “previous chaste character”, or the victim was a prepubescent child and the assailant an adult man, the sentence was likely two years at best and the criminal was out in ten months or less…often hunting the victim whose testimony sent him to jail. Under the circumstances, few victims even complained. Maybe a third of the women I went to college with had experienced some kind of sexual assault…that I knew of. I suspect there were more.
Meanwhile, since there is an isograph that demonstrates you are not American, maybe you should butt out of our legal and social issues, of which you have evinced a profound misunderstanding.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Definitly American, but from a very large southern state known for its lack of education and oil wells.
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Reynardine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
That may be where he’s sending from, but I bet he’s an employee of BP
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Hrafnkell Haraldsson
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 9:32 am
Thank you for writing about this, Sarah. I have been so enraged by how football can be put ahead of a young woman’s life. Thank goodness for Anonymous’ work on her behalf, and on behalf of all women everywhere, because they have brought so much to light.
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vegaslib
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
I can’t believe this story is not being reported about enough. People need to know what is happening and insist that those responsible are held accountable.
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KatzKids
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 4:32 am
I couldn’t agree with you more Hraf. And I add my grateful thanks to Anonymous and the people coming forward to protest, and I can’t state it highly enough.
That said, let’s also not forget the infamous college, law enforcement, state prosecutors etc. who also put football over the rape of children.
It’s a sick society indeed when these crimes are willfully ignored, protected & covered up. It demonstrates clearly how far women & children are being degraded by certain elements of our society.
That they continue to be abused and killed yet continue to be blamed for that abuse is beyond horrific & must be stopped. Anonymous & protesters everywhere give me hope that we’re finally standing up against these horrors. It’s past time and we have to get louder & louder whenever this happens.
GOPTP – Pass that Violence Against Women Bill NOW. You and your AmeriTaliban are the most influential in promoting the hate and belief that our women and our children (the ones born) are nothing but property that men are entitled to use any filthy way they see fit.
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Eykis
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Sarah, great column as always. As an Older-Wiser feminist myself, the idiocy of the political crowd in the RePiggery has taken women’s health along with their personal power to a low not seen in my lifetime. We must rid America of ANY politician who attempts to have regression of women’s rights ANYWHERE, particularly in the USA.
Some real American exceptionalism is in order here – WOMEN ARE EQUAL – ANY MALE WHO DISAVOWS THIS HAS NO BUSINESS IN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE, MUCH LESS ELECTED OFFICE.
RAPE is a CRIME, RAPE IS ABOUT CONTROL.
QUIT TRYING TO CONTROL WOMEN.
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Anne
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 11:42 am
The people who keep this issue in the forefront to obtain justice for this victim have my staunch and undying support.
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Anne
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 11:56 am
What happened to this girl in Steubenville is symptomatic of a regressive mindset that still insists on blaming the victim for what happened to her. The presence of Anonymous is extremely uplifting because it’s full of men who DO get it that rape is a hostile, degrading crime.
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anna mills
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
I live near here and let me tell you that EVERYTHING is about that football team. Disgusting. The sheriff is angry AT Anonymous!
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Reynardine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
A society that centers around team athleticism, like one that centers around war, is one that tends to regard females as feeder goldfish that can be expended to feed male aggression.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Not only females but males of lesser physical attributes. I say get rid of sports in school and teach what school is there for. Its not there to fill the college ranks with partially educated people
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Brian Loudermilch
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
This entire story is a really Sad comment on what
Passes for “Morality” Nowadays.
Many thanks to the Folks at Anonymous for bringing
this to Light and Keeping this Issue on the Front
Page.
The SAD TRUTH is that Steubenville is just the Tip
of a Much Larger Iceberg.
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mike ference
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
War Tactics Should Be Applied in Steubenville, Ohio
By Mike Mike Ference
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/the-definitive-timeline-of-the-steubenville-rape-s
Every day brings new evidence that we no longer live in a civilized and principled society. The worst part, it usually concerns another case of sexual misconduct involving a victim with little or no chance for justice – a synchronized criminal government willing to cover everything up. One can only wonder if that’s what took place in Steubenville, Ohio.
The recently unveiled evidence explaining the systematic practice of torture and sexual molestation of a teenage girl at the hands of so-called high school football heroes from Steubenville, Ohio strongly suggests that current leadership has outlived any usefulness to society.
But as more and more cases of abuse and cover-up come to light, one begins to wonder whether those in power and the other friends and fellow football players of the defendants should be considered any more trustworthy than, say, Saddam Hussein.
So what should be done now that we know it’s a pattern of terror orchestrated and possibly repeated any time these dysfunctional sex freaks have the urge for a sexual slaughter. Given the level of wreckage and anguish caused in the lives of so many people, it seems appropriate to look to the war on terror for a model strategy.
A first prong of attack might involve a Special Forces unit made up of highly skilled and trained military personnel capable of tracking down and obtaining confessions from any current or former government leaders, police officers, school administrators, mobsters and of course past and current players on the illustrious Steubenville football team. If rights are violated, if military personnel sometimes go a little too far, so be it. These sociopaths had ample opportunity to fess up and repent. Those incapable of civilized behavior shouldn’t expect the rights and privileges of civilization.
A deck of…
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Rev.Susan Haseltine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
As a citizen of Steubenville and a six year volunteer advocate for victims of sexual assaults, I tell you that the protesters are NOT advocates for justice, they are bullies who care nothing about the young woman or the results of their lies and distortions about event in August.
The local law enforcement agencies in our community have a long term commitment to pursue justice for victims of abuse. I have seen this first hand in the Emergency Room as I stayed with a victim through the evidence gathering and the police or sheriff deputies questions.
Want to help victims? Financial support of your local agencies that exist to help in these cases. Ours is Sexual Assault Help Center 740-283-3444. 226 North 4th Street, PO Box 1027. Steubenville, OH, a part of Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center, Inc. P.O. Box 6764. Wheeling, WV, 26003. 24 Hour Hotline: 304-234-8519. 24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-884-7242 …
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Terri
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
You’ll pardon me if I don’t believe a reverend after the Catholic church cover ups. Nice to see you’re blaming protesters for the actions of young men from your town. Where’s your outrage about that?
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Fenbeast
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
Terri, did you miss the fact that the “Reverend” is female? Not all persons who use that title are Catholics, and a female Reverend is most emphatically NOT Catholic – it’s not allowed. At a guess, the commenter is Episcopalian. And while the Episcopal church doesn’t have a perfect track record in dealing with sexual harassment or abuse, it is a far cry from the widespread systemic cover up perpetrated by the Catholic church. So please, direct your slings and arrows with greater care.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 5:04 pm
Reverend is most any christian leader of a church. Methodist etc etc. They also go by the name Pastor
Excepting Catholicism of course
I think she was saying that after the criminal activities of one church, she doesnt believe any of the ministers
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disgusted
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
your anger is misplaced.
there is too much evidence that the rapists themselves put out there, thinking that their positions made them invincible.
Mike Nodianos, for example, spent 12 minutes laughing at how “dead” the victim seemed during the attack.
Your credibility is glaringly absent.
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Reynardine
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Well, well, the weaselling little voice of Judith Iscariot. I gather your son, your nephew, or that of someone you consider important is involved in this mess.
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Just A Dumb Fireman
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
BRAVA!!!
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Kristy
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Why are you angry at the protestors? What is that accomplishing? And if they don’t care about the victim…what do you think they are there for?
Your anger is misplaced.
You can bluster about the “lies” all you want, but there are plain videos, photos, tweets and messages that aren’t distorted. They’re objectively horrifying.
So if you, as a Person of God, can hear one of the perpetrators himself laughing about the incident and still deem the PROTESTORS the bullies, then you have proven absolutely that the leaders of the Steubenville community are a huge part of the problem.
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Terri
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Thanks cuz I was about to go off on her.
To Fenbeast, Yeah, I read her name. So what? Do you assume that all women support women’s rights? Maybe you missed the Republican women defending rape can shut it down religious beliefs, but I didn’t.
Religion is where many of those beliefs come from and that was my point. Also that institutions like churches are political power houses and $$$$$$ drivers. They defend the power structure not the victims usually.
Have you ever lived in a small town? You couldn’t possibly be defending the reverend just because she’s not Catholic if you have, unless you have some other agenda.
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Judithe Frances
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Me thinks she doth protest too much! Who is she covering up for??
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Sugapea
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
And teach your Children well…
Especially your Boys!
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trsedwards
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
When “Anti Rape” culture gets into bed with the Female Equality movement. (or, What exactly am I suppose to teach my son about girls)
as somebody who has been raised among mostly aggressively independent “non-feminist” women; I am particularly sensitive to the female side of ‘sexual aggressor’ issues from work to dating to media. But I digress, and feel the need to digress further. The following has not to do with this particularly heinous case, ((I stand as a guy who has been proven repeatedly, in those situations, to drag a girl out of the situation and make sure shes in a safe spot somewhere, generally a “nice guy”)) but this stands as a general warning against where the backlash of this case and others like it, will take us as a society.
I posit now, what I have concluded will be the ‘talk’ I am having with my son, about his future involvement with girls. It will begin “Don’t bother”. The “rape culture” vs “Anti rape” culture will, by then, have made it (if not legally then most certainly Morally) assured that Only women are allowed to pursue or initiate sexual contact, Ever. Any attempts by a boy to couple sexually with a girl will be construed and charged as attempted rape. Any success will be largely looked upon as exploitative. On the other hand any pursuit or initiation of sexual contact made by a female will still label her a slut. Don’t bother; All men are now officially in The Friend Zone until further notice.
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Terri
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
My brain has a way of shutting ^ stupidity down. Sounds like you’re making a great case for why no one asks you out, but other than that, you make no sense except for your very solid defense of rape culture just in case you’re denied access to men because they’re afraid to hit on you. LOL. keep telling yourself that.
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LeeX3
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
You know what would be nice? If just once…JUST ONCE…a discussion about the rape of a female could be about, oh, I don’t know…THE RAPE OF A FEMALE, without the whiny voice of, “But, but, but…what about the men? How will this affect MEN???” creeping in. Just this once, could it be about women? Must we turn the spotlight back on men even when discussing the sexual assault of a female? Could we just have this one conversation about the sexual safety of women, please? Just this once?
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Marwill
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Sexual safety of women does depend on men.
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Nancy Hulse
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Raising nice sons won’t change the world . Read the article from Sonja Johson on my web-site at www.womynkind.org .
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Marwill
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
I live in Australia, however, have strong family ties with America so feel free to comment on some of the articles by contributors to Politicus USA
Over the years there have been several rapes by high profile football players, here in Australia. There is always the attempt of a cover up but if details do see the light of day and articles are printed in the national newspapers, within a few months the perpetrators (with very few exceptions) are back on the football field, feted as heroes.
I find it all disgusting and would never watch a game with these so called men playing,
Until law enforcers, the world over, treat all rapists the same as any other criminal, impose substantial jail terms and stop treating sportsmen as “untouchable” no matter what they do, nothing will change.
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AC
Jan. 6th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
So disturbing on so many levels. The people (more kids) who watched and even took pictures of parts of this episode are disturbing. If you saw the video of one of the perps bragging about this, it is the height of disturbing. The coverup, and protection of rapists in the name of high school football is nearly more than I can bear.
Between this and Newtown I just feel drained and empty. These young people are ill. This nation is ill. Has it always been ill? Could be argued, Native American genocide, slavery, witch trials etc.
So this article expressing that any good at all can come of this is welcome. Mustn’t despair right?
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j. cale
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 3:26 am
I have come to the conclusion that the best way that the cause of rape can be summarized is by a check list:
THINGS THAT CAUSE RAPE:
_ CLOTHING
_ FLIRTING
_ BEING AT A DANGEROUS LOCATION
_ ALCOHOL
x RAPIST
a rapist, usually a male needs reminding that it was a woman who gave him his life by bringing him into the world AND he needs to work out his self esteem issues in a rational manner. Then he can hold his head high and truly feel LIKE A REAL MAN. When he can show the respect that is every woman is due, then he can be held in esteem by others.
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Another Steubenville Resident
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 9:45 am
Rev. Haseltine,
I am also a long time resident of Steubenville and even attended the High School in questions – usually referred to as Big Red. I have also attended a church service or two that you have presided over. While I believe you are a good person, this time, you have it wrong. We have a great record of fighting for victims of child abuse and molestation, but teen and adult victims abused at the hands of “friends” – no. This mentality has been happening in the ohio valley and Steubenville for many, many years. I graduated over 20 years ago not much has changed in that time. Football is king and women are regarded as not much more than entertainment for the boys between games. As for the protestors being “bullies” if it wasn’t for these protestors, this would have been swept under the rug as before and we would be blaming the victim for being a slut or allowing herself to be put in that position. Even girls who make mistakes should be protected!
Rev. I suggest you really pray on this one.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 10:10 am
Amen.
Seems like salvation only goes to friends
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concerned parent
Jan. 7th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
THis is an obvious case of gang rape. With lots of
aiding and abbeting, which is clearly illegal. IT’s also clear that with a group of football players named the “Rape crew” they have been allowed by many people in their town to continue and repeat this crime. Maybe the nice woman pastor
has helped rape victims. Does she have the power or courage to stand up to her whole town with football rapist and under age drinkers? I don’t think so, bring in the outsiders to make sure more are prosecuted. So they (the criminal rapists)are Not allowed to go on to more rapes and a obvious total dehumanization of the women in their lives. Next will be murder. I hope my daughter doesn’t meet the monsters somewhere.
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Anonymous
Jan. 8th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Help the people of Steubenville and America speak out against rape. Help support the movement that is going on in our country and not turn our backs on those that have been victimized. http://teespring.com/Anonymous
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