See today’s fp story by Steven M – Millions of Jane Does in America and my recent diary – About A Rib Taken From Adam. This diary covers more of the background, attempt to cover-up the rape crime in Steubenville and the permissive macho culture in sports and the “role-models” for the youth. What messagehas professional sports conveyed to youth, think about the cheating and dope in sports.
One Billion Rising Steubenville Flash Mob
(Prinniefied) Feb. 14, 2013 – Today in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville at 12:15 p.m. flash mob participants will perform a nearly five-minute dance by Broadway choreographer Debbie Allen to the song “Break the Chain,” written by Teva Clark. One Billion Rising events will be held worldwide, including gatherings in Kent, Chardon, Cleveland, Fairview Park, Akron, John Carroll University and Notre Dame College.
Deb Lemire is the organizer of V-Day Akron and coordinated the flash mob to coincide with One Billion Rising, a global activist movement that brings attention to violence against women and girls. I have seen a lot of not so nice comments by some individuals in Steubenville who are claiming that outsiders have ruined the reputation of their town. I think it is awesome that outsiders continue to come to their town to bring attention to violence against women and girls. These people are making a difference. Perhaps those who are complaining could learn something from the “outsiders”.
(Prinniefied) Feb. 3, 2013 – #OccupySteubenville had another great rally today. There were many times that I teared up listening to some of the various speakers. I applaud everyone who stood out in the cold to take part and show their support for ALL Jane Does. I noted that the topic that kept being repeated over and over today is this is not just a Steubenville problem. I do not believe that the world is hating on everyone in the city of Steubenville specifically. People are asking questions – not just about Steubenville, but perhaps about their own towns. Something magical has happened as a result of this case – rape culture is being acknowledged around the world as a real problem and people are addressing that problem. That is a good thing. Knowledge is power and education is key.
Rape, Lawsuits, Anonymous Leaks: What’s Going On in Steubenville, Ohio?
(Slate) Jan. 3, 2013 – Even though, as the New York Times discovered, many members of the community and especially the football coach have been extremely defensive about the alleged rape and fallout, at least one former Steubenville resident decided to speak up. Alexandria Goddard has used her crime blog Prinnified to air the dissenting local opinion that this case is just another example of how the special status of the football program protects players from having to take full responsibility for their actions.
Early to cover the case, Goddard has backed this claim up by posting screenshots of now-deleted photos and videos of the night. She was sued for defamation by student Cody Saltsman, who left an ugly online history celebrating the alleged assault, including a photo on Instagram of the alleged victim being tossed about by her alleged assailants. The case was dismissed with prejudice in late December, and Saltsman publicly apologized to the victim and her family for his online actions.
Locker room jokes and rape culture in sports
(The Nation) – In a flash, Coach Dan backhanded Tim across the face. Seeing a coach or adult authority figure hit a 14-year-old, even a huge one like Tim, was shocking enough. Seeing Hippie Dan do it was akin to watching the Dalai Lama stomp someone with his sandals. We all stood there breathless and I’m not sure if Tim or Dan was shaking more. Coach Dan finally spoke and said, “I’m sorry but there are some things you don’t joke about.” He then walked out of the locker room and practice was done. The incident was never mentioned, but Dan was never quite so positive, Tim stopped making jokes and that was the first and last locker-room rape joke of the season.
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The fact is that rape culture–conversation, jokes and actions that normalize rape–are a part of sports. Far too many athletes feel far too empowered to see women as the spoils of jock culture. The young woman in Steubenville was carried like a piece of meat, with the brutality documented like it was spring break in Daytona Beach. It was so normalized that dozens of people saw what was happening and did nothing.
CNN criticized for Steubenville verdict coverage
CNN’s coverage of the Steubenville, Ohio, rape verdict involving a pair of high-school football players is being criticized for its focus on the rapists rather than the 16-year-old victim.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” CNN correspondent Poppy Harlow said live outside the juvenile court in Steubenville. “It was incredibly emotional–incredibly difficult even for an outsider like me to watch what happened as these two young men that had such promising futures, star football players, very good students, literally watched as they believe their life fell apart.”
Harlow continued:
“One of the young men, Ma’lik Richmond, when that sentence came down, he collapsed. He collapsed in the arms of his attorney, Walter Madison. He said to me, “My life is over. No one is going to want me now.” Very serious crime here. Both found guilty of raping this 16-year-old girl at a series of parties back in August, alcohol-fueled parties. Alcohol is a huge part in this.”
CNN legal contributor Paul Callan:
“The most severe thing with these young men is being labeled as registered sex offenders. That label is now placed on them by Ohio law and, by the way, the laws in most other states now require such a designation in the face of such a serious crime. That will haunt them for the rest of their lives.”
