Take Rape Seriously Campaign NOW-NYC launched its campaign to Take Rape Seriously in September 2010, in response to an egregious rape case where the predator almost walked with no jail time. In the summer of 2011 alone, we saw the DSK case fall apart; a former sportscaster bought a 14-year old girl for sex and got community service. A high school ordered one of its students to pay its legal fees after she filed a 'frivilous' lawsuit for being forced to cheer for a classmate who admitted to sexually assaulting her. Today, we are responding to rape myths and biases in our community: from courtrooms to hospital exam rooms, from police precincts to college campuses, we regognize that stereotypes about rape fuel the epidemic of rape and impact a survivor's ability to get justice. We are working with the NYC community to change the paradigm on rape culture. Campaign Background
We mobilized anti-violence advocates and rape crisis centers across the city to turn up the pressure on the Manhattan D.A.'s office and the judge through meetings, protests, petitions, letters and the media to prosecute the attacker to the full extent of the law and set the example that rapists will not get off easily. Instead of getting a slap-on-the-wrist sentence of probation, the assailant was convicted of molesting two girls in juvenile detention and, on February 1, 2011, was sentenced to four years in prison and ten years probation on multiple counts of committing a Criminal Sexual Act and Sexual Abuse. Latest News | Take Action | In the Media | Assault on Campus | PressOur campaign to Take Rape Seriously will continue to address how the criminal justice system and our community addresses violence against women. Cases like Tony Simmons' are not unique. Nearly 18% of women in the U.S. have survived a completed or attempted rape. It's estimated that only 39% of rapes are reported nationwide and only 6% of rapists will spend any time in prison. The under-prosecution of rape cases, especially in acquaintance rape, remains a consistent issue-from the first police interaction through to final sentencing. We're expanding our campaign to improve the monitoring of sexual assault cases, educate and empower the public to end rape and violence against women, pressure law enforcement to strengthen their response to sex crimes, and find policy solutions that will ensure lasting change. NOW-NYC's Take Rape Seriously Campaign - Simmons Case Highlights: ................................................................................................................................... Current Campaigns: Court Watch................................................................................................................................... Take Action!
To New York Post: Enough with the "Hooker" References
Demand the New York Post Retract Story Calling DSK Victim a "Hooker"
The New York Post's front-page headline called the hotel maid bringing charges against Dominique Strauss Kahn a "hooker," but can't back up their claim. This slandrous example further illustrates that mainstream media refueses to take rape seriously. As Sonia Ossorio, NOW-NYC's Executive Director commented, "our culture has no sympathy for a woman we consider to be less than pristine." Tell the Post that their victim-blaming behavior is unacceptable. Sign the open letter demanding the New York Post retract and apologize for its unacceptable coverage of this case. On August 10, the Post showed us again that there is limit to how low they can go, comparing the stock market to a "hooker's drawers, up, down, up." In the words of our friends at Feministing.com, you should call the Post office at (212) 930-8000 or email Editor-in-Chief Col Allan (colallan@nypost.com) and raise hell! .......................................................... Demand Manhattan DA Fulfill his Campaign Promise and Publish Sex Crimes StatsTony Simmons will be prosecuted zealously now that he's in the media spotlight, but we're concerned about the vast majority of rape and sexual assault cases the public never learns about. That's why we asked for (and got) pledges last year from all candidates for Manhattan District Attorney to publish statistics revealing, out of all rapes and sex crimes reported in a year, the number of arrests made, indictments obtained, top count convictions secured, and felony pleas with jail time obtained. More than a year later, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. has not delivered on that campaign promise. Conviction rates alone don't provide enough information to analyze how effectively sex crimes are being prosecuted. Ask Vance to fulfill his campaign promise, and ask all other NYC District Attorneys to publish statistics on sex crimes that include: Rapes and felony sex crimes reported in NYC Arrests made Indictments obtained Top count convictions by plea or trial with state time Felony convictions by plea or trial with state time Dispositions involving no jail time
Call Manhattan Disctrict Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. at (212) 335-9400Call Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson at (718) 590-2000Call Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes at (718) 250-2000 Call Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown at (718) 286-6000Call Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. at (718) 876-6300
...................................................................................................................................In the Media NY Post & NY Daily News Call Marvell Scott Victim a 'Hooker'
Both the New York Post and the New York Daily News identified the 14-year old runaway that Marvell Scott was charged with raping a 'hooker'. In August 2011, Scott admitted to "inappropriate touching" of the minor and pleaded guilty to "endangering the welfare of a child", but recieved a deal giving him only 20 days community service.
NY Post Calls DSK Rape Victim a "Hooker," Has No Proof The New York Post's front-page headline called the hotel maid bringing charges against Dominique Strauss Kahn a "hooker," but can't back up their claim. This slandrous example further illustrates that mainstream media refueses to take rape seriously. As Sonia Ossorio, NOW-NYC's Executive Director commented, "our culture has no sympathy for a woman we consider to be less than pristine." Tell the Post that their victim-blaming behavior is unacceptable. Sign the open letter demanding the New York Post retract and apologize for its unacceptable coverage of this case.
NY Daily News Calls Rape Victim "Accuser"Does one of our local newspapers agree with the off-the-wall Georgia state legislator who wants rape victims to be called "accusers"? Apparently so. The NY Daily News' coverage of the trial where two NYPD officers are charged with raping a young woman in her apartment repeatedly refers to the woman as the "accuser." And it's not just once. Victim blaming has become their new standard of reporting. Let the counting begin: April 11th - Defense attorneys challenge accuser's friend "Accuser" used 5 times in article April 15th - Accuser back on stand "Accuser" in headline, again. April 19th - Semen found in accuser's bed "Accuser" used 4 times in article April 21st - Nurse backs up testimony of woman "Accuser" used 1 time "The accuser, a fashion executive,..." May 9th - NYPD officer denies raping drunken woman "Accuser" used yet again And this doesn't even get into the other problems woven into these articles. All the myths about rape and sexual assault that anti-violence advocates have been debunking for years are on full display. There's callousness in the coverage that seems to forget that rape is rape, no matter how a person acts or how much a person has to drink. In no other crime--whether it's robbery or getting punched in the face--does a victim face so much scrutiny and blame. What happened to the terms "victim" or "alleged victim"? Framing rape victims as "accusers" insinuates that the victim is not being truthful. These reporters might as well just go ahead and call this woman "liar." In a climate where coming forward publicly as a victim of rape is extremely difficult, and where rape as a crime is--at the very least--downplayed and misunderstood, it's critical that we get the language right and tell the story in a balanced and fair way. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, only 39% of rapes are even reported and only 6% of rapists will spend any time in prison. In refuting the proposed bill in Georgia, The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee summed it up, "Burglary victims are still victims. Assault victims are still victims. Fraud victims are still victims....To diminish a victim's ordeal by branding him/her an accuser essentially questions whether the crime committed against the victim is a crime at all." "Accuser" doesn't cut it, no matter how you try to look at it.Voice your outrage! Send a letter to the editor of the NY Daily News voicers@edit.nydailynews.com or call to speak to an editor 212.210.2100. Send an email to the reporters to call them out on their irresponsible reporting: Melissa Grace mgrace@nydailynews.com | Corky Siemaszko csiemaszko@nydailynews.comUPDATE: See NOW-NYC's May 15 Letter to the Editor: Don't Frame the Victim
...................................................................................................................................To NY Daily News: Rape is Rape (not a 'Sex Romp')................................................................................................................................... To New York Times: Take Rape Seriously!A recent New York Times article reported on the gang-rape of an 11-year old Texas girl. Blaming the victim, the article has been called-out by victim advocates for its irresponsible reporting and support of rape culture. Change.org launched a petition that garnered national attention. 11-Year Old Blamed for Being Gang Raped................................................................................................................................... Assault On Campus According to the Department of Justice, 95% of rapes on campus are never reported. This shouldn't come as a surprise, since most colleges and universities seem to care more about their public image than holding assailants accountable and preventing assaults from happening in the first place. An extensive investigation by the Center for Public Integrity found that perpetrators are rarely expelled, and that the majority of rapes are committed by serial offenders. The average number of victims for these perpetrators? SIX. NOW-NYC spoke out against the outrageous behavior of fraternity pledges on Yale's campus, and we're going to be reviewing and pushing for stronger sexual assault policies on our New York City Campuses. Center for Public Integrity Report NOW-NYC Applauds Obama Administration's Move to Take Rape Seriously: Vice President Biden Unveils New Education Department Guidelines on Sexual AssaultNew York Times Editorial: Making Campuses SaferNew York City Campuses: Sexual Assault Policies Coming Soon
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