Speaker Series: Sexual Assault Awareness Part 1

Kesha Johnson-Clark, August 2014
Kesha is the founder of SisterHood, Inc (a grassroots organization), a Business professional, a writer, poet and spoken word artist (Independent Grrl Recordings)


When is rape[1] justified? Is there such a case where the rapist is given just cause for their violent actions? First, let's be clear rape is a crime. There are more than 80,000[a] rape cases in the U.S. reported each year yet 3.4 million[b] more go unreported while 18% of those reported get convictions which may be a direct result to defective rape kits[c].

Classified as a major crime or a felony[d], rape as sexual assault[2] is the UNWANTED, UNSOLICITED, NON-CONSENTED, horrific and violent act of forced sexual intercourse including penal to vaginal penetration, penal to anus penetration as some cases may also include UNWANTED, UNSOLICITED, NON-CONSENTED oral, finger penetration or oral, vaginal and anus penetration by various objects with or without protection from disease and unwanted pregnancies. The "aggressor" can be male or female. The "victim" can be male or female. The "rape act" can be male to male, female to female, adult[3] to child[4], child to child, adult to adult. Those self identified as straight, gay or bisexual can be an aggressor or a victim. Those who self identified as transgender can be an aggressor or a victim.

Those who were previously, currently or who have never been sexually active can be victims or an aggressor. A person of any race/ethnic background can be an aggressor or victim. A person of any financial or socio-economical status can be an aggressor or a victim. A person with or without mental or physical impairments (aka disability[5] or slower functionality than) can be an aggressor or a victim. A person who is celibate[6], single, married, a parent with several or a newly expecting parent or dating be it casually or serious, long tern relationship can be either. A person of any age can be a victim while in some cases the aggressor may be younger than the victim.

Rape can happen at night, early morning or midday afternoon. Rape can happen to a person when they wear a dress, a skirt, shorts or a pair of jeans. Rape can happen when a person has long silky hair, dread locs or a bald head, with or without make-up on. Rape can take place at home, school, work, church or a designated place of worship, a friend or relatives house, a party or concert venue, when a person is alone or in close proximity to other people. Rape can happen on a date, in a car, at a park or in a back alley.

The rapist can be short or tall, overweight or slim, very attractive or not too good looking at all, pale or dark skinned, socially popular and well liked or a loner and social outcast just as the victim. Either can be a known drug addict, a closet junkie or clean and sober, a person with a degree of any kind or without a high school diploma or GED, working in any field or totally unemployed. They can be of any faith, religion or political affiliation. Regardless of the actions of family members or relative history or neighborhood reputations and gossip, they can also be either. And both can be someone you know or a complete stranger.

During the 1970s the first rape crisis center was established in San Francisco. In a two-year period, 1.1 million women were raped[7] with 21.6% of those cases, the victim was the age 12 or younger[8]


Part 1 of When is Rape Justified is complete. This series will continue shortly...


Reference
1. RAINN
a. Rape Statistics
b. Rape and Sexual Assault, Bureau of Justice Statistics
c. Rape Kits
d. Felonies
2. UCSC Title IX/Sexual Harrassment Offcie
3. Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition
4. Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition
5. Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition
6. Word Reference definitiona and usage
7. Rape and Sexual Assault
8. Rape and Sexual Assault



Related Research
Marital Rape, 1978
Rape and Sexual Assault, Medical University of South Carolina
Rape Is Grossly Underreported in the U.S., Huffington Post 2013
If We Want to Take Sexual Assault Seriously, We Need to Test Thousands of Rape Kits First, 2013

Alert: Justice for Jada

Watch 16 year old Jada speak about her rape and how she was mocked on Twitter once photos of her were viciously posted online with the hashtag #JADAPOSE...

The Houston teen, identified only as Jada, said she went to a party with friends where the host gave her a drink she now believes was spiked with a drug. She passed out, and doesn’t remember anything from when she was unconscious. It wasn’t until Jada saw disturbing pictures and tweets on social media, that she believed she’d been raped. “Everybody knows,” Jada told KHOU 11. “And everybody’s texting me are you OK? You’re going to be OK, and I was like alright.” (TIME doesn’t usually identify rape victims, but we are making an exception in this instance because Jada wanted to come forward.)

It’s not immediately clear who originally tweeted the photos, because the photos have been mostly removed and some Twitter handles of people close to the incident have been de-activated. But the pictures soon went viral under the hashtag #jadapose, allegedly referring to the position of her body in the photographs. The alleged rapist was reportedly denouncing Jada and her story before his Twitter account was deactivated, including one tweet that said “HOW ITS RAPE? YOU HAD 2 MONTHS TO SAY SOMETHING BUT YOU AINT SAY [SH*T] TILL YOU GET EXPOSED?”

The circumstances of Jada’s decision to come forward are truly horrific and no teenager should have to endure the double violation of a rape and then a social media maelstrom at her expense, and no victim should feel she has to identify herself in order to stop abuse. But maybe there’s a silver lining in this strategy for survivors. By coming forward, Jada traded her anonymity for a face and a voice, and with identity comes a certain kind of power.

Source: TIME Magazine

Pics: Hobby Lobby Protest 7/3/14

Please click here to view more photos from the San Francisco, California location. A special thank you to W.O.R.D, Stop Patriarchy, NOW and all the supporters who attended on Thursday, July 3rd.

Action: Protest the Hobby Lobby Decision & Attacks on Women's Rights!!!

In light of the Burwell v Hobby Lobby decision, we will be joining our commrads at WORD in protest of the attack on women's rights and reproductive freedom!!!

Below are the national locations that will hosts speak-outs during the week of July 3rd thru the 13th, should your area not be listed, reach out to WORD and/or create an event along with other women's organizations for a greater impact. Thank you!!!



Los Angeles, Calif.
Date/Time/Location TBD
Info: la@defendwomensrights.org or 323-394-3611

San Francisco, Calif.
Thurs. July 3, 5:30 p.m.
Powell and Market Sts. (near Cable Car)
Info: sf@defendwomensrights.org or 415-375-9502

Sat. July 5, 10:00 a.m.
Info: ct@defendwomensrights.org or 203-787-8232

Washington D.C. area: Laurel, Maryland
Meet across the parking lot from Hobby Lobby (near Chik-fil-A)
3333 Corridor Marketplace, Laurel, Maryland
We will walk to Hobby Lobby as a group after we assemble
Info: dc@defendwomensrights.org or 240-487-WORD (9673)

Albuquerque, N.M.
Mon. July 7, 4:00 p.m.
Hobby Lobby, 4315 Wyoming Blvd NE
Info: abq@defendwomensrights.org or 505-249-1768

New York City, N.Y.
Date/Time/Location TBD
Info: nyc@defendwomensrights.org or 347-292-WORD (9673)

Seattle, Wash.
Sun. July 13, 5:00 p.m.
Future Hobby Lobby site, Aurora Ave N at N. 130th
Info: seattle@defendwomensrights.org or 206-568-1661

Action: Sign Petition to Drop Charges Against Marissa Alexander!!!

Marissa Alexander is an African American working mother and a survivor of domestic violence. On August 1, 2010, she was attacked by her abusive ex-partner, Rico Gray, just days after giving birth to their child. Trapped in the home, Marissa fired a single warning shot toward the ceiling to protect herself. Now she faces criminal charges, and the State of Florida is trying to imprison her for at least 60 years. Marissa injured no one–she had the right to self-defense and to be free from abuse.

The State of Florida calls Gray the victim, but he is the culprit. Gray had a history of violence against her and other women, both psychological and physical. Gray was under a court order to refrain from further violence against Marissa. The prosecution of Marissa Alexander is taking place under the same laws that allowed George Zimmerman to run free without arrest for nearly a month and a half. Zimmerman, the confessed murderer of 17-year-old African American Trayvon Martin, was charged with second degree murder rather than first degree murder. He was acquitted and set free.

If the Stand Your Ground law used to delay Zimmerman’s arrest were not racist to the core, it would have been used to protect Marissa on the day of the attack. Yet the State of Florida has continued to abuse and prosecute Marissa for nearly four years.

Marissa Alexander’s case is not an isolated one. Women around the country are facing similar conditions. Domestic violence is lethal – approximately one-third of all female murder victims were killed by partners or ex-partners. Since the expansion of mandatory-arrest laws in domestic violence cases, more and more women survivors are being arrested. Approximately 12,000 women have been murdered in the United States alone since 2001 as a result of domestic violence. Marissa’s imprisonment and prosecution are symptoms of these broader problems of sexism and racism against African American women who fight back!!!

With Marissa Alexander's new trial now just months away, it is increasingly urgent to take to the streets demanding that her case be dismissed.

Racist and sexist Duval County State Attorney Angela Corey has moved full speed ahead with Marissa’s prosecution. Marissa was convicted after a bogus trial in which the prosecution mischaracterized the law to influence the jury. Through the growing movement to free her, she won a second trial on appeal. But the State has thrown the book at Marissa, seeking the maximum term of imprisonment—60 years!—for defending her own life and the lives of her children.

Women around the world will not sit silent as Marissa is prosecuted for a second time. Marissa is not guilty of anything, and should not have served one day behind bars. She should not be facing a retrial. She should be free!!!

Sign the petition to Free Marissa Alexander in support of women's rights. Click here to find out where supporters are meeting to speak out and call to action for change Friday, June 20th and Saturday, June 21st!!!

Kesha Johnson-Clark Speaks at SF City Hall

Kesha Johnson-Clark, 34 made public comments/questions at the 4-14-14 Land Use & Economic Development Committee meeting for Late Night Transportation SAFETY concerns...agenda item 3 [140079] Supervisors: Kim, Cohen and Wiener in attendance hearing with the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Alameda-Contra Consta County Transit District, Transportation Network Companies, the Taxi Industry, the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Entertainment Commission, to discuss the city's late night transportation needs and progress towards developing a Late Night Transportation Plan, with specific areas of focus, including ease of access, speed and safety.

Kesha: "Hi and good afternoon to all in attendance, my name is Kesha Johnson-Clark and i'm speaking today as a resident, a working person and one who utilizes public transportation on a regular basis. My comment/question is in regards to safety, what percentage of crimes are captured on public transportation video such as taxi, BART and MUNI...and is there any research to support the correlation between crimes such as robberies, hate crimes, sexual assaults, rapes during late night transportation that would justify having an emergency transportation division option in the city if there isn't one in place already and if so, who is the contact person??? Thank you."

Follow Up: off camera...Dillon Auyoung, SFMTA Manager, Local Government Affairs


Source: Facebook

Action: Sign Petition for FCC to Create "Sexual Violence" Warning for TV Shows!!!

Source: Change.org