like nothing
ever happened
Janet Kuypers
10/16/18
In Waco, Texas
a grand jury
found enough
evidence
in the case
against a man
indicted on four counts
of sexual assault
to send the case
to trial.
Now, usually,
when a grand jury
sends a case
to trial,
that usually means
there’s enough
evidence
to convict.
But I just heard
on the news
that instead,
he pled
no contest
to one charge
of unlawful restraint
in return
for the dismissal
of four charges
of sexual assault.
With this plea
from this fraternity
president rapist,
who had nothing
to offer the state
in a plea deal,
he gets this lower charge
in exchange
for
counseling,
a $400 fine
(which is less
than the fine
for leaving
a disabled car
to get help),
plus three years
probation.
Added bonus,
if he stays clean
until probation’s over,
his record
would be
expunged.
This means
he wouldn’t have to
register as a sex offender —
it would be
like nothing ever happened.
This woman
was repeatedly
raped,
strangled,
and left
for dead
face down
in the dirt.
She was brought
to the hospital,
where they
called the police.
There’s an enormous
amount of evidence.
A conviction
is almost sure.
Four counts of
sexual assault.
And they treat it
like nothing ever happened.
Women think
we’ve shattered
the glass ceiling,
but we still
have to shatter
the mentality
that woman are objects
and rape is not a crime.
We try to plead our case,
but nothing ever happens.
Maybe we women
have to shatter
more than ceilings,
but also men’s mentality.
Maybe we should
even shatter
a few of your bones,
the way you shatter our souls
with every act of rape.
Shattering your bones
would not even
cross the line
you rapists cross
with your misogyny
and violence.
Is that what we’re left with?
Is that what we have to do?
Should we start to get down
as low as you
to start
to try
to even
the score?
If we’re so equal,
is it not our turn
to exact our revenge?
(Former Baylor University Phi Delta Theta president
and student Jacob Walter Anderson was arrested
and charged with sexual assault in 2016.)
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