Unite To Eradicate Victim Blame : Invitation To Allies And Action Heroes
Blank Noise
Dear Action Heroes ,
Friends of Blank Noise
Allies and Super Heroes.
3 Action Heroes Step In
#INeverAskForIt
Will You?
Action Hero Stanford Survivor recalls the beige cardigan.
Action Hero X from Stanford University wrote an open letter to Judge Persky for giving the rapist, Brock Turner a lenient sentence.
Action Hero X writes :
“ On January 17th, 2015, it was a quiet Saturday night at home. My dad made some dinner and I sat at the table with my younger sister who was visiting for the weekend. I was working full time and it was approaching my bed time. I planned to stay at home by myself, watch some TV and read, while she went to a party with her friends. Then, I decided it was my only night with her, I had nothing better to do, so why not, there’s a dumb party ten minutes from my house, I would go, dance like a fool, and embarrass my younger sister. On the way there, I joked that undergrad guys would have braces. My sister teased me for wearing a beige cardigan to a frat party like a librarian. I called myself “big mama”, because I knew I’d be the oldest one there. I made silly faces, let my guard down, and drank liquor too fast not factoring in that my tolerance had significantly lowered since college.
…..
You have no idea how hard I have worked to rebuild parts of me that are still weak. It took me eight months to even talk about what happened….I didn’t want anyone’s pity and am still learning to accept victim as part of my identity. You made my own hometown an uncomfortable place to be.
I have to relearn that I am not fragile, I am capable, I am wholesome, not just livid and weak. “
Brock Turner’s father tries to defend his sons “ 20 minutes of action ”. Rape.
Judge Persky grants a lenient sentence of six months for the rape Brock Turner committed, saying that the sentence would otherwise have a severe impact on the rapist. (sign petition to remove Judge Persky here)
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With this we remember, Action Hero Suzette Jordan and the long trial she endured , fighting blame in the court room, public memory, media, and politicians too.
Action Hero Aarushi
I CHOSE to wear a sweater in summer in India in the afternoon to AVOID this exact situation and it happened anyway.
Action Hero Azaad
That was it. The man I loved was throttling me. For too long, I told no one about it. I was embarrassed and ashamed for something I had not done. Perhaps I was ashamed of being victim. I don’t think of myself as victim. But maybe, life happens to us, rise and fall and sing- I Never Ask For It.
Send your testimonial. Email in blurtbl...@gmail.com
September 25th - October 1st 2016
I Never Ask For It Week
Unite To Eradicate Victim Blame
Invitation To Action Heroes and Allies.
i) Step in , in an independent one ‘Action Hero’ capacity.
Duration: Short term one time engagement with the option of extending duration and nature of association.
Send in the garment you wore when you experienced sexual violence/ threat/ intimidation. ( short term)
Apply to volunteer or intern with the I Never Ask For It campaign. ( three months)
ii) Step in, influence, involve, create I Never Ask For It community:
Duration: Short to long term ( 3 months that can be extended depending on your availability )
Draw on your personal resources, networks and people around you. Start the conversation on victim blame and I Never Ask For It Clothes Project where you live, with communities that you are already part of . Eg neighbourhood, dance class, tution community) Reach out to self and those around you.
You can also take this forward would be to apply to volunteer or intern towards this five year campaign.
iii) Are you on campus ? / ( Or know someone who is?)
If sexism, rape culture, victim blame/ shame, sexual violence concerns , affects, angers or outrages you, you are very invited to the Action Hero Campus Network: A Network Of Campus and Student Allies Committed To Building Ending Sexism, Patriarchy and Victim Blame.
iv) Are you associated with an organisation working to end violence against women , girls and individuals across the sexualities/ gender spectrum?
The campaign invites and mobilizes communities, organizations and groups. both in India and globally, to step in and co create this vision. Nominate or add your organization/ community to the Global Feminist Network to End Victim Blame.
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Yours truly,
Blank Noise Team