When Fun Turns into Sexual Assault a Good Time is Not Had by All
Yesterday (July 24, 2012) a suspended Oklahoma State University basketball player named Darrell Williams was convicted of three felonies. Jurors recommended a year imprisonment (the minimum) on each of the two “rape by instrumentation” convictions and no jail time on a sexual battery conviction. The instruments in question were basically his fingers, which he was accused of jamming down the pants of two young women at a house party. He is also accused of carrying one against her will into a basement and further assaulting her there. You can read the full story from Sports Illustrated here.
Because there was no blood, no bruising, no broken fingernails from a fight, no semen, no vaginal or anal tears, and no reported screams – many men (and women) believe that therefore no rape occurred. In their minds these girls are lying, they are harlots and hussies, and they are wrong for ruining yet another young black man’s life. In their minds, the fact that ONE teen girl admitted to lying about a rape 10 years ago is justification to question ALL females that report being sexually victimized at any time forever in the past or future of the world.
Few citizens outside of law enforcement or the medical field seem to understand that rape is not a crime of sexual need, but one of power and control – a male’s way of asserting dominance over females and showing her who is boss. In a case of sexual assault, the perpetrator wields his penis, his fingers, his tongue, or some foreign object as a weapon and attacks the victim’s sex organs… the only thing that makes her different as a human being from him. Rape is nothing but an expression of hatred and rage towards the female gender.
Victim’s rights advocates state that only 16% of sexual assault cases are reported to law enforcement. Adding further insult to injury, rape cases have a dismal conviction rate, especially when it comes to college and professional athletes… and that needs to change.
What Behaviors Constitute Rape?
Perhaps we should begin with the legal definition of rape, since so many people seem to be confused.
Early this year, the U.S. Department of Justice revised the Uniform Crime Report’s legal definition of rape to be more inclusive, reflecting the many different types of sexual assaults perpetrated on both females and males, adults and children in this country.
The new definition defines rape as: “The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
The DOJ release goes on to say “The revised definition includes any gender of victim or perpetrator, and includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity, including due to the influence of drugs or alcohol or because of age. The ability of the victim to give consent must be determined in accordance with state statute. Physical resistance from the victim is not required to demonstrate lack of consent. The new definition does not change federal or state criminal codes or impact charging and prosecution on the local level. “
By that definition, touching the exterior of someone’s genitals might be considered sexual assault in some jurisdiction, but the second you put your finger or anything else even 1/16th of an inch into a body cavity without stated and conscious permission/consent, you have committed rape. Anyone that has been drinking or that is under the influence of drugs, whether they took them themselves or whether you drugged them, cannot give conscious permission/consent.
Every parent of a teenaged boy should be sure their son understands this before sending him off to college… every parent of a daughter should do the same. Statistics on this crime are ridiculously under reported for several reasons, including lack of “evidence” (drugged or drinking and not beaten or physically maimed); fear of not being believed (because of the fame, reputation or wealth of the attacker); and/or terror of the legal prosecution process.
Male Failure to Assist Females During a Sexual Assault is Common
Over the past years there have been dozens of cases reported in the media of females being viciously beaten, raped or otherwise assaulted in public places, with the assaults witnessed by groups of black men. However in these cases the males do not step in to save the female – instead they whip out their cell phones to record the attack, and in some cases join in to victimize her even further. The guys are having a good time, the female victim is not.
In Cleveland, Texas in November 2010 a gang of 28 teens and adult black males raped an 11 year old girl and filmed it on cell phones. Some called their friends to join in the rape. At any time those men receiving the call could have called the cops to save the child. None did.
In Soweto, South Africa a group of 7 black males abducted a mentally disabled 17 year old girl with the mental capacity of a 5 year old from her home and raped her repeatedly. A film clip of 10 minutes and 33 seconds was distributed on the internet and went viral. The girl was missing for a full three weeks. At any time those men could have stopped their attack and called the cops to save the child. Not one of the men involved intervened on behalf of the disabled child to help her.
In Richmond, California a group of more than a dozen black and latino males raped a 15 year old high school student for several hours. Males came and went, taking pictures, making jokes and laughing about it. At any time those men could have intervened as a group to stop the attack, or used their cell phone to call the cops and save the child. None of the males cared enough to help the victim (she was finally saved by a female).
In Hempsted, New York a young woman accused a group of five young men of luring her outside a Hofstra University party by snatching her cell phone where they waited with a rope then took her to an empty dormitory men’s room where they locked her inside and raped her. Police, watching a brief clip on one of the young mans phones determined that the sex was consensual instead of coerced. The young lady subsequently bowed to pressure, denied all charges and disappeared. The case was then dismissed.
In Chicago, Illinois a man raped a 14 year old girl when she refused to have sex with him. He then took her to an apartment where he called friends to come and join in the rape. The assaults were recorded on a cell phone and shared amongst the men. At any time the three men called to the scene could have intervened to save the child, yet none did.
Observer behavior was also reported in the Darrel Williams case. The Daily O’Collegian (the student newspaper for the University of Oklahoma) reported on the story last week. Disturbing details of the assault, many witnessed by dozens of party-goers, were recounted by the victims during their courtroom testimony:
One of the complainants, an OSU student, testified that Williams assaulted her in a basement, in a yard and against a truck. A group of men she presumed to be OSU basketball players assaulted her and Williams touched her private areas, she said. The men were dressed in basketball warm-up attire, were tall and were discussing their status on the team, leading the woman to believe they were players.
During the attack, she said there were more than 20 witnesses but that no one offered assistance. She also reported breaking free from the men but said Williams caught up with her soon after, pinned her by her wrists to a fence and put his finger in her private parts again. The woman also told the courtroom she was the chief author of the anonymous letter.
The other complaining witness testified Monday that Williams assaulted her and another party-goer recorded the attack on his cell phone.
She also reported that Williams put his finger inside her despite her pleas to stop.
Other OSU students in attendance at the party testified on Monday and Tuesday that they did not see the assaults occur. However, one student said Tuesday that people left suddenly around 2 a.m. because rumors got around about something happening in the basement. The student also said basketball players were making women feel uncomfortable.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Cheryl Ramsey asked why the women did not cry for help. One woman said she felt it was obvious she needed help, adding that she did not believe people would attempt to stop an assault by an athlete.
The lengths to which colleges and universities will go to protect athletes accused of sexual assault was demonstrated by Arizona State University in the case of Darnel Henderson, a star football player accused of rape. In 2009 Arizona State settled with the plaintiff for $850,000 when an intense investigation revealed that the University had destroyed emails and other evidence which would show Henderson’s pattern of sexually harassing, groping, exposing himself and threatening females. The university did nothing to protect the female students from a young man that, within days of his arrival on campus, exhibited behavior traits of a sexual predator.
Here in Oakland, California where Henderson went to high school, thousands rallied to his defense and accused the female in question of doing nothing but trying to bring a black man down.
(continued on page two below)
Deborrah
Veteran social researcher, relationship advice columnist, author and radio host. Author of hundreds of articles on American and black culture, gender issues, singles, dating and relationships. Author of "Sucka Free Love!" , "The 24 Types of Suckas to Avoid," "The Black Church - Where Women Pray and Men Pray," and "Why Vegan is the New Black" all available on Amazon.Com. Her unique voice and insightful commentary have delighted fans and riled haters for 20 years. Read her stuff on SurvivingDating.Com and AskHeartBeat.Com.
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