A White House petition has been started to seek justice for the alleged 16-year-old girl who was raped by the HS football team in Steubenville, OH. I know there have been many diaries written here but wanted to offer up one more to ask for you to add your name to this petition.
Link to Petition
The initiator of this petition writes:
I'm requesting that this case be pushed up to the higher courts so that there is some real justice, also to allow for a jury trial for all involved. This is a serious offense and this needs to be an example for everyone that this type of behavior should not, and will not be Tolerated in our society. i don't believe that the police or news in the area of the alleged crimes that are covering the story are truly trying to prosecute the accused, but rather cover up a scandal that has dramatically effected the lives of many individuals
If you've been following the story, the two young men who are charged have had the kidnapping charge thrown out and have had their case moved to juvenile court instead of having to face a jury trial. Many view this as a way to lessen the penalties against these young men as the case will be heard and decided on by a judge - leading many to believe that leniency will be given.
I signed this petition - perhaps it won't do anything, but I felt I needed to do something. I won't re-post the heinous video of some of the young men bragging about the alleged rape of this young girl. Suffice it to say I was sickened by the callous way these young men spoke about the brutalization of a young girl as if it was just the funniest thing in the world to them.
We must do better by our children. We must do better for our children. We must do better as a society to stop the rape of children and we must hold accountable those that rape.
Please change the message - it's NOT "don't get raped." It's DON'T RAPE.
Thank you,
Roxine
Wed Feb 13, 2013 at 12:19 PM PT: The White House on Monday thanked the more than 31,000 people who signed a petition urging federal intervention in the Steubenville teen rape case, but it declined to do so today.
A White House statement said it can’t do so because “it requests a specific law enforcement action."
http://www.wtov9.com/...
While they will take no action, at least they heard our cry. Thanks to everyone who signed the petition - it at least raised the level of awareness of this case to the White House.