Anonymous has taken on the Rehtaeh Parsons' rape case, and the Unite Against Rape movement is growing stronger by the day. Rehtaeh Parsons, was a 17-year old girl who was gang-raped when she was 15. Photos of the rape were circulated to classmates, and she was scorned and tormented --to death. She committed suicide last week. No one has been charged, but the Nova Scotia authorities, after a public outcry, have now reopened the case. Earlier in the week, in desperation and sadness, Rhea’s father reached out for help on a public blog site.
"How is it possible for someone to leave a digital trail like that, yet the RCMP (Canadian Police) don’t have evidence of a crime? What were they looking for if photos and bragging weren’t enough? Why was this treated like a minor incident of bullying rather than a rape? Isn’t the production and distribution of child porn a crime in this country? Numerous people were emailed that photo. The police have that information (or at least they told us they did). When someone claims they were raped is it normal to wait months before talking to the accused?
My daughter wasn’t bullied to death, she was disappointed to death. Disappointed in people she thought she could trust, her school, and the police. She was my daughter, but she was your daughter too. For the love of God do something."
Anonymous, the 'computer hacking vigilantly group' (Some call them Truth-Seekers), heard the father’s plea and got involved. Included in their press release claiming to have the confession of one of the rapists, Anonymous states: (excerpts)
“The An image of a 15-year-old girl having sex was viral in Cole Harbour District High School. Neither the school nor the police dispute this. By legal definition that image was child pornography. By some estimates, hundreds of individuals have already seen the photograph, including many adults. The police have seen the photograph. The fact that this evidence was disregarded as inappropriate for any kind of arrest by the police is unconscionable.
We have taken it upon ourselves to point out that injustice to the public and we are asking the police to correct their incompetent handling of this case--a young girl has already died from it.
"We are Anonymous. We are legion. The honest support us. The corrupt fear us. The heroic join us. Expect us."
All of the alleged rapists have been identified through other sources, and a petition (of 137,500 signatures at the time this diary was written)was started and groups are gathering to call for justice. Canada's Prime Minister has issued a statement promising to take action. At the mother's request, Anonymous will not be releasing their information at this time. Rehtaeh's mother spoke in a taped CNN interview, of the horrors her daughter experienced, even after the rape:
The mother said one of Rehtaeh's female 'friends' on facebook put in her status about Rehtaeh: ‘Sluts need to leave this school anyway'. Rehtaeh's mom goes on to say some boys were contacting Rehtaeh saying,'Wanna have fun? You did it with my friends, let’s get together!"
Rehtaeh's mother was the one to find her daughter's dead body. After being physically abused and raped, then being verbally abused for seventeen months by her peers, Rehtaeh went into a deep depression, and last week she took her own life to end the emotional torment --she attempted to hang herself, was on life support, and died last Sunday night. Here is a Vancouver Sun.online video with more information:
Update: Since the original post, the petition has grown 112,000 signatures in one day (249,000).
As I was writing this, I came upon yet another story of a 15-year old California girl driven to suicide after being gang-raped while unconscious at a party. Photos were taken during the rape and distributed to classmates as well. Six months later Audrie Pott was dead. She hanged herself --just like Rehtaeh Parson.
These two very tragic cases are similar to the much-publicised Steubenville rape case, of 16-year old girl, (called ‘Jane Doe’ for security) who was gang raped while unconscious. When it was believed the case was being covered up, and same group, Anonymous, got involved, and exposed a tape (warning: very disturbing) of one of the convicted rapists laughing and joking to friends about the girl unconscious in another room. Two boys were tried and convicted of rape, but there are many questions left open, and the case is going to the Grand Jury for more investigation.
After the Steubenville case, there was a huge public surge of concern and news
about how society looks at rape and rape victims/survivors today (also called our, 'rape culture'). Women’s organization, UniteWomen.org launched a massive campaign, Unite Against Rape, that is rapidly growing and gaining great support by celebrities, as well as the general public. 'No Shame. No Blame. No Guilt,' is part of the campaign slogan. People around the world, men as well as women, are submitting their photos and stories in support of rape victims and survivors.
The President of UniteWomen.org, Karen Teegarden, made this statement today: "What happened to Jane Doe of Steubenville, Rehtaeh Parson, and millions of others have in common is they not only deal with the vile physical violation of rape, but also an epidemic of bullying and shaming the victim. Our Unite Against Rape campaign has garnered hundreds of submissions in only three weeks and is only one voice in trying to change the rape culture in which we live. So many individuals, groups and organizations have joined in creating awareness of this epidemic...together we WILL make a difference."
Hopefully with more rape cases exposed, we will continue the discourse in order to find and create solutions to the horrific crime of rape, as well as the abuse many sexual abuse victims receive afterwards. In closing I want to add what Rehtaeh’s father also included in his statement this week:
"I don’t want her life to defined by a Google search about suicide or death or rape." he wrote. "I found out this afternoon my daughter saved the life of a young woman with her heart. How fitting. She also gave someone a new liver, a kidney, a new breath, and a new chance to love. She saved the lives of four people with her final gift of life. She was that wonderful.”
If You've Been Raped/Sexually Assaulted Please
Call: National Rape, Abuse, & Incest Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE
For more information about UniteWomen.org, here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/...
Link To Rahtaeh Petition: https://www.change.org/...
As the diarist, and rape survivor, I stand with, Unite Against Rape, and support all survivors of rape and sexual abuse "~Leslie Salzillo Also posted in Addicting Info