Comments on: The Michigan 2L Speaks Out http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:34:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: Emma http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-236417 Emma Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:58:02 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-236417 The law should have protected you, sex worker or not. I know first-hand how hard law school can be - even without having to deal with the trauma of rape, PTSD, depression, and suicidal impulses. My prayers are with you. The law should have protected you, sex worker or not. I know first-hand how hard law school can be – even without having to deal with the trauma of rape, PTSD, depression, and suicidal impulses. My prayers are with you.

]]> By: Saira http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-219228 Saira Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:11:57 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-219228 Dear 2L, I arrived here kind of late, but I wanted to voice my support. I am absolutely in awe of you - reporting the crime was really brave and showed incredible strength. What happened was not your fault. You never deserved to experience that. You did nothing wrong. You are awesome. No, really, you are! Dear 2L,

I arrived here kind of late, but I wanted to voice my support. I am absolutely in awe of you – reporting the crime was really brave and showed incredible strength. What happened was not your fault. You never deserved to experience that. You did nothing wrong.

You are awesome.

No, really, you are!

]]> By: Constance http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218772 Constance Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:10:48 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218772 I do have an idea about how you feel. The shame and self-hatred can be overwhelming at times. But please, don't act on it again. You are a valuable person. People can and do care about you. I have grown up with sexual abuse and have been raped more than once. No, you can never "get over it". But with time you can, not only be a survivor, but you can thrive. You thought about the women who could be harmed if you kept silent. You did something many women, myself included,could never do. You reported it. To me, that shows an amazing amount of strength. And while there might days where you may wonder if you can go on, you can. You do become stronger. The best thing you can do is live. You have the right to smile,laugh and cry. You have the right to live,love and be loved. You are important. Someone hurt you. He had no right. No matter what. I know it's easy for me to tell you not listen to the vicious, hateful,ignorant things people say. But please,try not to believe them. Ignore them if you can. Go to counseling, go on websites that are for survivors, talk to loved ones(if you can). Just remember, you are a survivor. Safe and gentle hugs to you. choel639 I do have an idea about how you feel. The shame and self-hatred can be
overwhelming at times. But please, don’t act on it again. You are a valuable
person. People can and do care about you. I have grown up with sexual abuse and
have been raped more than once. No, you can never “get over it”. But
with time you can, not only be a survivor, but you can thrive. You thought about
the women who could be harmed if you kept silent. You did something many women,
myself included,could never do. You reported it. To me, that shows an amazing
amount of strength. And while there might days where you may wonder if you can
go on, you can. You do become stronger. The best thing you can do is live. You
have the right to smile,laugh and cry. You have the right to live,love and be
loved. You are important. Someone hurt you. He had no right. No matter what. I
know it’s easy for me to tell you not listen to the vicious,
hateful,ignorant things people say. But please,try not to believe them. Ignore
them
if you can. Go to counseling, go on websites that are for survivors, talk to
loved ones(if you can). Just remember, you are a survivor. Safe and gentle hugs
to you. choel639

]]> By: Jill Brenneman http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218606 Jill Brenneman Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:44:54 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218606 2L, I too am adding to the chorus of support. Your strength is amazing and has and will touch many. No matter what happens ultimately your survival is the most important thing. Whatever decisions you made or make that have and continue in the future which are part of your survival are good decisions to honor and respect. Solidarity and respect Jill B. 2L,

I too am adding to the chorus of support. Your strength is amazing and has and will touch many. No matter what happens ultimately your survival is the most important thing. Whatever decisions you made or make that have and continue in the future which are part of your survival are good decisions to honor and respect.

Solidarity and respect

Jill B.

]]> By: Roy Kay http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218527 Roy Kay Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:25:46 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218527 >What I did was wrong, and I’m a criminal for having done it. You have done nothing wrong. That what you did has been criminalized is a grievous error of law, not an error on your part. >Finally, I wish to apologize for having brought negative attention to this prestigious law school. You owe no apology for any negative attention brought to your school, prestigious or otherwise. You have been self supporting and industrious. You have not harmed anyone in anyway. If there is harm it is inflicted by opportunistic others. Instead, you proceeded as anyone should have the right to proceed, expecting people in society to refrain from assault. When you were assaulted, you reported it hoping to spare someone else that assault. That is a beneficial service. I hope you finish school and find work both remunerative and socially beneficial, but the first most of all. You deserve prosperity and peace and I (actually an atheist) hope you find it. >What I did was wrong, and I’m a criminal for having done it.

You have done nothing wrong. That what you did has been criminalized is a grievous error of law, not an error on your part.

>Finally, I wish to apologize for having brought negative attention to this prestigious law school.

You owe no apology for any negative attention brought to your school, prestigious or otherwise. You have been self supporting and industrious. You have not harmed anyone in anyway. If there is harm it is inflicted by opportunistic others.

Instead, you proceeded as anyone should have the right to proceed, expecting people in society to refrain from assault. When you were assaulted, you reported it hoping to spare someone else that assault. That is a beneficial service. I hope you finish school and find work both remunerative and socially beneficial, but the first most of all. You deserve prosperity and peace and I (actually an atheist) hope you find it.

]]> By: Trinity http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218511 Trinity Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:47:26 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218511 2L Girl, Chiming in with the chorus: You did nothing wrong, and I'm appalled to hear how the police treated you after you had the spine to report this horrible thing that happened to you. 2L Girl,

Chiming in with the chorus: You did nothing wrong, and I’m appalled to hear how the police treated you after you had the spine to report this horrible thing that happened to you.

]]> By: aghempstead http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218475 aghempstead Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:50:16 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218475 Adding my support. Also the number of another 24 hour hotline that provides crisis peer counseling and support for persons involved in, or affected by, the sex industry. Counseling and information is provided in a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere. 1-800-676-4477. just so you know that you always have lots of people to call. Adding my support. Also the number of another 24 hour hotline that provides crisis peer counseling and support for persons involved in, or affected by, the sex industry. Counseling and information is provided in a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere. 1-800-676-4477. just so you know that you always have lots of people to call.

]]> By: swoplv http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218467 swoplv Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:22:51 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218467 Oh- and Feministe, THANK YOU so much for giving her this space, so that we can all post encouragement to her. You ROCK! Oh- and Feministe, THANK YOU so much for giving her this space, so that we can all post encouragement to her. You ROCK!

]]> By: swoplv http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218465 swoplv Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:15:01 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218465 This is insanely outrageous. I can't tell you how incensed I am that this happened. This is exactly why we hold the <a href="http://www.swopusa.org/dec17/" rel="nofollow">International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers</a> on December 17th every year since 2003. It is unacceptable that you should have been subjected to violence from a client in the first place, let alone to the violence you experienced at the hands of the police. I also can't tell you how in awe of you I am that you went to the police. You amaze me, and you humble me. Being a law student you must have been privy to all of the awful, hateful decisions that have been made against sex workers in the face of violence against them (violence more often than not committed by the police themselves- I read a global statistic somewhere that said something like 73% of violence committed against sex workers worldwide is committed by authorities). Please know that you have an <a href="http://www.desireealliance.org" rel="nofollow">entire network</a> of people here and available to <a href="http://www.swopusa.org" rel="nofollow">support you</a>. Please let us know if there is anything you need. Perhaps we can take up a colection- start a fund- for you to be able to pay your legal fees. I also hope your lawyer is a fighter and understands that the laws against prostitution are- as your case illustrates vividly- not just counterproductive to preventing violence against citizens while protecting NOBODY from anything, but actually terribly dangerous. Most of all, know that you are a goddess. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Society has done something wrong when they hold women to a sexual double standard; when they have demeaning words for women like "slut" and "whore" that do not apply to men; when women's lives can be destroyed (or they can be killed) for suspicion of sexual "transgressions", and that such sexual autonomy can prevent her from achieving her goals throughout her life; when the heinous behavior of the police makes ALL women fearful of reporting sexual violence against them. Yes, society has gone terribly wrong. But you have taken a first step in making it right. Please call our 24/7 hotline if you need anything at all: 877-776-2004, option 1. This is insanely outrageous. I can’t tell you how incensed I am that this happened. This is exactly why we hold the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers on December 17th every year since 2003. It is unacceptable that you should have been subjected to violence from a client in the first place, let alone to the violence you experienced at the hands of the police.

I also can’t tell you how in awe of you I am that you went to the police. You amaze me, and you humble me. Being a law student you must have been privy to all of the awful, hateful decisions that have been made against sex workers in the face of violence against them (violence more often than not committed by the police themselves- I read a global statistic somewhere that said something like 73% of violence committed against sex workers worldwide is committed by authorities).

Please know that you have an entire network of people here and available to support you. Please let us know if there is anything you need. Perhaps we can take up a colection- start a fund- for you to be able to pay your legal fees. I also hope your lawyer is a fighter and understands that the laws against prostitution are- as your case illustrates vividly- not just counterproductive to preventing violence against citizens while protecting NOBODY from anything, but actually terribly dangerous.

Most of all, know that you are a goddess. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Society has done something wrong when they hold women to a sexual double standard; when they have demeaning words for women like “slut” and “whore” that do not apply to men; when women’s lives can be destroyed (or they can be killed) for suspicion of sexual “transgressions”, and that such sexual autonomy can prevent her from achieving her goals throughout her life; when the heinous behavior of the police makes ALL women fearful of reporting sexual violence against them. Yes, society has gone terribly wrong. But you have taken a first step in making it right. Please call our 24/7 hotline if you need anything at all: 877-776-2004, option 1.

]]> By: Holy Shit « Bound, Not Gagged http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/12/17/the-michigan-2l-speaks-out/#comment-218458 Holy Shit « Bound, Not Gagged Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:12:54 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=10238#comment-218458 [...] 24, 2008 by swoplv This is absolutely imperative for everyone here to read. It was posted on Feministe on December 17th- unbelievably appropriate. We must contact this young lady somehow to let her know [...] [...] 24, 2008 by swoplv This is absolutely imperative for everyone here to read. It was posted on Feministe on December 17th- unbelievably appropriate. We must contact this young lady somehow to let her know [...]

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