OP-ED

The victims never forget

By Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Posted 10/9/18

By SENATOR SHELDON

“The past few weeks have been doubly difficult,” she wrote.

As a United States Senator, Rhode Islanders write to me every day weighing in on different policies debated …

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OP-ED

The victims never forget

Posted

By SENATOR SHELDON

“The past few weeks have been doubly difficult,” she wrote.

As a United States Senator, Rhode Islanders write to me every day weighing in on different policies debated in Congress. But I have never had mail like this. Something special – something miraculous – is happening.

Since Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward to calmly and factually describe Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulting her, women across the country have had a moment of reckoning. Courageous Rhode Island women, of all ages and backgrounds, have written me to share their own stories of harassment, assault, and survival. Some of them have given me permission to share their words for you to see, words they may have held back for years.

For many, the coverage of Dr. Blasey Ford’s appearance before the Senate dredged up deep and disquieting emotions. As one wrote:

The past few weeks have been doubly difficult with Dr. Ford coming forward and all of the constant news threads and social media threads. I have been triggered with nightmares, fear of being alone, and emotionally wrecked. PTSD and triggers are real. No matter how much therapy and time goes by, one small statement or physical interaction can trigger someone who has experienced a traumatic assault.

Another woman who wrote to me that she had survived more than one attempted rape, but told no one, described her heart racing and muscles tensed as she wrote now about her experiences.

Women opened up in their letters about the lasting effects of sexual assault.

As a rape survivor (I was nineteen years old – I am now 66 years old), I want you to know that that experience does color the rest of a person’s life, informing decisions that you make, where and how you go somewhere, how you raise your children and relate to your husband and all other people.  Sometimes through the decades, you think about it consciously and on purpose, and sometimes outside events can bring it back without your willing it to be so.

Some were moved to tell their stories because they see their own fears reflected in Dr. Blasey Ford’s brave testimony. The fear of not being believed. The fear of losing the respect of family and friends. But they were sure her memories were real, because their own are seared into their minds.

Another survivor wrote to me, “I’m sure my rapist hasn’t thought of me since that night 21 years ago either.  In fact, he like Kavanaugh would likely deny anything had ever happened.  But here’s the thing about rape—the victims never forget.”

Rhode Island is a small state. To have this many testimonials come forward is stunning. Senate colleagues in other states are seeing a similar response. We are experiencing a deeply important national moment.

President Trump has missed all this. Fixated by confirming another donor-friendly judge, he mocked Dr. Blasey Ford at a political rally Tuesday night. At first he had called her a “credible witness” who was “very compelling,” but then reverted to form, to ridicule her in front of a crowd. That kind of ignorance and cruelty is exactly why victims of assault and harassment hold in what happened to them, often for years, sometimes for decades; fortunately, Republicans and Democrats alike condemned the president.

There is so much promise in this moment. I am so grateful to the women who overcame their fears and trauma to entrust me with their stories. To those who still carry their own untold experiences, help is available: Rhode Islanders can call Day One’s 24-hour helpline at (800) 494-8100; people will care and understand.

As a Senator and a member of the Judiciary Committee, giving careful consideration to Supreme Court nominations is among my most important responsibilities. These are lifetime appointments that can change not only the course of the nation, but can also change lives. I already had deep concerns about Judge Kavanaugh before Dr. Blasey Ford came forward. He has an unpleasant record on the bench of ruling for powerful activist Republican special interests. He refused to commit to honoring well-established precedent – on critical issues like women’s constitutional rights. And I had significant concerns about his truthfulness and temperament, which were more than proven justified over the course of these hearings.

But this is about far more than a troubled nominee. Dr. Blasey Ford’s quietly compelling testimony has forced our nation to face up to tough questions about how women have been treated. We should grasp the power of this moment. Women across the country, and here in Rhode Island, are reconciling with their truth, and fighting through a long and unfair legacy of shame, fear, and stigma. It is a true personal honor to share this moment with them, to be trusted with their stories, and to have the chance to help end that legacy.

This is a moment for all of us. “I don’t believe that this should be a partisan debate,” one woman wrote, “it’s on the level of basic human rights.

Comments

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  • Straightnnarrow

    Dear Shelly,

    Dr Fraud perjured herself multiple times and she is not in jail. The screaming witches in the Kavanaugh hearing disrupted the proceedings and could be charged with disorderly conduct and they are not in jail. Queen Hillary committed crimes with her Foundation and her email server and she is not in jail. We have a two tier justice system, one for the radical Marxist feminists with a D at the end of their names and one for the law abiding citizens. What about that Shelly? Are you going to show any compassion for the rest of us?

    Thursday, October 11, 2018 Report this

  • Straightnnarrow

    Dear Shelly,

    It seems that you are ignorant of the great Christian law known as the Golden Rule so here it is even though ignorance is no excuse for non-compliance with the law: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets", Matthew 7:12

    For the Rule to become meaningful, it should be applied to your recent performance at the Kavanaugh hearing, so how would you like if we find some slut from 30 years ago who would testify that you forcibly groped her before your friends and she names the friends? But she cannot recall what year, what location or any of the details at that occasion except that you did it and that she had only one beer. These friends later testify that they have no knowledge of the event and there is no corroborating evidence like the famous stained blue dress from Slick Willy's adventure. Do you get the idea, Shelly, how this Rule might have impacted your vile interrogation at this hearing?

    Thursday, October 11, 2018 Report this

  • bendover

    Bravo Senator! You have proven there are no depths that you won't sink to, just like your fellow prevaricators, Princess Diana, Booker, Harris, and Durbin, you will say and do anything to extricate yourself from the word salad, La Brea tar pit of your own creation. Taking constituent letters and melding them into that performance art of the mentally disturbed Dr. Ford is cowardly on your part. I guess you missed class that day regarding the presumption of innocence and rules of evidence in a criminal proceeding. Yes sir, your 5 minutes of infamy were put to good use cross examining musings written by a 16 year old in a 35 year old yearbook...You just killed the hell out of flatulence discussions.

    You are correct Senator, "THE VICTIMS NEVER FORGET." I am sure the family of the late Jennifer Riviera feels much the same. Of course, if you had done your job, she would not be spoken of in the past tense.

    Saturday, October 13, 2018 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    the only golden rule that applies in politics is -- whoever has the gold, rules

    Monday, October 22, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Owner of Record

    Owner COVE VIEW LLC

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    Address 187 GRAND VIEW DR

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    Ownership History

    Ownership History

    Owner Sale Price Book & Page Instrument Sale Date

    COVE VIEW LLC $0 8996/ 152 04 02/08/2018

    MASOPUST, WILLIAM A $450,000 8973/ 276 00 12/29/2017

    ADAMS, CHRISTINE M $206,700 8795/ 151 37 04/13/2017

    RED STICK ACQUISITIONS LLC $0 8390/ 310 R 06/19/2015

    SHACKLETON, CLAYTON A $0 8074/ 348 09 10/24/2013

    RED STICK ACQUISITIONS $0 8029/ 25 03 08/21/2013

    ARCH BAY HOLDINGS LLC $232,000 8202/ 55 37 03/14/2012

    CORRENTE, RICHARD C $365,000 6504/ 209 03/09/2007

    EKLOF VIOLET E TRUSTEE $0 5818/ 209 08/01/2005

    Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Report this