#WhyIDidntReport is currently trending on Twitter in response to Trump’s ignorant comment about sexual assault
Trigger Warning: The contents of this post may be triggering to survivors of sexual assault.
Today, September 21st, Donald Trump issued a dangerously ignorant statement about Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford. The president tweeted, “[…]If the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!”
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1043126336473055235
Anyone who has any knowledge or understanding of rape and sexual assault statistics (or honestly, anyone who has been paying even the slightest bit of attention to the national dialogue surrounding sexual misconduct this year) likely knows the egregious error in this logic. According to Rainn.org, only about 30% of sexual assaults are reported to authorities each year…meaning, Mr. Trump, that there is no official record of the majority of sexual violence in this country. Lack of an official police report from the alleged incident involving Kavanaugh proves nothing.
And survivors of sexual assault are coming forward on Twitter to reiterate just that; victims are sharing the personal—and often painful—reasons they opted to stay silent about their attacks.
They range from fear, (unfounded) shame, and often a belief that no one would believe them.
Because my stepdad raped me, a young Black boy, and I knew people wouldn’t believe that anyone would any power would believe those sort of acts. #WhyIDidntReport
— Preston Mitchum, he/him (@PrestonMitchum) September 21, 2018
I was 19. With a terrifying look in his eyes, he pinned me down, grabbed both my wrists with 1 hand & tried to unbutton my pants with another. I kicked him as hard as I could in the crotch and ran out. He didn’t actually rape me so I thought “nothing” happened. #WhyIDidntReport
— Meredith Salenger (@MeredthSalenger) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport. The first time it happened, I was 7. I told the first adults I came upon. They said “Oh, he’s a nice old man, that’s not what he meant.” So when I was raped at 15, I only told my diary. When an adult read it, she accused me of having sex with an adult man.
— ashley judd (@AshleyJudd) September 21, 2018
false
#WhyIDidntReport He was a very handsome family friend, I took a motorcycle ride w/him. He drove to a cornfield and raped me. I was a virgin, 17 yrs old. Never told my parents. I don't remember the exact date, or cornfield like Trump expects me to, but it tears me up every day!!!
— Debi Vermaas (@debv219) September 21, 2018
The sexual abuse occurred over ten years. Most of the time, I denied that what happened actually happened. Because when it's your mother, you find ways to rationalize the behavior, even when, by any objective viewpoint, it should clearly be abuse. (thread)#WhyIDidntReport
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️⚧️🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I did. My military commander told me that I didn't have enough proof, and it would ruin my career.
Next time it was attempted (civilian) assault and I outran them onto base.
When i tried to report he had me disciplined for using a off limits gate to escape them.— kirsten houseknecht (@fabricdragon) September 21, 2018
My second attack was done by 3 guys from my command who "hated chicks in the service". .. i was raped and left 4 dead. When I reported…they got promoted to special forces I got sent to " anger management" #WhyIDidntReport
— #BlackLivesMatter 💙 (@CathesComicz) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because the year earlier two girls from my high school were raped. They were removed from school and we never saw them again. Their rapists continued to sit next to me in social studies.
— Kellie Wulf (@KellieEllisonkc) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport my sexual assault.
I was living in a time when someone who identified as a gay teenager would NOT be taken seriously by the police.
I believed that I would be mocked & ridiculed for being gay.
I also felt it was MY fault.
I didn't think they would believe me.
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport Because I wasn’t ready to confront it. I’m still not. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I’ve written and deleted this tweet dozens of times bc even saying this much is scary.
— Jenny Lawson (@TheBloggess) September 21, 2018
The above tweets are just from a small sample of the thousands of people who have tweeted their stories. While we have a feeling the message behind these posts won’t reach the heart or mind of Donald Trump, we hope they help others who might doubt Ford understand that unreported sexual assault happens every single day, and it’s time for the world to support victims who come forward with their truth.
If you or someone you know is or has been the victim of sexual assault, know that you can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
