For sure the rape sentence of Brock Turner, who will forever be known as the “Stanford Rapist” is a discussion we need as a society. There is no doubt that women on college need to feel safe from predators and the justice system needs to take rape a lot more seriously than it has.
However, childhood friend Leslie Rasmussen, of Oakwood Ohio based band no one has ever heard of, has found herself at the end of many insults and threats, as a result of a letter of support she wrote for her childhood friend.
Now the band Good English has been branded “rape apologists,” by both bloggers and the masses. The letter blamed the Universities for making the party cultures that her friend was put into, and many people didn’t take that claim lightly.
They went after the band in every way they could, and many venues started to cancel the bands appearances both in New York, Ohio and Dayton.
As a result, Rasmussen, 20 years old, went on social media to explain her viewpoint:
“Two months ago, I was asked to write a character statement for use in the sentencing phase of Brock Turner’s trial. Per the request of the court, I was asked to write this statement in an effort to shed light on Brock’s character as I knew it to be during my childhood, adolescence and young adulthood when I interacted with him as a classmate and friend.”
“Although I was asked to share how I knew him, how long I have known him, his character and personality, time spent with him, activities together, and any other opinion I had on the matter, I was not there that night. I had no right to make any assumptions about the situation. Most importantly, I did not acknowledge strongly enough the severity of Brock’s crime and the suffering and pain that his victim endured, and for that lack of acknowledgment, I am deeply sorry. I fully understand the outrage over Brock’s sentencing and my statement. I can only say that I am committed to learning from this mistake. I am 20 years old, and it has never been more clear to me that I still have much to learn.”
