TW: Many times as women who stand on the belief of ending an unjust system, like police or prisons, there‘s always a man who askes “What about rapists?!” Here’s my story, because most women know what time it is. (A thread) #DefundThePolice #smashthepatriarchy ✊🏽
As a rape survivor I never felt safe reporting it to the police. I couldn’t even say the word “rape” until days after my assault & I sure as hell didn’t feel safe walking into a police station full of men & telling them what had happened to me.
And as a WOC I was petrified of the “justice” system & what it would do to me, how it would try and drag me to protect this man. My rapist was a well known personality in Philly and at the time, definitely held more power than me.
So after my sexual assault I decide to go to therapy. I slept with a butcher knife under my pillow and a baseball bat by my door. I told my closest friends and they helped me devise a safety plan in case I ever saw him on the streets or in public.
I heard my rapist on the radio once, he was a political candidate in Philly at the time for state rep. & I almost drove off the road & hit a car. I had to pull over and compose myself before I could keep going. I still never went to the police.
During my own political campaign my rapist would show up at events or debates and sit directly in front of me, clearly trying to intimidate me. I had to fight the urge to leave the room every time and focus. Still never went to the police.
Most women don’t report rapes or sexual assaults. Most men who are charged aren’t found guilty. This system doesn’t work for us. We need better accountability structures, to implement restorative practices and to dismantle the patriarchy. What we don’t need; more police.
