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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

Senate Sketches # 1065

By

Senator Hank Sanders

*********************************************

What happens when the victim becomes the accused? What happens when the victim is tried more than the accused? What happens when the victim is repeatedly convicted while the perpetrator goes free?

It was so painful for me as I sat in the courtroom. Yet I know my pain, however great, was miniscule compared to the brave young woman who was raped by four young men but was herself on trial for charging rape. It was almost too much for me to take.

When one steals from another, the thief goes on trial, not the victim. When one robs another, the robber goes on trial, not the victim. When one kills another, the murderer goes on trial, not the victim. But when one rapes a woman, the woman is truly on trial far more than the rapist.

The woman is put on trial in the court of public opinion the moment she reports the rape. She is put on trial when she testifies. She is put on trial with every witness. She is put on trial as the jury deliberates. Then she is tried again in the Court of Public Opinion after the verdict.

Rape is such an invasive crime. The body is violently invaded in the very area where physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual sensitivities come together in a most extraordinary but delicate way. It’s not just the physical body that is damaged but every element of the being - the mind, the emotions, the spirit. She is never the same again no matter how long we wait, or how we try for that delicate connection is severed.

When a woman is raped, the man tries to convince the jury that the woman consented. And too many of us are already steeply inclined to believe it is the woman’s fault. It has been that way since the beginning with Adam and Eve. When Adam broke the covenant with God, his response, in a manner of speaking, was, “Eve made me do it.”

Most men are ever ready to believe it was the woman’s fault. I wish it stopped at that. However, too many women are just as ready to believe it was the woman’s fault. All women just have a hard way to go when it comes to rape. However, the situation is so much more difficult for Black women. That’s why nearly 60 percent of rapes go unreported. That’s why only 16 percent of reported rapes end up with prison sentences. That’s means that of all rapes, fewer than 6.5 percent of all rapes result in prison sentences.

Imagine a thief saying, “She consented to my taking her valuable possession.” Imagine a robber saying, “She wanted me to rob her of her valuable possession.” Imagine a murderer saying, “She wanted me to take her life.” No one would take that seriously. It’s only in rape that the victim is presumed to be at fault, not the accused.

She was in the wrong place so it was her fault. It was the wrong time of the night so it was her fault. She drank some liquor so it was her fault. The time and place of theft, robbery, and murder do not make a victim the accused. But in rape, they become central issues.

In every other situation, “No,” means “No.” Yet in n rape, “No,” is not enough. Even repeated “no’s, as in this case, were not enough. Somehow “No,” is twisted to mean “Yes,” unless the woman fights to the end even with four assailants.

Somehow rape puts one in its “damaged goods” syndrome. A woman who has been raped is so often viewed as “damaged goods,” by herself and others. It’s one thing to feel like we are “damaged goods.” It’s another to have the world perceive us as “damaged goods.” It takes great courage to face such challenges.

I was sitting in the courtroom next to a woman I know well. We were both supporting the victim by our presence. The woman suddenly said, “I cannot take any more!” I knew that she had been raped many years ago. Yet, it was still so real for her. Another woman describing her rape was too much, even after so many years. She had not reported the rape because she did not want to become the accused. She did not want to be put on trial. However, just sitting in the courtroom put her on trial.

Every witness was an instrument to twist and turn into an attack on the rape victim. She didn’t holler loud enough to stop him from stealing her valuable possession. She didn’t fight hard enough to stop him from robbing her of self. She did not fight hard enough to stop him from taking her life as she had known it. This makes no sense in any other crimes but in rape, it becomes central.

Knowing all this, one young woman stood in the face of the Court of Public Opinion. One young woman took the stand to be tried over and over. One young woman stood when the four (4) young men offered to plead guilty to felony assault rather than rape by saying, “I want to go on with the trial.”

With those words, she became a hero standing against great odds. She was Black but eleven of the twelve jurors were White. She was a woman but eleven of the twelve jurors were men. Still, she stood against all odds. She is still standing as she awaits the other three trials. The judge allowed the four trials to be separate requiring her to be tried four different times. Still she stands.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I spent the entire day in Selma working on various matters including Sketches. I also visited Barbara and Horace Brown, who have been meeting the challenges of illness.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School and Radio Education. I traveled beyond Highland Home in Crenshaw County to the Helicon Baptist Church where I spoke on the Power of Sunday School during the 11:00 a.m. services. I returned to Selma and talked to many persons including Attorney Joe Espy of Montgomery and Dr. Fannie McKenzie, Superintendent of Dallas County Schools. I worked on many issues into the night taking a brief break to make a quick appearance at the Selma Convention Center to support Deacon Essix Waters’ grandsons in a gospel concert.

Monday - I handled many matters and talked with the following: Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Dr. Leroy Maxwell of Selma; Congressman Artur Davis; and Booker Cooke of Greene County. I traveled to Hayneville in Lowndes County and returned to Selma to continue to work into the night.

Tuesday - I completed Sketches and communicated with the following: James Crawford of Wilcox County; Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Greene County Democrat; Anita Archie of the Alabama Two Year College System; Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association of Justice; Rita Lett and Dr. James Mitchell of Wallace Community College Selma (WCCS); Katie McCullogh of Dallas County; Booth Gales of Birmingham; Porter Bannister of the University Alabama Birmingham (UAB); Jim North of Birmingham; Amy Herring of Montgomery; and Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre for Commerce. I helped facilitate a meeting of the Selma/Dallas Renaissance Commission and worked into the night.

Wednesday - I met with Dr. James Mitchell for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast. I traveled to Montgomery, back to Selma , on to Greene County, and back to Selma. I met with the following: Assistant State Superintendent Craig Pouncey; Joyce Bigbee and Norris Green over lunch; and the Community Service Advisory Commission Committee. I talked with the following: Charles Steele, National President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery; Anita Archie; Joe Espy; Larry Morris of Alexander City; Senator Wendell Mitchell; Representative Betty Carol Graham; Sharon Wheeler of the Senate President Pro Tem’s Office; Lester Brown of the Greene County School Board; and Greene County School Superintendent Issac Atkins.

Thursday - I traveled to Birmingham, then Montgomery, then Selma, back to Montgomery, and back to Selma. I talked with the following: Senator Vivian Davis Figures; Chip Hill, Mike Martin and Janet Buskey of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office; Joyce Kendricks of Selma; Representative Harry Shivers; Representative Allen Baker; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); and Mayor John Jackson of White Hall. I worked on many varied issues.

Friday - I worked on Sketches and talked with the following: Sharmonica Austin of Uniontown; my assistants Gloria Pompey and Khadijah Ishaq on rape; Latangia Watkins of Montgomery; Chris Barrineau of Montgomery; Selma Businessman Mike Reynolds; Lobbyist Carol Brown; and Businessman Charles Jones of Demopolis. I wrote a special love letter to our children, met with several persons about mass communications and met with steering committee of the Renaissance Commission, worked on many other issues and cooked my special dish, Umoja, for the African Extravaganza (Extravaganza). I attended the Extravaganza which kicked off Selma’s Week of the Child activities. I talked to many persons including Dr. James Mitchell, Rita Lett, and Felecia Pettway of WCCS and Connie Tucker of Atlanta. I returned to work into the night.

EPILOGUE - We don’t need courage when the odds are with us for we can see a way to overcome. It’s when the odds are against us, when we cannot see a way to overcome, that courage is needed. And courage sometimes comes from a most unlikely source - the young, the attacked, the victimized.

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