Rape Survivors Share Why They Stayed Quiet In Powerful #WhyIDidntReport Tweets
President Donald Trump wonders why survivors of sexual assault don’t immediately report the crime to authorities.
We know this because Trump literally asked the question Friday morning, in a series of tweets seeking to cast doubt on Christine Blasey Ford’s story that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh forced himself on her when they were high school students.
The radical left lawyers want the FBI to get involved NOW. Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
According to the federal government’s own estimates, two-thirds of people who are raped or sexually assaulted don’t report it. (Blasey did discuss the trauma with a therapist years later.)
Well, Mr. President, you asked ― and the internet more than answered.
Sexual assault survivors began sharing their own heartbreaking and harrowing experiences in response to Trump’s question, using the hashtag #WhyIDidn’tReport.
(Warning: Some readers may find the following disturbing.)
#WhyIDidntReport Two of his fraternity brothers showed up at my dorm room the next day and threatened to kill me if I told.
— Marley (@drcmarley) September 21, 2018
The #WhyIDidntReport hashtag is so important. I don't want to take away from women's stories, but this happened to me as well. I didn't report because a minister told me I didn't have enough evidence to prove anything and it would just cause a scandal. I was 18. This is common
— Garrard Conley (@gayrodcon) September 21, 2018
He was my stepfather. My mom, his co-pastor, blamed it on demons in the bed. I was 12. #WhyIDidntReport
— Maud Newton (@maudnewton) September 21, 2018
There were 5 other rich, white boys in my boyfriend's college frat room.
I was poor white trash on a scholarship.
I was drunk and drugged and passed around like a fucking bong.
Like a game of hot potato.
I thought he loved me.
I was embarrassed and scared.#WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/CtJekvDFD9— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I was 12. He was 14 and my "boyfriend". I told my "loving" Mother I was raped and she responded with 'well, you shouldn't have gone to his house.' I blamed myself.
— Kara Lütz (@ShastaTamp) September 21, 2018
Because I didn't want to admit what happened, even to myself. #WhyIDidntReport
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) September 21, 2018
I was 17. Raped by a friend. I was confused. In denial. Afraid. His parents were richer & better connected than my parents. He was a "good" student. Ppl liked him. The only friend I told--responded w: "He wld never do that." I didn't think anyone would help me. #WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/YbCuIMg07M
— Abigail Hauslohner (@ahauslohner) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because i was a child. he was my uncle and i was ashamed and felt afraid. i didn't realize someone i loved could hurt me.
— Julia Wilde (@Julia_SCI) September 21, 2018
My mom said she would kill anyone who hurt me and at 9 years old i believed her. I was afraid she would go to jail. #WhyIDidntReport
— Jaime Primak (@JaimePrimak) September 21, 2018
He was the nephew of my father’s girlfriend at the time & was older & stronger than me. It started when I was 7 & I thought he’d hurt me more & that nobody would believe me. It took 4 years to break the silence. He was abusing other kids too, I later found out. #WhyIDidntReport
— deray (@deray) September 21, 2018
I was four, and he said he’d kill me. #WhyIDidntReport
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) September 21, 2018
I was 15. It took years for me to even *understand* that it wasn’t my fault.#WhyIDidntReport
— Jennifer Korey (@JenniferKorey) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport: I was drunk, he was a varsity athlete. I couldn't "prove" anything.
I didn't "report" it until I had PTSD so bad I checked myself into a hospital. 3 years later.
I still live with the effects daily.— Aubrey Diana Blanche 🇲🇽🇺🇸 (@adblanche) September 21, 2018
I didn't understand what had happened to me--I liked an older boy and he told me we had to do something to make us boyfriend and girlfriend.
Oh and also I was eight.#WhyIDidntReport— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport my first assault: because he was a coworker and friend with my then-boyfriend, who told me I shouldn't "make it a thing" and "disrupt the culture at work." After all, he was sorry. He felt guilty. The assault wasn't that bad. I should be thankful.
— Danielle Campoamor (@DCampoamor) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport He was supposed to be my friend, but he beat me when I said no. This is the first time I've talked about it in public.
— Jen Steer (@jensteer) September 21, 2018
I did, it didn’t matter, I was dismissed, disparaged, & I still get blamed #WhyIDidntReport
— Daryl Hannah (@dhlovelife) September 21, 2018
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Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.