Trump Attacked Brett Kavanaugh's Accuser. Now People Are Revealing #WhyIDidntReport
About one year after the #MeToo movement became a rallying cry for survivors of sexual harassment and assault to speak out, some victims are using another hashtag to explain why they stayed silent about their experiences.
Twitter was aflame Friday with the hashtag #WhyIDidntReport, which came in reaction to a tweet early in the day from President Donald Trump attacking Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party when they were in high school. Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied Ford’s story.
It is well-documented that the majority of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, and that there are a variety of reasons why victims choose not to say anything. Trump, who has dismissed as liars the 19 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, claimed in a tweet that Ford would have reported the alleged attack to authorities if it had been “as bad as she says.”
I have no doubt that, 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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2018
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), two out of every three sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Reasons for the lack of reportage vary; RAINN’s statistics say 20% of victims fear retaliation, 13% believe the authorities would not do anything to help and 13% believe it is a personal matter.
Trump’s tweet prompted hundreds of people to share exactly why they did not report their rapes and assaults. Alyssa Milano, an actor and prominent #MeToo activist, addressed Trump directly.
Hey, @realDonaldTrump, Listen the fuck up.
I was sexually assaulted twice. Once when I was a teenager. I never filed a police report and it took me 30 years to tell me parents.
If any survivor of sexual assault would like to add to this please do so in the replies. #MeToo https://t.co/n0Aymv3vCi— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 21, 2018
I see you. I hear you. I believe you. I AM you.#MeToo #WhyIDidntReport pic.twitter.com/7kWjcV0lsm
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 21, 2018
Ashley Judd, one of the high-profile actors who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, also shared her story. Judd said she shared her experiences with adults who dismissed her by siding with her attackers.
#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
Several of the accounts shared Friday echo Judd’s story. Abigail Hauslohner, a reporter for The Washington Post and a former TIME correspondent, said the only person she ever told about her rape said to her, “He would never do that.”
“I didn’t think anyone would help me,” she tweeted.
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
Even more stories emerged as Friday went on, revealing how difficult it can be for victims to come forward.
#WhyIDidntReport bc I was scared I would lose all my friends, bc I was scared I would die, bc I didn't know how, bc I didn't really know I could, bc no one ever taught me what sexual assault was so when it happened to me I didn't even know. and bc I knew nothing would happen.
— Mitra Jouhari (@tweetrajouhari) September 21, 2018
Others shared that even after they came forward, they received blame instead of help. The actor and activist Daryl Hannah said she did report her assault — and that it “didn’t matter.”
I did, it didn’t matter, I was dismissed, disparaged, & I still get blamed #WhyIDidntReport
— Daryl Hannah (@dhlovelife) September 21, 2018
“I was dismissed, disparaged, & I still get blamed,” she said.
Stories from other people revealed a similar experience.
I reported it immediately. My vice-principal asked what I did to provoke it. I didn't tell my mom until 35 years later. #WhyIDidntReport
— Deneen (@DeneeneeneD) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I was 11. Told me mom. She told me to forgive and pray. The guy remained a 'family friend.' 5 years later I dropped out. 5 years after that I was a criminal. Not simple cause and effect, but still a cause. The choice was rage or self-loathing. I picked A.
— Michael Grant (@MichaelGrantBks) September 21, 2018
By Friday afternoon, #WhyIDidntReport was one of the top trending topics on Twitter as people came together in solidarity.