After Trump lashes out, sexual assault survivors share #WhyIDidntReport

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

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

Because he was my Uncle and when I tried to say something I was grounded and whipped. I felt dirt because he made me feel like I wanted it. And I didnt want people to think I was incestuous. (13 years) #WhyIDidntReport

— Wendywitch (@Wendywitch1990) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because the next morning everyone in the house clapped as if they were proud this 19yo “man” had sex with me. I was 16yo. That gave me the impression it wasn’t a bad thing

— Alison Turkos (@alisonturkos) 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

It's a sad state in America when this is trending & women have to come forward to justify why they didn't call the law after an attack

I did call

They called it mischief

I slept with a knife#WhyIDidntReport

— Kim Hornsby (@kimhornsby) September 21, 2018

Because he was a friend of my parents and I knew they'd never believe me. I was 12 or 13. Years later, when I did tell them, they didn't believe me. #WhyIDidntReport

— ITMFA (@jenpalex) September 21, 2018

Because I was scared, because I wanted it to go away, because I wanted to forget it even though I never would. Because my friends gave me convincing reasons not to. Because I only knew one of their names. Because I kissed one of them once. Because... #WhyIDidntReport

— SEE@LE (@rebopine) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because he was a close friend who I had been supporting through his breakup, because I had been drinking, because I couldn’t believe that it had happened. Because I’ve been conditioned to believe I asked for it. That was 1,784 days ago.

— Kat (@vampsincethurs) September 21, 2018

I felt so stupid putting myself in the position where it could happen. #whyididntreport

— Gretel Johnson (@Math_Mama_G) September 21, 2018

Because I didn’t want to be put on trial and publicly smeared. #WhyIDidntReport

— Dena Brown (@DenaDenaleo) September 21, 2018

Because I didn’t realize the first time it happened to me was wrong until last year. And the OTHER time something happened, and I said something, people told me it wasn’t a big deal. #WhyIDidntReport

— Zora Neale Hustlin’ (@MarsinCharge) September 21, 2018

It was 'only' sexual assault, not rape, so not serious enough to waste people's time with when I knew other people had been through worse #WhyIDidntReport

— Tristan Oscar Smith 🌈 (@tristanoscars) September 21, 2018

This particular frat had two brothers with multiple prior sexual assault allegations that were subsequently swept under the rug by the Admin and local authorities. The girls who made the allegations were ostracized and ended up transferring #WhyIDidntReport

— Sugar Magnolia (@sugaree4twenty) September 21, 2018

He had been a close friend and coworker, and even though I was devastated and hurting, I was still nervous about him losing mutual friendships or getting in trouble. I've been in therapy for years. I doubt he even remembers.#WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/AYmwATrzGx

— Alayna Smith (@alaynacs) September 21, 2018

Because I didn't want to admit what happened, even to myself. #WhyIDidntReport

— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because I literally didn't know there was a word for what happened. It wasn't until years later that I learned there was a word for what I experienced.

— Lee (@Leeturanga) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because I’m well aware of the reality: no witnesses, no genital injuries and no semen meant no prosecution, so why bother?

If someone hurts you in just the right ways they can always get away with it.

And he did.

— Mx. Amadi (@amaditalks) September 21, 2018

I can't stop thinking abt the white boy frm the other soccer team at the after game party who was so cute and I was enamored and none of the popular white boys at my school liked me that way and this boy asked me if I wanted to talk and led me to a dark room #WhyIDidntReport

— Rebecca Shuri She Ready Carroll (@rebel19) September 21, 2018

#WhyIDidntReport because I was 11 yrs old, in my second foster home, and she was a model foster parent and he was her son, so it would have been my word against his. And I was afraid I'd end up in an even worse foster home if I was removed.

— TraCee 🎃🎈🔪💀 (@TraCee_tr) 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