Saturday, April 23, 2011

Guilty as Charged

Those 2 cops have zero chance of being acquitted.

A bruising seen on the woman's cervix coincides with her story of being forcibly raped in the position she had claimed. The lawyers tried to claim it could have a variety of different causes, including an earlier sexual episode, a venereal disease, the ER examination, or (this is the best one yet) from her vigorous scrubbing the morning after the attack.

How can a vigorous scrubbing result in a bruise ON HER CERVIX? (I don't even think the lawyer knows what a cervix is if that's his answer...)

And how could a lawyer try to dismiss the evidence by pretending to know more than the sexual assault forensics nurse? Their best course of action would be to blame the attack on someone else. There is clear evidence that she WAS attacked. Trying to claim otherwise, from the start, is hurting their case.

These two men are guilty as sin, and hopefully the justice system will see to it that they are severely reprimanded.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Did They or Didn't They?

It's important to get news from multiple sources. The same news from multiple media. Few things will remain consistent from article to article, and it is probably those few things that are the true facts.

Night of Horror with Rape Cops - NY Post

Accuser Back on Stand in NYPD Rape Cops Trial: Admits Drinking but Says 'I Remember I was Raped' - NY Daily News

Full Transcripts: Alleged Rape Cop Kenneth Moreno Meets with his Accuser

Listen to Alleged Rape Cop Allegedly Impersonate Canadian in 911 Call - Gothamist

Piecing together this story proves more difficult with every new article. My original feeling was that the woman was severely intoxicated (the fact that she was able to walk almost on her own does not discount that fact to me) and probably made some come on's to the police officer, who then had sex with her. I felt that the rape had happened, but that the cop was just an idiot about the rules of consent. Undoubtedly, this woman should have been taken to the hospital. And from what I know of police, I'm not entirely sure why some higher up in the department did not tell the officers that she had to go.

But then I read the full transcript of the conversation with Officer Moreno. And that sounds like he's innocent, at least of raping her. He not only continuously denies the act (which of course he would do regardless), but retells full conversations they shared. Yes, surveillance shows they returned multiple times, but I believe that she had asked them to. Honestly, I probably would too, if I were in her position.

The transcript also mentions other tenants that appeared high on marijuana were banging on the victim's door at some point in the night. If the officers were continually able to get into her apartment, it's quite possible that these other persons were also able to enter.

I do believe something happened to her. I believe she woke up to someone having sex with her. I believe that she showered, despite know she shouldn't, because she felt dirty. But maybe it wasn't the police that did it.

And then I heard the 911 call, which was quite obviously not a cell phone-less Canadian named John Edwards. Why did they feel the need to make up a call to get back in the building? Why did they ignore a more important call, one of a woman screaming? Why were they so desperate to go back and see this girl? Even if she asked them to, it's weird, and certainly incriminating to put in that much effort to obey her alleged requests.

I don't know.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

giving blood

When I studied at Emory, I had the privilege of volunteering with a woman who was easily one of the nicest, most genuine people I've ever come across. We volunteered together to teach science to a public school in an under-privileged neighborhood in Atlanta. While I was debating pledging a sorority, she told me that she had pledged, and initiated, but after studying abroad in India, and seeing the poverty that existed there, she had deactivated. Instead, she donated what would have been her sorority dues to orphanages in the country.

That's the kind of person she is.

In December of 2010, while 8 months pregnant with what would have been her first child, she was taking a walk when she was hit by an SUV. The driver didn't stop, and to my knowledge, has not been caught. Despite attempts to perform an early c-section, her child did not survive the impact. After weeks in the hospital, Laurie was finally released, and now, is doing well. At least physically.

Laurie is alive because of donated blood. I gave blood for the first time before I even knew her, and after almost passing out, I never thought I'd do it again. Now that I know someone, someone who should never have been in that position to begin with, someone who is alive right now because people gave a few minutes, and 1 dispensable pint of blood, I understand the significance of such a donation. I won't call it a sacrifice. I never sacrificed anything to donate blood. It didn't cost me a thing. But the lack thereof, could cost people everything.

Giving blood seems like such an inconsequential action, that so many people overlook it. But its impact is profound. Everyone is aware of its necessity, but until someone we know is in need of it, it's difficult to understand the importance of donating blood.

Donate blood. It's cheaper, and sometimes more valuable, than money.