This morning I found out some very disheartening, disappointing, sad and a bit scary news regarding “a” domestic violence case. Though deep down this verdict was expected, I didn’t anticipate it being THIS dismissed. They didn’t read my statement or ask questions. The judge simply came in, said he had the authority to over rule the DA and was doing so.
The DA had suggested probation, fine and anger managment (that last part is funny to me- abusers don’t change). The judge dismissed punishment because of his age, not taking into consideration or not CARING that he is the same age as the woman he has been severely and sickeningly been abusing for over 40 years. His other reason was because he “hadn’t been in trouble before”….
There is a reason he had never been “in trouble” before and that is because he used to be a “high” ranking and respected member of law enforcement. Anytime there was suspicions and police were ordered to speak to the abused, he always managed to remove the investigation request, so no one every came to speak.
Now he is older and retired but he is also more sick of an abuser now than he has been in about 20 years. No one was ever brave enough to call the police and make a statement. Though I am not a police fan due to their tendency to be killers and abusers themselves, I knew this had to be documented so I am the one who called the police and filed the statement which landed him in jail and court, yes, for the first time.
Had the judge asked, he would have known he had never been in trouble because no one was willing to go against him in the years past. So the verdict is, guilty, as he had already plead guilty
The judge gave him a fine and that’s it. Another day of punishing no real crime.
I had expected he wouldnt get all the DA had proposed but nothing other than a small fine, is devastating, but consistent with American law. I will say one more thing and then move on. This ruling cuts deep to me & of course her. It is, as said, another reminder of our failure of a legal system; one which does not care for anyone but men; white, mid to upper class men. Or “one of their own” aka the “law enforcement”… This was something very personal to me, more than I will say, and it has now fallen apart in seconds, and has hit home so hard.
HOWEVER!
As much as I would like to go to sleep and hide, I won’t. It isn’t even an option. For through this insane, unjust ruling, I have been reminded (again, not that I needed to be reminded) that the American legal system is unjust, biased, prejudice and we all need to be raising hell and not resting until positive change occurs.
Here in America, they give harsher time and puinshment to the undeserving i.e., drug “offenders”, computer activists while letting true criminals (i.e., pedophiles, abusers, killers, rapists) walk away too often with a slap on the wrist in comparison; if they even do that.
I am sure most if not all countries are the same when it comes to punishment for domestic abuse & violence.
So in posts to come I will be researching where other countries stand regarding spousal abuse, but first I am going to focus on America. I am also going to get a better layout soon, so different topics will be easier to find.
And with that I end by saying… My fight against domestic violence/abuse has always been “on”- but now it is a priority- I’m fed up up with how women are treated be it not helping save women’s lives or trying to take our rights away, such as abortion. Or politicians saying we ask for rape or because we are women, that’s “what we are here for.”
Just as I fight against racism and police brutality, I now have an equally sized flame of rage for the mistreatment of women, the lack of respect and care from the government & society alike. I am off to study laws and psychological profiles of abusers. I think I may even make a new page solely for this research and resources for abused women. Either way, I am using the injustice given out today to motivate me and fuel my anger, nothing will stop me from fighting for what I believe in, and nothing will stop me from fighting those who threaten any of us. Long ago I dedicated my life to the struggle because Tupac helped me see the truth. And to this day, I will honor that promise I made but with more passion and more dedication than ever before.
The government is hurting us. Put race, gender, sexual preferences, religion, etc aside and get along to demand justice that is rightfully ours. Unite against the real enemies! Stop hating one another and wasting time… There are too many real and threatening laws and issues to waste time. That doesn’t mean give up your passion; I simply wish everyone of every background would take a few moments out of their life to do their part. Educate themselves and then others. We have to stop accepting these unjust laws, racism, sexism, police brutality, the horrific war on drugs and prison system…. Stop accepting life how it is and start working to try and make it better; how it should be.
Whatever it is, just do your part… We all have one.
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We have covered this subject before, but with the current state of the world we feel the need to reinforce that it is ESSENTIAL that activists organise much more effectively.
Truth- A Right to Fight For... 