Duke rape case: little to celebrate

The rape charges against the three Duke Lacrosse players were dropped today.  Since LWG was one of the blogs that was outraged when this story broke and tried to help raise a cry for an investigation of her allegations I thought I should share some thoughts on this occasion. 

First and foremost, I'm proud to have stood in solidarity with the woman then and I'm proud now to stand in solidarity with her now.  Why?  Because something unsavory went on at that party that reeks of racism, sexism and classism.  That has NOT changed and it says something very troubling about our whole society generally and the cultural climate of Raleigh North Carolina specifically.  There is something unsavory that reeks of racism, sexism and classism in the hate mail this blog receives every time the story makes headlines again.

That the rape charges were dropped does not mean that the men are innocent.

"The men are still charged with kidnapping, for allegedly holding the woman against her will, and sexual offense. Under state law, a rape charge requires vaginal intercourse, while sexual offense covers any sexual act. In dropping the rape charges, Nifong did not specify what sex acts prosecutors now believe occurred (from the Guardian Unlimited story).

That the rape charges were dropped does not mean that the men did the right thing, that they acted humanely, that their actions were honorable or that they did not sully the name of their team, their institution and their families.  That the charges were dropped means only that it can't be proven that they acted criminally.  If it were a crime to be sexist, racist bastards, it'd be a different matter.  The evidence of their behavior that night in that respect at least is apparent.  If I were them, I think I would feel the need for reconciliation right now rather than triumphalism.  I see very little to celebrate in this case.

So what's the upshot of all this?  What does it all mean?  In the end I think we did the right thing.  We listened to a poor, young black woman who accused wealthy, young white men of a crime.  We took her seriously.  Thirty years ago it might not have even gone this far.  If the fact that these boys behaved as they did is cause for shame, the fact that the rest of the nation reacted as we did --with shock and outrage-- is cause for hope.  And no one person embodies that right response better than District Attorney Mike Nifong.  That the charges were dropped doesn't mean he didn't do his job; it means he did.  He took some serious allegations very seriously.  In my book that makes him a decent DA.  He'll sleep well tonight.  Mr. Nifong, I'm sure you already know, but you did the right thing.

As for what it all means... I think a lot of questions still need to be asked.  Why was this woman so poor she had to work as a stripper for rich white men?  Why is there such a class divide in Raleigh, NC and in the whole US of A?  Why do some people feel so jubilant right now and interpret this news as dropped charges as a victory of rich white men over a poor black woman?  I think it's yet another reminder that we still have a long way to go here.  There's still a lot of healing to be done and a great need for reconciliation. 

This is not a victory for the players.  The only victory here is that originally the team and the school didn't want to investigate this woman's allegations but public outcry and a courageous DA resisted that.   They did the right thing.  They listened to her and they did investigate.  That's the real victory. 

Comments

[p]

but it is possible that she made it up. i don't know, because i haven't looked at it. but when it first happened, i heard no fewer than three versions of the story from the other girl on the radio. i don't like to defend uppity white boys, but i also don't approve of condemnation without proof.

[wayne fontes]

LWG, has it escaped your attention that these charges were brought only because these were rich white guys. The facts of the case were known in May. They include:

The stripper has brought false charges forth twice in the past including a three person gang rape.

Her written statement required DNA to be present and none matching the boys was on her.

She told a minimum of five mutaually exclusive stories.

One of the players could prove he was not at the crime scene when she alleged the crime took place.

The other stripper contradicted her story.

There was no evidence a rape took place on her person.

The DA witheld evidence and the police intimidated witnesses and destroyed evidence.

The three boys face a charge that carries a life sentence. Isn't that worse than the possibility something unsavory happenned in that house?

[barb]

To the five morons whose comments I deleted (or one moron with five aliases --I refuse to believe that are *that* many idiots out there who believe that knee-jerk neanderthal reactions rather than careful consideration should provide the basis for justice in our society):

You're free to disagree with me but you have to use your higher thinking skills in order to do it on my blog. Name calling and threat making are not permitted here.

Wayne's comment is a good example of how to do it. Wayne, as for the statements you make: this is the first I heard of the first one. I'd have to see more credible evidence of that before I could comment on it. As for the second, third and fourth, I know. All those were reported in the news stories. The fifth I heard only on blogs. The sixth is a conclusion. The seventh I don't know enough about yet. As for the eighth I didn't say that the men should've been convicted of rape and given a life sentence. What I said is that we got what we wanted: an investigation. That a woman's accusation was taken seriously. That's the real victory.

Anyway I don't want to reiterate what I said above. Read carefully. I take words and language very seriously and I don't say things I don't mean. I also don't say anything I don't say so be careful when you read between the lines and like a good literature major, be sure you can back up what you say with evidence from the text.

P: it's true, it is possible. I agree. Again like I said, all we ever asked for was an investigation and that her word be taken seriously. It's a complicated case and obviously as you can see if you saw the comments I deleted people are pretty irrational about it. I'm just trying to bring some careful consideration to the conversation.

[barb]

Oh and I should make a clarification because of one painfully stupid comment that I deleted:

Tamika Huston was NOT the woman who accused the Duke lacrosse players. She was a woman who was murdered a year ago. There is no connection at all between the two women other than they are both black and god no, she doesn't look like a prostitute!

sigh. That someone was so stupid as to think that because there's a picture of a black woman on this blog that ... oh nevermind!

[p]

people are pretty irrational about most things.

it is important to always investigate such charges. but, assuming their innocence, these boys will have to deal with this for the rest of their lives. i honestly think that making false accusations should be a crime. i know it is for police, but i don't think it is for civies.

[p]

also, because i have little confidence in the justice system, i doubt this would ever work well, btw, and would instead result in the prosecution of victims by rich folk. sucks.

[scott]

i been watching this case for a long time
not that comfortable with alot of the support the lacross boys got
alot racist and sexist people to be honest
but then the facts come out
im not a big blogger to to honest
i tried to find on the web
a "liberal" or radical person
understanding sexism and racism
to share with my concerns
that innocent people shouldnt go to jail
your not one of those persons im sorry to say
you think its not important in a way
because your very unlikely to face long term jail
because your a women
women dont go to jail like men do
thats real sister
and im saying that sister in the best way i know how
and you know it

[Rachel]

Barb, I agree with you, and I will be posting a similar post soon. Unfortunately, every time this subject comes up the racist/misogynist folks come crawling out of the woodwork, making preposterous claims.

[barb]

Scott, your comment was a little unclear but I think you're saying that I think that innocent people should go to jail? No, of course not, that'd be silly. Please re-read my post.

Rachel, I know, they have here too (been crawling out of the woodwork), although it died down already. They give me the creeps, but I guess that's their intent.

p, I think making intentional false accusations is a crime, if someone really did just invent a story out of the blue in order to slander someone but I don't think that's what happened here. She was at the party and was assaulted, it's just not known how or in what way or if it can be proven in court.

[justice58]

I agree with you about Mike Nifong. He should be commended for seeking justice. He has my respect. Some are distorting the truth about the rape charges being dropped. Let it be known: The victim NEVER said.. a rape DIDN'T happened. She told investigators, she couldn't testify with certainty that a penis was inserted in her. That statement is understandable given the fact she was most likely under the influence of some substance that night. All need to know: Dropped rape charges does NOT mean innocent. They are far from innocent. The dukies were allowed to run amuk on campus and the university gave them a free pass to do so. When the university looked the other way at their behavior; it was condoning the behavior. I pray: God don't let them get away with this b/c clearly something happened in that house that night. This case needs to continue on to trial.

1.If a jury finds them innocent...they will walk
2.If a jury finds them guilty... they will pay

[scott]

thanks for posting my thoughts
i did re- read your post
she says now that they didnt rape her
rape meaning penis in vagina
that why the DA dropped the rape charges
this whole thing is so disgusting
what did they do?
since the accuser hasnt been strong enough to tell us
and since all excepted the DA would with pressure
bring charges
and since being a racist or classist or sexist
isnt a crime that if convicted
carries a sentence
racist 3 years
classist 2 years'
sexist 3 to 5
in the real world
the DA used the accepted principes
that got convictions in the past
in all those other cases
all those black men
and a few white men
no money to hire the lawyers to dig HARD for the thruth
and these white boys these rich white boys DARE hire the lawyers
so where are we at?
now
the DA in this case
since its out in the open
slandered the defendants
and DA"s shouldnt
DA's job is to bring defendants to justince
he withheld evidence from the defense
now he setting the stage for a deal
all the regular things
that happen in american justince
all the time
why worship the DA in durham?
why do you worship him ?
who has sent more thatn ONE INNOCENT black man to jail
and you who said
mr nifong will sleep well tonight