After listening to Wednesday’s verdict within the intercourse trafficking and racketeering case of Sean Combs, I meant to write down concerning the challenges of prosecuting circumstances involving sexual violence and the obligation of care owed to survivors. However one thing felt off.
As an alternative of waxing concerning the coverage implications and authorized challenges of this case, I made a decision to ship a easy message to those that survived Diddy: I consider you. I see you.
Diddy demonstrated that his potential for violence and sexual depravity is just not solely doable however possible.
But, on July 2, a Manhattan jury did what juries have completed because the daybreak of juries: discovered a technique to as soon as extra, retraumatize survivors whereas delivering the looks of justice.
In a cut up determination, Combs was discovered responsible of two lesser prices involving transportation for the aim of prostitution, but the jury acquitted him of probably the most severe ones for intercourse trafficking and racketeering. A system that claims to care about survivors and ship justice, has once more demonstrated the diploma to which the brutality inflicted by a robust man like Diddy will be sanitized, rationalized, and mitigated.
Make no mistake, he’ll spend time in a federal jail. Authorized consultants and survivor advocates are at odds concerning this verdict. Many advocates like myself consider that the decision represents a big setback for the #MeToo motion and #MuteRKelly. However past the authorized evaluation to comply with, it is very important make area not solely to your expertise but in addition to your humanity.
Throughout the trial, the litigation course of will need to have been undoubtedly retraumatizing. Unbelievably so, I think about. You have been made to recount the components of your life that I’m positive, you tried to park away in a darkish recess of your psyche, by no means to be accessed once more. You, after years of making an attempt to heal from the psychopathic horror inflicted upon you by somebody who you trusted, beloved, and was sure would catapult your musical profession, was pressured to relive these moments of hell: medicine, concern, brutality, violence, grooming, coercion, compliance.
Let’s be explicitly clear: This verdict is a illustration of the system of jurisprudence and legal legislation that’s much less about reality and extra about who placed on a greater present. A system that can’t overcome the built-in biases and cultural norms which have led generations of us to excuse the atrocious habits of the highly effective whereas blaming these of us who survive.
Throughout this trial, the chilling particulars of your abuse grew to become fodder for each podcast, irrelevant leisure commentator from the 90s, and bottom-feeding abuse apologist who had web entry and a social media account. The system, which is supposed to ship justice, as an alternative curated probably the most salacious particulars of your torture for individuals to tug out their outdated, cobweb-covered soapboxes to disgrace, malign, and victim-blame in a banal try and cosplay journalist and authorized analyst.
But, none of this erases your reality.
There was video proof.
There was testimony.
There have been images and video of his torture and depravity.
And but, a jury determined that he needs to be acquitted of intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
You have been pressured to exist beneath the judgmental lens of people that regardless of this proof, discovered that he was solely responsible of the 2 lesser crimes. A system that very seemingly could have prioritized being completed with this case with an extended vacation weekend looming and never getting true justice.
This will need to have come as a intestine punch for you. Therefore, I want to middle you.
I stand with you. I consider each phrase of your testimony and honor the energy it took to share it with the world. At the same time as this verdict fails to ship the justice you deserve, I would like you to know that your reality is irrefutable.
This second could not have introduced the closure you hoped for, however I’m happy with you for standing towards an unformidable system, designed to interrupt you.
I see you. I hear you. And I’ll proceed to struggle for you.
Kenyette Tisha Barnes is a political strategist, international human rights advocate, and Co-Founding father of #MuteRKelly
SEE ALSO:
Diddy Please: Sure, You’re A Bozo For Cheering For Sean Combs
Why Sean Combs Was By no means Going To Be Absolutely Held Accountable [Op-Ed]