Kellie Powell (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} wednesdayview) wrote,@ 2008-05-17 12:26:00 |
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Turn Your Rage Into Action
Yesterday I posted about Melanie Ross, a rape victim in Georgia who was ordered to pay her rapist's legal fees after Judge Phillip Brown dismissed her claim as frivolous. His reasoning? The victim was not a virgin. Her rapist was her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Day. Her lacerations and bruises could have been caused by "bumping into furniture." And since Day used a date rape drug, Ross could not be considered a reliable witness.
It is important to realize that Day has not claimed that he did not give Melanie Ross a rape drug, or that he did not rape her while she was under the influence of said drug. His entire defense is that he didn't need to drug her to get her to have sex with him, because they had had a sexual relationship previously. His entire defense is: A man can't rape a woman who has previously consented to have sex with him - or with anyone. And a Georgia Judge agreed with him.
You can read more about this case at Feministing or at SAFER.
Other outraged people have found a few actions that can be taken on Melanie Ross' behalf.
First, you can make people aware of this horrifying case. Tell everyone you know that Georgia punishes rape victims for speaking out, instead of punishing rapists. If you happen to know someone who is a reporter or a columnist (anyone talk to Mick Swasko lately?), encourage them to do some research and write about this appalling situation.
If you take a moment to register for an account, you can comment on local news coverage of the appeal.
You can make an adversarial complaint against this judge. Send your letter of complaint, condemning Judge Phillip Brown's actions to:
State Bar of Georgia
800 The Hurt Building
50 Hurt Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-2934
You can also write to Daniel Day's father, Georgia State Representative Burke Day. His home phone number is listed as: 912.786.7050. Or you can contact him at his district office:
Representative Burke Day
218 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
404.656.5096
You can donate to Melanie Ross' Legal Fund, by sending a check to:
Barrett & Farahany, LLP
1401 Peachtree Street, Suite 101
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 214-0120
Make the check out to: Barrett & Farahany, LLP and put on the memo that it is for the Melanie Ross Legal Fund. If you have any questions or concerns, please follow up with Barrett & Farahany. (I understand if you don't want to write a check to her law firm and I will continue to look for a way to send donations directly to Ms. Ross.)
If you don't mind being profoundly disgusted with humanity, you can visit this discussion online which attacks Ross and supports Day and tell them to go fuck themselves. You can even try tracking down their real life contact information and reporting them for hate speech.
If anyone else has any ideas for possible actions to take, please post them in comments.
Yesterday I posted about Melanie Ross, a rape victim in Georgia who was ordered to pay her rapist's legal fees after Judge Phillip Brown dismissed her claim as frivolous. His reasoning? The victim was not a virgin. Her rapist was her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Day. Her lacerations and bruises could have been caused by "bumping into furniture." And since Day used a date rape drug, Ross could not be considered a reliable witness.
It is important to realize that Day has not claimed that he did not give Melanie Ross a rape drug, or that he did not rape her while she was under the influence of said drug. His entire defense is that he didn't need to drug her to get her to have sex with him, because they had had a sexual relationship previously. His entire defense is: A man can't rape a woman who has previously consented to have sex with him - or with anyone. And a Georgia Judge agreed with him.
You can read more about this case at Feministing or at SAFER.
Other outraged people have found a few actions that can be taken on Melanie Ross' behalf.
First, you can make people aware of this horrifying case. Tell everyone you know that Georgia punishes rape victims for speaking out, instead of punishing rapists. If you happen to know someone who is a reporter or a columnist (anyone talk to Mick Swasko lately?), encourage them to do some research and write about this appalling situation.
If you take a moment to register for an account, you can comment on local news coverage of the appeal.
You can make an adversarial complaint against this judge. Send your letter of complaint, condemning Judge Phillip Brown's actions to:
State Bar of Georgia
800 The Hurt Building
50 Hurt Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-2934
You can also write to Daniel Day's father, Georgia State Representative Burke Day. His home phone number is listed as: 912.786.7050. Or you can contact him at his district office:
Representative Burke Day
218 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
404.656.5096
You can donate to Melanie Ross' Legal Fund, by sending a check to:
Barrett & Farahany, LLP
1401 Peachtree Street, Suite 101
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 214-0120
Make the check out to: Barrett & Farahany, LLP and put on the memo that it is for the Melanie Ross Legal Fund. If you have any questions or concerns, please follow up with Barrett & Farahany. (I understand if you don't want to write a check to her law firm and I will continue to look for a way to send donations directly to Ms. Ross.)
If you don't mind being profoundly disgusted with humanity, you can visit this discussion online which attacks Ross and supports Day and tell them to go fuck themselves. You can even try tracking down their real life contact information and reporting them for hate speech.
If anyone else has any ideas for possible actions to take, please post them in comments.
