11/8

Today,
Jackson started the discussion with his book, "One Hour in Paris", about Karyn Freedman, who was spending time in Paris. Book was published in 2014, but rape happened in late 90's. She was in Paris with her boyfriend, the (male) mentor, and the mentor's male lover (Robert). Robert kept pushing drinks on the girl and then became sexually aggressive with her. She left the room and then was trying to leave to head to a cafe, but when she tried to leave, Robert raped her at knife point and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave or scream or said anything. Raped her orally, vaginally, anally. When he was done she put her clothes on and tried to leave, he ended up raping her again. He then had the knife in his jacket and his arm around her neck, took her out of the apartment, and then right when they were about to leave the complex she got out of his grasp and he booked it, she broke down crying. The people from the elevator tried to comfort her, the cops showed up right away, took her concerns very seriously trying to find him but he had disappeared. Even took the precautions of putting boyfriend and mentor in prison for the night in case they were associated with him. She left the next day to return home to Canada to be with her family. They ended up finding Robert 3-4 months later, France paid for her trips to fly back for hearing and trial. Robert got 8 years in prison and then the rest of the book is about her coping with things and statistics of rape. When they found Robert he still had the knife he used when he raped her.

What was interesting from Jackson's book was the difference between police officers in Paris vs in America. The quick response, the amount of officers showing up (5-6) to take her statements and find the guy, the overhaul to find Robert, taking her to get a rape kit, and doing anything they can to protect her.

Mikah and Jace had "The Invisible Target" by Andrea Clemens, which is written in sections of her life. One of her teachers spent a lot of time with his students, so she got closer to him in middle school and would do anything she could to talk to him, which he completely ignored her (she later found out it was a part of the process of making him want her more). She then gets 100% on her test and he would drive her home, the mom saw them sitting outside in the car for a long time and thought it was weird. When she was drinking one night she told her best friend about what happened but made her promise not to tell anyone. Clemens felt like she had to do anything she could to make him happy, she never said no, but remembers crying and being repulsed by him. One of the red flags she got when she was younger because Mr. Baker gave her a music box that played a Romeo and Juliet song, and told her he would miss her over the summer. She went and told the counselor this, and he told her "he probably has feelings for her", Clemens said "no, he's married" and the counselor told her "well, people have affairs". This went on until she was in college and she went to the police because two other 14 year old girls came forward. She didn't write the book until 34 years later, and didn't come forward until 10 years after their abusive relationship ended. She still blames herself, but talks a lot about statutory rape. She tried to stop talking to him and he would drive to her college and and pick her up. 4.5 million students will experience sexual misconduct by employees (k-12). Targets are typically kids who will feel like they are invisible. Her mom didn't stick up for her, nobody did, the teacher targeted her because she needed to feel validated. He would use alcohol during sexual intercourse, she drank it because she was scared and it helped her numb the pain. Eventually, he was convicted (because the other two 14 year olds came forward); however, she was past the statute of limitation. He only got two years even though he did this to at least three students, but probably more. His wife continued to stay with him. Sickening case!

David and Michael had "Perfectly Broken" by Amber Mauldin (published 2014, rape occurred in 98). This book was more about how she dealt with the rape rather than what happened. The rapist (name never given), pulled up to her when she was in a parking lot and was asking for directions, being very insistent on needing help, she gave him the directions, he "couldn't figure it out" so she hopped in his car to help him, he took the opposite turn and put her into a headlock and threatens her life. Tells her to take her clothes off and rapes her, she puts her clothes back on, and then puts her into a headlock and drops her off somewhere randomly. Goes up to the door where she was dropped off and they call the cops, she gives her statement. A lot of the book goes on about how she felt in school, when she was questioned, how people viewed her, and how she dealt with it through Christianity. She studies abroad and feels a lot better because she rediscovers herself and gets help from youth group leader when she comes back. Her rapist got 101 years total for the rape (66 for her, and 3 other women came forward for the rest). One of the officers makes her tell her story 4 times, she felt like he didn't believe her. The rapist didn't use a condom, so she didn't wanna use the bathroom because she didn't want to get rid of the evidence. 10 years later (after rape) she is married and having a baby (when she wrote this book).