Rape crisis centers say Kavanaugh confirmation "painful" for thousands of W.Va. survivors

Oct. 09--charleston -- The organization representing West Virginia's nine rape crisis centers says the past week has been "painful" for survivors of sexual violence and that "whether we want to believe it or not, offenders come from all walks of life."

The state's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, meanwhile, accuses Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., of "misrepresenting the interests of their constituency by eroding the legitimacy of the Supreme Court in their confirmation vote for Judge Kavanaugh."

The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services offered a statement Monday, following the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's pick for the court. Several women had accused Kavanaugh of sexual violence. One woman, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, had testified before Senate Judiciary that an inebriated Kavanaugh had pinned her down and groped her, in an attempt to rape her, at a high school party. Another, Deborah Ramirez, had accused him of thrusting his penis in her face at a college party where many were reported to have been intoxicated.

Kavanaugh, during his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, had indignantly accused Democrats of a conspiracy, and responded to a question about whether he blacks out while drinking by asking Sen. Amy Klobuchar if she blacks out while drinking.

In a statement, WV FRIS said: "This past week has been painful for survivors of sexual violence, their loved ones and allies. The reality is that sexual assault occurs at an alarming rate in this country and, whether we want to believe it or not, offenders come from all walks of life.

"In West Virginia, it is a reality that only about 27 percent of reported forcible rapes actually end in an arrest -- not a conviction, just an arrest. Until we have a criminal justice system that recognizes the seriousness of a sexual violence allegation and invests the time and resources needed to thoroughly investigate those crimes, then offenders will freely be able to re-offend."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'sNational Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010-2012 State Report, an estimated 19.1 percent of women nationwide have experienced attempted or completed rape, equal to 22,992,000 women.

The report, published in 2017 and conducted by a random-dial landline and cell phone survey, says that in West Virginia, an estimated 21 percent of women have experienced attempted or completed rape, equal to 157,000 women. It was the first report to offer the data at the state level.

The researchers estimate 49.1 percent of those attempted and completed rapes in West Virginia are by an acquaintance. Survivors go on to have higher risk of difficulty sleeping, frequent headaches, asthma, chronic pain and other health conditions, according to the survey.

About 240,000 West Virginia women, equal to 32.1 percent, have experienced "contact sexual violence," according to the survey. Contact sexual violence is a broader category that includes rapes and attempted rape; sexual coercion -- meaning lying or pressure, including threats, for sex; and unwanted sexual experiences, such as groping.

The report did not provide statistics on male victims of rape in West Virginia, but said that nationally, about 1.5 percent of men are victims of rape, or about 1,692,000 men, and 5.9 percent, an estimated 6.8 million, have been made victims of other forms of physical sexual abuse. It does note that an estimated 17 percent of West Virginia men, equal to 120,000 people, have experienced contact sexual violence.

The West Virginia Department of Education's 2015 Youth Risk Behavior survey, meanwhile, found that 10 percent of high school students had been forced to have sex when they didn't want to, according to a 2016 summary of the findings.

FRIS' statement continued:

"The events of the past week have highlighted the faults in the system. Every victim of every crime should have access to a system that is responsive and respectful.

"We stand with survivors of sexual violence, we believe them, and we commend them for their courage in coming forward."

They asked their supporters to sign a letter to Manchin and Capito, who had remained in support of Kavanaugh throughout the confirmation process.

"We ask that you stand with us by signing and sharing a letter to West Virginia's Senators, urging them to support survivors of sexual violence. It takes 30 seconds to add your voice to this needed national dialogue."

Nancy Hoffman, state coordinator for the organization, said that the letter, which had also been circulated prior to the vote, did not specifically ask senators to vote a certain way, but that it "just states the impact." That letter can be found at Facebook.com/WVFris.

The only Senate Democrat to vote to confirm Kavanaugh, Manchin said he voted for Kavanaugh following a one-week investigation into the claims by the FBI. The FBI, which interviewed firsthand witnesses and did not allow testimony from others who knew the accused and wanted to testify that they were aware of the incidents at the time, concluded there was "no corroboration," according to a Republican summary of the report.

Manchin said, according to the Washington Post: "I believe Dr. Ford. Something happened to Dr. Ford. I don't believe the facts show it was Brett Kavanaugh." The vote Saturday was 50-48.

Saturday, West Virginia's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also offered a statement. Joseph Cohen, executive director, said:

"Based on his testimony and performance in the Senate Judiciary hearing, it is clear that Judge Kavanaugh lacks the temperament and commitment to impartiality that is required of a justice on the Supreme Court. His willingness to participate in partisan rhetoric casts a shadow over an institution that is historically removed from politics.

"This past Thursday, West Virginia sexual assault survivors met with both Senator Capito's staff and directly with Senator Manchin in DC. These brave individuals shared their personal stories of assault with hope that it would resonate and inform their representatives' vote. Unfortunately, neither Manchin nor Capito responded in a way that reflects the power of this moment and movement.

"We are extremely disappointed in both Senators Manchin and Capito for misrepresenting the interests of their constituency by eroding the legitimacy of the Supreme Court in their confirmation vote for Judge Kavanaugh. Sexual assault survivors and West Virginians deserve better."

Email: ebeck@register-herald.com and follow on Twitter @3littleredbones

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