tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30786752.post7063081102018702665..comments2023-10-09T09:07:18.186-04:00Comments on My Ecdysis: Judge drops rape charges in gang rapeLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013142465038823597noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30786752.post-41537787454599298652007-11-07T13:50:00.000-05:002007-11-07T13:50:00.000-05:00The part of this story you don’t know is that this...The part of this story you don’t know is that this was a manipulation of the press by political operatives, who purposely fabricated a twisted version of the facts right before an election, to smear Judge Deni’s reputation for political reasons that have nothing to do with the case they used to launch the campaign against her. <BR/><BR/>Once they got one paper to print their twisted version of the facts, the other papers piled on, repeating the false facts from the first story.<BR/><BR/>What you think happened is not what happened, and her political opponents knew they had her over a barrel, because the rules of judicial conduct prevent her from arguing the facts of a pending case in the press.<BR/><BR/>The operatives accomplished their goal, which was to create a public outrage to fan the flames of a public drum beat to remove Judge Deni from office.<BR/><BR/>Some people will not find it easy to accept that they were played.<BR/><BR/>Others who know how politics are played in Philly will acknowledge that what I am saying has a certain familiar ring of truth to it. <BR/><BR/>I have known Judge Deni for better than 30 years. I am telling you that what you read in the papers, and the firestorm that was created out of it, was a calculated political manipulation that had nothing to do with the truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30786752.post-27948929392760711152007-11-02T20:44:00.000-04:002007-11-02T20:44:00.000-04:00Rape is NOT an Occupational Hazard!Sex Workers Joi...Rape is NOT an Occupational Hazard!<BR/><BR/>Sex Workers Join Women's Groups and Sexual Assault Survivors' Groups to Urge PA Voters to Vote 'No' on the Retention of Judge Teresa Carr Deni<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Judge Teresa Carr Deni spawned outrage from all directions after ruling on October 4th that a sex worker that was raped at gunpoint by multiple men was NOT sexually assaulted, rather she was just robbed. Deni commented in an Oct. 12th interview that this case "minimizes true rape cases and demeans women who are really raped." <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Grassroots activists around the country, including nationwide sex worker-led organizations such as the Desiree Alliance and regional advocacy groups from coast to coast responded with anger and disgust for Deni's disregard of the basic human rights of the rape victim in this case. "Deni's decision in this case sends a message that sex workers can be targeted for violence with impunity. Rape of sex workers is common, alarmingly under-reported, and rarely taken seriously by authorities," Kitten Infinite of Sex Workers' Outreach Project said. "Violence against sex workers is perpetuated by the state through discriminatory laws and judicial rulings such as this."<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Sex workers in the US and abroad are organizing and becoming more vocal about the violence and discrimination that they face. "Because prostitution is criminalized, our human rights and our boundaries are clearly not respected," Mariko Passion, a board member from the Desiree Alliance commented, she continues, "…forcing or manipulating sexual intercourse by fraud, fear or coercion is rape." On Oct 30th, after considerable pressure from sex workers and feminists around the country, the PA Bar Association issued a statement condemning Deni's action, stating that, "The victim has been brutalized twice in this case: first by the assailants, and now by the court."<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>The Desiree Alliance applauds Association Chancellor Jane Dalton's review of the matter and we find some satisfaction in the fact that the District Attorney's office has re-filed rape charges against the perpetrator of this despicable crime. However, we still call on voters to vote 'No' on retaining Deni in the election on November 6th. The Desiree Alliance will hold a virtual press conference and rally on Monday, November 5th at 5pm Eastern for sex workers and allies to comment publicly about this case and how to prevent further discrimination against sex workers.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Who: Desiree Alliance and Affiliates<BR/><BR/>What: "Rape is NOT an Occupational Hazard!" Virtual rally <BR/><BR/>Why: Judge Teresa Carr Deni should not be retained as a Municipal Court Judge in Philadelphia<BR/><BR/>When: Monday, November 5, 2007 5pm Eastern, 2pm Pacific<BR/><BR/>Where: http://www.BoundNotGagged.comNothing to See Herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14788856118553875452noreply@blogger.com