TX - 21 arrests in gang rapes of 11yo girl, Cleveland, 2010

[Salem]

Two critical looks at New York Times coverage of the case:

The New York Times' Rape-Friendly Reporting (Mother Jones)

The New York Times' sloppy, slanted child rape story (Salon)

Thank you for these articles wfgodot. This story moves me to tears and that thought that some can not see past the end of their noses and place blame on an 11 year old makes my blood boil. I am glad to see the NYTimes called on the carpet for their insensitive articles.

Salem

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/article_58ac647c-0fbb-5875-8d73-1705bd9aec0e.html

Congressman Poe responds to sexual assault case

"Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) has issued the following statement in response to the ongoing investigation into the rape allegations of an 11-year-old child in Cleveland, Texas:

“This tragic story has shocked and sickened our community. As a former prosecutor and judge for 30 years, I understand the need for a thorough investigation,” said Poe.
“As founder of the Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus, I also understand the need for swift justice for the victim of this horrendous crime. Additional evidence in this case is forthcoming, but under Texas law ignorance is no defense – especially when it comes to the rape of a child. Those accused will have their day in court; those found guilty should be shown no mercy for their crimes. May justice be swift and harsh.....”

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

I'd like to revisit the issue of the child being placed in a "safe house" for a minute. I know it is unimaginable to think of a child being separated from her parent when she is most traumatized. However, given some of the new information coming out--that she was the victim of prior rapes and that she'd been missing for 2 days--tells me that the state really had to step in for the child's protection.

We know nothing about this child's parenting or family situation. They might have done all they could or they might have been negligent. We just don't know. But something isn't adding up for me. She'd already suffered through numerous rapes and was still out on the streets in danger. Her actions and behaviors were that of a child who is highly traumatized, IMO. She didn't seem to report the most recent rapes in a timely manner--certainly not calling 911 or going straight to her parents. The poor girl was spinning out of control while a town went into a frenzy of finger pointing.

IMO, a safe house is just where she needs to be while her trauma is assessed and treated. I am so hopeful that she's not lost to us.

 

[mysteriew]

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/article_58ac647c-0fbb-5875-8d73-1705bd9aec0e.html

Congressman Poe responds to sexual assault case

"Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02) has issued the following statement in response to the ongoing investigation into the rape allegations of an 11-year-old child in Cleveland, Texas:

“This tragic story has shocked and sickened our community. As a former prosecutor and judge for 30 years, I understand the need for a thorough investigation,” said Poe.
“As founder of the Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus, I also understand the need for swift justice for the victim of this horrendous crime. Additional evidence in this case is forthcoming, but under Texas law ignorance is no defense – especially when it comes to the rape of a child. Those accused will have their day in court; those found guilty should be shown no mercy for their crimes. May justice be swift and harsh.....”

more at link

This is one time when the attention of a politican can be helpful. I don't think there will be too much 'sliding' when they know that officials are watching the case.

 

[belimom]

Unbelievable. I wonder what the attorney would think if it was HIS 11-yr-old daughter?

The defense attorney shifts blame onto an 11-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted by as many as 18 people.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/03/10/exp.nr.tx.sexual.assault.defense.cnn?hpt=T2

 

[tlcya]

Disgusting. just disgusting. I get the need for defense attorneys. I get the need to afford everyone good representation and a fair trial and all that - I really do. But to blame the victim in this case, how the hell does this attorney sleep at night. What an {unusual person}!

 

[Missizzy]

tlcox--Sadly almost all child victims are "blamed" in some covert or overt way when undergoing the trial process. It's heartwrenching but a fact. This is why Children's Advocacy Centers and Victims Advocates are essential. There job is to protect the child from these accusations and to help the child appropriately process them when they are lobbed.

Despicable. I couldn't sleep at night, doing that job, that's for sure.

 

[Missizzy]

I just checked and Cleveland has about 7500 people. I spent 14 years in a small Central Texas town of 400, which grew to about 2000. I have lots of relatives still in Texas and have been visiting small Texas towns since 1958.

One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that everyone knows everyone's business. It can be a wonderful thing as children can grow up knowing that the whole town has their eye on them. It can also be stifling or cruel if a person is a bit different or having troubles.

I would like to know just how a little girl of only 11 kept this number of rapes secret. Young men and boys talk, young women and girls talk, parents overhear their children talking. Discussion about children goes on in the teachers' lounge and at the grocery store. I would almost bet my lunch that very very few students in that town did NOT know of this child's distress. And in a town this size, there's a lot of overlap. Teachers are also parents and coaches and Sunday School teachers. The more I think about it, the more I just know that there was talk and others are totally culpable for this last attack. There were just too many signs that she was struggling. I cannot believe that it took until the first week in December for all this to come spilling out.

 

[Missizzy]

Do we have any Texas residents reading this thread as I have a question? I just had an awful thought. It's been said that this child is Latina. She was attending public school. I wonder if this child might have an undocumented parent. I don't know what the current laws are for undocumented students in Texas. It's highly possible that she's a legal citizen but her parent might not be. I'm just wondering if that could have played a horrible part in her family trying to overlook these attacks (and possibly deal with them privately). Might they have been afraid of being deported or having their child removed from their home? Oh, that makes me sad to think about. Has anyone seen this discussed (in a reasonable, respectful manner) on any of the comment boards?

I keep going back to that neighbor's comment about how the little girl looked "out of place". I still wonder if he was referring to her race or to her age.

 

[wfgodot]

Cleveland on edge after girl's gang rape
Racial tensions that simmered before alleged assault are now at a boil

CLEVELAND — This old timber town of almost 8,000 in East Texas has become a tinderbox that some residents fear could be ignited now by recent charges of racism, political chicanery and child rape.

Even before the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl divided Cleveland, tensions were already simmering here. Accusations of racism had been flying over the looming recall election of three black City Council members. Those targeted for removal have expressed concerns that the election could be racially motivated, while their opponents accuse them of mismanagement and squandering tax dollars.
---

Some in Texas town blaming young girl in assault

CLEVELAND, Texas — A meeting Thursday night that was billed as a way to discuss concerns some have about the investigation into a series of alleged sexual assaults on an 11-year-old girl turned into a forum that many used to blame the girl police contend is the victim of heinous attacks.

Many who attended the meeting said they supported the group of men and boys who have been charged in the case. Supporters didn't claim that the men and boys did not have sex with the young girl; instead they blamed the girl for the way she dressed or claimed she must have lied about her age — accusations that have drawn strong responses from those who note an 11-year-old cannot consent to sex and that it doesn't matter how she was dressed.
---

much more of each at Houston Chronicle links above

 

[peeples]

OMG an entire town forum on blaming the poor little girl... that is just atrocious!!!!

 

[MorenoI]

OMG an entire town forum on blaming the poor little girl... that is just atrocious!!!!

I'm sure this mainly comes from the family stating their loved ones would never do such a thing!

 

[lonetraveler]

Cleveland on edge after girl's gang rape
Racial tensions that simmered before alleged assault are now at a boil


Some in Texas town blaming young girl in assault


much more of each at Houston Chronicle links above

Well, the attitude and way of thinking that these supporters of the rapists have displayed explains to me why this happened to the little girl. The rapists
actions are representative of the people who are supporting them. Goes to show how these young men could do this without any thought that they were in the wrong.

 

[Missizzy]

A bit different coverage than the Houston Chronicle but same unbelievable story:

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/...Of_Texas_Girl_Blame_The_Victim_117809979.html

Supporters Of 18 Accused In Rape Of Texas Girl Blame The Victim

 

[tlcya]

disgusting the citizens of this town should hang their heads in shame. Unfortunately, they are too bigotted and backwards to even realize how very wrong and offensive their stance is to the rest of the world.

Cleveland TX is a horrible town if these fine citizens are any example of the population as a whole.

I don't care if that child ran nekid in the streets offering to take all comers, these boys and men were old enough to know better, and if they did not know any better that says a whole lot to me about this town and its entire populace!

 

[believe09]

That seems to be somewhat of a deflection to highlight the skin color differences in the accused vs the accuser. Would it have been more palatable if they were all the same ethnicity?

 

[tlcya]

?? Not sure if that was for me believe09. If so, I use the term bigot as a person who
obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs. The predominant usage in modern English refers to persons hostile to those of differing race, ethnicity, nationality, inter-regional prejudice, gender and sexual orientation, homelessness, various medical disorders particularly behavioral disorders and addictive disorders and religion or spirituality. Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or world views.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry (ETA link)

It is obvious (to me) that these perpetrator's supporters exhibit bigotry by assuming that an 11 year old hispanic child wearing makeup is somehow less than any other 11 year old. Somehow these folks have it twisted that either a female who runs with older boys and may have engaged in attention seeking behavior, somehow has earned what she has gotten and the perpetrators of such injustice are blameless. Perhaps it is because she is female alone, perhaps because she is a hispanic female. Perhaps it is because her class or status in the town is of a lower one than her attackers. Whatever the reason for their beliefs, I find them to be bigots.

All bigots are not white, bigots exist in every color and every class.

and ETA not sure how that is perceived as deflecting to highlight skin color by calling these townsfolks for their backwards way of thinking that flies in the face of common decency. I do not need to know their skin color to know that they are wrong and seem to be prejudiced against this child for some reason. Whether it is simply her race, her sex, or whatever.

 

[Missizzy]

This town is going to explode if someone of reason and authority does not step in. I know that Congressman Ted Poe made a statement but I implore him to do more. The local clergy also need to step up, IMO. There's going to be violence if this divisiveness cannot be quelled.

Most of these supporters of the accused are parents. Why can't they see the insanity of what they are saying?

I keep going back to the concern of trafficking. I still wonder if the older "boyfriend" was not trafficking this girl and telling these boys and men that she was indeed over the age of consent. As the Congressman reminded us (and we all know), ignorance is no excuse. But I could certainly see that particular scenario causing some who are ill informed to react the way they are.

One of our sons (who has DD) once dated a young woman when he was a Senior in high school. He was 19. She was on the Honor Roll and a very bright and lovely young woman. But she was a Sophomore. We questioned him about her age and he told us that she was 18. She didn't look 18, though, and it didn't fit with her being a Sophomore at age 18. My husband confronted her one day and asked to see her ID. She said she'd lost it. We called her parents and it turned out that she was 16!! We were furious about the entire incident. She lied, our son took her word on it, her parents even knew how old our son was and didn't step in. We told him that we had no choice but to report it as we are mandated reporters and because it was the only right thing to do. Due to his DD, he ended up not being charged as the young woman admitted to misleading him. I can almost wrap my mind around a teensy bit of consternation but NOT BLAME. We were upset about the whole situation but we didn't blame this girl. We were actually more upset with her parents. She was a child. But this baby girl is 11!!

 

[tlcya]

I have to wonder if these supporters would feel the same if the victim were one of their own kids, or nieces or neighbors. And if they would not feel differently in those circumstances that is a scary scary thing as well.

 

[tlcya]

I find it really unbelievable that anyone with reasonable intelligence could mistake an 11 year old with a 17 year old. If these attackers parents want to drink the coolaid their fine upstanding young men (sarcasm alert) want to serve them then I guess we have our answers as to how all this could even come about in the first place.