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

[Missizzy]

Here's where none of us can know the details or nuances. If (huge IF here, folks), this child was trafficked by a skilled pimp and IF that abandoned trailer had no lighting and IF the child was more developed than most 11 year olds, that might be a mitigating circumstance considered during sentencing. I find it interesting though that some comments have been made that the young men were led to believe she was 15 or 16. Well, that's still a child with no ability to give consent. No excuse!!

But a man controls his own genitalia and where it goes. He's ultimately responsible for any actions he chooses to take. Ignorance or even subterfuge might play a tiny part but they are no excuse for the reality that an 11 year old was raped again and again.

Concerning bigotry, I have to agree that those who are blaming the victim are certainly displaying bigotry (and ignorance, often one and the same thing). I'm very very hopeful that these supporters do not represent the majority of this small town. But why are we hearing nothing from them? Why no outpouring of concern and support for the victim in this town? Or have I missed it?

 

[mysteriew]

I don't think it is so much the town, as it is who has the loudest mouth and the most to lose at this point. From the articles I have seen there has been individuals who talked about how wrong it was, how the men needed to be punished. Others seem shocked that it happened. But those people didn't organize.

Someone invited the black activist in. Someone organized the forum that allowed the group to turn the disscussion into a blamefest. Someone is making it a race issue. Which is funny. From what I have read recently I thought that Hispanics were the ones who were allegedly being more discriminated against in the border states. I could be wrong though. Anyway the accused group is the ones who have the most to lose at this point. What happened to the girl has already happened, she will be dealing with that for the rest of her life. But the boys/men on trial, their future is in the balance. Someone is fearful enough to want to try to tip that balance away from the accused. IMO they have the loudest mouths.

They are claiming discrimination against their sons. But there is video showing who was there and who wasn't. They cannot deny who did what. So they have to blame the girl. IMO I would guess that many of them are also acting out of a combination of embarrassment, fear, and love for their sons. Who would want to admit that their son raped an 11 yo?

On the allegations that they didn't know the age of the girl I wonder about this. Isn't this a small town? Which means that they know a large proportion of the town pop. And some of those were still in high school. How many kids are in the school? Wouldn't they know the majority of the school pop? So even if they didn't know she was 11, they knew that she wasn't in their high school. And at least one of the group was in middle school, and IMO he probably knew the child and knew her age.

 

[mysteriew]

Statisitics for Cleveland High School.
http://texas.schooltree.org/public/Cleveland-High-081999.html

 

[Missizzy]

And statistics for the Junior High:

http://texas.schooltree.org/public/Cleveland-Junior-High-082000.html

476 students at the Junior High and 822 at the High School.

 

[tlcya]

So a full half of this town's total population would appear to be students?

 

[Tinsamd]

Wow. I just read through this entire thread, & my that was A LOT to digest.

Took a break, came back, & found this VERY GOOD article entitled:

"Media Coverage of Texas Gang Rape - What's Wrong, What's Right, and What's Missing"

http://womensissues.about.com/b/201...whats-wrong-whats-right-and-whats-missing.htm

In trying to cover a controversial case with the facts in dispute, McKinley got it wrong while Horswell gave it her best within the context of the situation. To blame her to the same degree as him is to miss a key issue.

What we need to do lay less blame -- on journalists, on victims -- and instead start advocating for change. We need to begin lobbying for legislation that recognizes the existence of rape myths and protects victims from the false assumptions that arise from rape myths and the inherent biases that they engender. We must also take a hard look at the depth, breadth and type of personal information made available through social media, and determine fair use guidelines within the legal system and the news and media industry.

Until we set standards for what is and is not the acceptable release of once-personal information now readily available on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites -- and until we get serious about protecting the rights of women and girls (and men and boys) sexually assaulted and/or raped -- we'll keep missing the boat and focusing on the missteps of the media instead of turning our attention to the real issue: justice for victims of sexual crimes and an end to violence against women and girls.

 

[tlcya]

according to this survey as of 2009 population in Cleveland TX is 7,920

http://www.city-data.com/city/Cleveland-Texas.html

I could've sworn some of the articles I was reading said around 2,000.

gonna go back and reread some stuff.

 

[cluciano63]

Not sure, but I think the African American population is about 2000.

 

[tlcya]

ah, ty for clearing that up for me

I am outraged that this activist person has drawn himself into this and made it a racial thing with his comment that "African Americans are being selectively prosecuted."

This guy is gonna stir up a mess of racial carp in this town where the fact of the matter, the perpetrators (at least those that thus far been arrested) are all African American.

Is he trying to suggest that the perpetrators were AA's AND whites and that only the AA's were arrested?

I cannot stand that this guy is using this awful case of an 11 year old CHILD being gang raped to further his own personal agenda and get his name in the press.

This is not a case of race discrimination, this a case of RAPE fgs!

ETA there may have been white young men who would have joined in if invited, but they apparently weren't on these perps speed dial.

 

[jjenny]

Defense lawyer for some of the suspects admits those participating knew how old the girl was.
"Attorney James D. Evans III, hired to defend some of the 18 suspects accused of gang-raping an 11-year-old girl in Cleveland, said on a radio talk show program that those participating were "absolutely" aware of the girl's age."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7468724.html

 

[LadyL]

Defense lawyer for some of the suspects admits those participating knew how old the girl was.
"Attorney James D. Evans III, hired to defend some of the 18 suspects accused of gang-raping an 11-year-old girl in Cleveland, said on a radio talk show program that those participating were "absolutely" aware of the girl's age."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7468724.html

wow

I`m surprised that their defense attorney would state that publicly

 

[cluciano63]

wow

I`m surprised that their defense attorney would state that publicly

Me too-what would he have to gain by saying this? Makes no sense...

 

[tlcya]

I am still puzzling on that one. How exactly does that help his client's case (not that I am complaining, mind you)?

 

[tlcya]

I hate to say it cause as a WSer, I don't like gag orders - but in this case with things as volitile as they are I hope the prosecution wins their motion.

Stephen C. Taylor, the only other attorney representing the suspects who could be reached, declined comment on the interview.

He noted that everyone might soon be silenced in the criminal case, as the prosecutors have filed a motion for a gag order that is slated for a hearing Tuesday.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7468724.html

 

[matou]

Does anyone know if money was exchanged at all i.e. to the boy who was calling his friends? That could add charges, I would think. Also, I wonder if these boys raped her thinking she could not get pregnant from their assaults based on her age.

I'm so upset and even more insensed now that I know these boys were aware of her age.

 

[jjenny]

I am still puzzling on that one. How exactly does that help his client's case (not that I am complaining, mind you)?

I don't think it does help his clients.

 

[mysticrose]

SNIPPED................................................................

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.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7467292.html

...................................................................................

Well I was trying to post my thoughts on this and I have erased several thoughts, not going to happen without a TO I'm afraid .
I bet they would feel differently if it were their child or relative this happened to :furious: I guess you can't fix stupid, and thats the nicest thing I think I could say right now

 

[jjenny]

The activist is concerned only black men are being arrested? I presume the arrests are being made based on the cell phone videos, and witness testimony, since there is no DNA evidence. So who are they supposed to arrest? And some of those quoted appear to not understand that 11 year old legally can not give consent. So even if she didn't object to any of it, it doesn't matter from the stand point of the law.

 

[Missizzy]

Finally!! Someone speaking up for the child and calling Quanell X out for his hateful comments:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Grou...-alleged-Cleveland-sex-assault-117866074.html

Mujeres Unidas held a news conference Saturday in support of the 11-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by more than a dozen men and teenagers in Cleveland, Texas. The group claims local activist Quanell X blamed the girl and her family for what happened at a town hall meeting Thursday. "It was not the young girl that yelled rape. Stop right there, something’s wrong brothers and sisters," said Quanell X. He questioned the fact that the girl never went to police. One of the girl’s friends at school saw cell phone video of the alleged rape and told a teacher.

"This was an 11-year-old child and no matter what she did, did not do, how she dressed how she talked how she acted, does not matter," said community activist Linda Morales. "This was a brutal and savage rape...."

and

"....She and eight others with Mujeres Unidas, Women United,　gathered in east Houston Saturday morning holding white carnations. They said the carnations were symbolic of the young girl’s innocence taken. Morales said Quanell X was wrong to blame the girl and her family for the alleged assault.

"At that town hall meeting, it was asked where the parents of the young girl were. We can easily and stupidly say where were the parents of the accused?...."

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

I am more than a little concerned that the outrageous statement by the defense attorney validating that the men/boys knew the child's age might be some sort of a legal ploy.

What on earth could this attorney have hoped to accomplish by such a statement? For one thing, he's assured the fact that the accused will be permitted a Post Conviction Relief Trial down the road (a civil suit paid for by the taxpayers against the attorney for failure to represent appropriately). It sounds as if the accused would have a case, too. As I can attest, that will just bring the victim more grief. We're talking 10-15 years of legal wrangling over this case for this girl. That casts a pall over a child and a family.

Every single time one of the males goes to court or has a hearing or an appeal, her life will be negatively impacted.