Image courtesy Feminists for Choice

This week, I rage quit the Canadian – specifically the Manitoban – legal system.

I don’t know if the system is more corrupt than I thought, or if they actually do only care about their conviction rates, or if it’s because some people are low-income rural folk, and therefore in the eyes of Canadian Harperville Law, unimportant.

All I know is, there is a rapist out there right now, and he got away with it. Okay, I shouldn’t say ‘out there’ since he has been incarcerated on other charges – but not the ones that matter – because the crown attorneys have decided it’d be a tough win.

Oh, boo hoo.

I know the survivor personally. I was the one that made the phone call to the police (and listened to the fucker snort, and tell us to come in on Monday). Did we heck. I packed her – tears, bloodied clothes and all – into the car and took her to the ER. They sent us to Winnipeg to the rape centre.

She’s very young, and very small, and noticeably different. She’s never even had an offline boyfriend. And this is the second time she has turned to the legal system for safety and justice, only to be turned away.

Congratulations, Manitoba, you’ve shown her that there is no point in reporting sexual/physical abuse and rape.

Oh, I know as a government they claim crown attorneys have to weigh the evidence and if it’s not there, they can’t follow through with charges and a trial. Well, then. I guess the photos of the bruises and the blood and the bodily fluids collected at the centre in Winnipeg don’t matter.

That the rapist has a history of violence against women (matter of public record via the courts website), had broken probation when he raped this girl, and is currently in jail for other charges? Not even taken into account.

Why?

Because she didn’t know she was being lured into a trap. Because she was too scared to fight back. Because she’s not physically capable of fighting back.

Because she was so scared she couldn’t find her voice until it was too late.

No means no, whenever it is said, however it is said. IT IS NEVER THE VICTIM’S FAULT!

A real man would stop when he hears anything resembling a no. A real man wouldn’t have pushed himself on a girl who was scared to begin with. A real man wouldn’t have targeted an obviously young, obviously physically different girl – he wouldn’t have been looking for a girl who looks 12.

This asshole, he’s no man. He’s a walking, talking hairless ape with no self-control. Nothing more than a base animal.

“Safety and justice for all is at the heart of our work at Manitoba Justice. Working with our communities, we continue to develop and refine programs and services to help Manitobans feel safe in their homes, on the job, on our roads and in our neighbourhoods.” – Andrew Swan, Minister of Justice Manitoba

Prove it. Everyone out here knows legal issues are resolved differently in the rural areas than they are in the city because everything outside of the perimeter highway is NOTHING to people in the city.

“You will see how we are protecting Manitobans by cracking down on crime … I am proud of my department and the men and women who dedicate themselves to the administration of law and order in our province.” – Andrew Swan, Minister of Justice Manitoba

Good for you. Proud of yourself and your people. Not surprising – you and your people let a rapist get away with destroying a young woman’s innocence, self-worth, and hope for the future. And it isn’t the first time.

Years ago another girl I knew in a tiny way was raped, only she fought back and died a horrible death. As I recall, you released one of her killers on a technicality, but gave him the safety of another province so he wouldn’t have to face rough justice.

Proud of yourself, indeed.

But I guess everyone has to look in the mirror at some time.

I will be looking into mine.

I know his name. I know his age. I have a physical description of him and right now – this very day – I have a general idea of where he is.

And I am a very, very angry witch.

The survivor does read this blog. If you would like to leave a message of support, you can do so in the comments section. All are hand-approved and have email addresses and URLs removed, so it may take a few days to post.