PA’s Backward Expert-Witness Law Creates Advantage for Jerry Sandusky
Though the grand jury report outlining allegations that former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky routinely raped young boys entrusted in his care is damning, when it comes to the trial, Sandusky and his lawyer Joe Amendola have a few home-court advantages here in Pennsylvania. For one thing, thanks to a bizarre statement buried in standard jury instruction, the...
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Mayor Nutter Addresses Alleged Rape, Deteriorating Conditions at Occupy Philly
At an emergency press conference held in room 202 of City Hall early this afternoon, Mayor Nutter confirmed reports that police arrested a man suspected of raping a woman at Occupy Philly’s Dilworth Plaza encampment last night. 6ABC reported early this morning that “Police say the victim is a 23-year-old woman from Atlantic City, and the alleged rapist is...
Continue Reading![SlutWalk Rally in Center City Seeks End to Culture of Victim-Blaming [VIDEO]](http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/files/2011/08/s2-150x150.jpg)
SlutWalk Rally in Center City Seeks End to Culture of Victim-Blaming [VIDEO]
A petite 20-something girl is topless except for tiny bits of tape covering her nipples. She’s holding a pink poster that reads, “I wasn’t dressed like this when I was raped.” She hoists the sign high above her head as a professional photographer—one of at least a dozen—snaps photos of her. Looking on is 48-year-old Lisa Hansen, a tourist from...
Continue ReadingPW Talks With Creator of “Dan Rottenberg Is Thinking About R@ping You”
Perhaps the strongest reaction to Broad Street Review editor Dan Rottenberg’s recent rape-victim-blaming editorial is in the theater community. Since BSR is one of the few places to get a show reviewed in this town, many theater and dance folks naturally read the publication regularly. One such theater artist, 32-year-old Cara Blouin, was so outraged that she...
Continue ReadingDan Rottenberg Backlash Swells
Reaction to Dan Rottenberg for writing a tone-deaf rape apologist’s manifesto as an editor’s letter in online Philly arts mag Broad Street Review continues to swell. After taking a few minutes to register that Rottenberg’s column wasn’t a failed attempt at satire, I wrote a direct response to his ideas in this week’s issue. Meanwhile, some local theater...
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month; “Take It All Back” Walk Tomorrow in Center City
Chalk this one up to one of those things you need to be aware of. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. And someone in the city is doing something serious about it. “People have a lot of misinformation about sexual assault,” says Jill Maier, Director of Counseling Services at Women Organized Against Rape. “They think it’s what portrayed...
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Donte Johnson’s Murder Trial Postponed
The next step in the murder trial of Donte Johnson, who is charged with the assault, rape and death of Northern Liberties waitress Sabina Rose O’Donnell, has been postponed until Sept. 21. The courtroom was nearly empty except for a few people coming in to check into their own case. Unlike the scene that unfolded during the last court date in the case,...
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