Description A person who has experienced sexual violence may come in contact with the media. This may include interviews with reporters and coverage by newspapers and television news stations. Survivors may feel a sense of empowerment by telling their story to the media; however, the media may misrepresent or distort their stories. Media coverage of sexual assault may focus on the actions of the victim or infer that an assault did not occur. This may lead survivors to feel re-victimized. Resources takebackthenews > media response Writing Prompts “When I read my story in the newspaper…” “My most vivid memory of talking to the reporter was…” Stories Jessica Brakey from Cleveland, OH | 23-August-05 In 2003 the nation was shocked to hear that women at the Air Force Academy were being raped, and then punished for reporting. In 2003 as the news reports and facts progressed and as victim numbers grew and grew, it was even more shocking to hear so many rape survivors, women and men, in all branches in the military come forward to talk about how they too had been retaliated against, punished and forgotten in the system. It would seem as if the crime of rape was indiscriminate--no one was immune or safe from it...not even our nation’s strongest, best or brightest. Thousands of news stories were written, and even members of congress were outraged. For a small moment-- as I sat and watched at the time as an emotionally devastated survivor looking for justice-- for a moment I felt hope....hope that people like me wouldn't have to suffer in silence any longer. That hope has faded. It is now 2005, and 2 years after the thousands of victims who came forward, news articles and public interest, after 2 years worth of inaccurate or incomplete and delayed air force reports, leaked information, slander and libel, after years of victims still being retaliated against, raped and forgotten...Rape Victims are still being intimidated, harassed, discounted and forgotten. Pulitzer prizes have been won, congresspersons have had their accolades and many have patted them selves on the back for a job well done, however for the victim, who wakes up in the morning-- bogged down with depression, exhausted from nightmares, broke and tired from trying to take on a biased system....there is nothing waiting for him or her. No justice. No healing. No dignity. Nothing. Despite the Air force academy scandal headlines and news stories...STILL NOT ONE AIR FORCE ACADEMY CADET HAS EVER BEEN FOUND GUILTY FOR RAPING A FELLOW CADET. NOT ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY. Nor have rape victims ever had their opportunity to testify before congress about what really happened. Even after we were promised our hearings. How is it everyone knows what’s best for a rape victim, but never bother to ask a real victim? Already in the papers, my rapist Joseph H. claims that he is going to be vindicated in this trial. If he is vindicated it will not be because he is innocent. It will be because the Air Force was successful in destroying any chance I'll ever have at testifying or protecting my rights along the way. Joseph H. raped me and attacked another female while at the academy. I do believe there are other victims out there; however we are the only ones to come forward. Apparently speaking the truth, sticking to your guns and hoping for a fair outcome in the military justice system is not enough. Since coming forward the Air Force has done everything in their power to discredit me, scare me away and foil my chances at justice, and have stolen any ethical treatment rights I may have had as a victim in the military justice system along the way. They continue to do this because we as bystanders allow them to continue to get away with this. I don't know how else to ask you, but please help if you can. If you are a congressperson, please give rape victims our hearings so that we can be heard face to face. If you are a reporter, please don't turn away from watching the military courts...every time you do, and when you are not looking, the military courts are sweeping these cases under the rug and setting another rapist free at numerous other victims expenses. If you are a family member or know some one who has been raped write your congressman, write the media...call the air force prosecutors office and demand an appeal so that this case manages to make it all the way for trial. A rapist should be held accountable for rape. Is that too much to ask for in an American Society? I fear it may be........ Again thank you for taking the time to read this. My name is Jessica Brakey, I am a CSU student and I was one of the original whistle blowers of the Air Force Academy Sexual Assault Scandal. Additionally I am also a former patient of Jennifer Bier, LCSW, who was the first civilian rape counselor and therapist to refuse an illegal military subpoena that had unethically requested access to all of my medical records, despite facing imprisonment. Rather than handing over my most protected and sacrosanct of medical records, Jen continues to fight on behalf of myself and all rape victims in order to keep our privacy, so that we are not turned into the criminals in the often biased court systems that we are up against. Rape is still the only crime where less and less victims are reporting, more and more rapists are raping, and when put in the judicial system the victim bears the brunt of exposure and humiliation. As punishment for standing up for myself and as a punishment to my brave therapist Jen Bier...the Air Force Court of Appeals YET AGAIN denied an appeal to reinstate the rape charges against my offender, Joseph H. Again this DECISION was made on a Friday when the PRESS COVERAGE OVER THE WEEKEND WOULD BE MINIMAL. WE have since asked the prosecutor whether they intend to appeal that decision to the military's highest court -- the court of appeals for the armed forces -- WE have received no reply. It is imperative that this groundbreaking case move forward for a multitude of reasons: If Joseph H. is convicted of raping me and the other victim he will be the first air force academy cadet ever convicted of raping a fellow cadet thus sending a message to the military community that FINALLY THE AIR FORCE IS HOLDING RAPISTS ACCOUNTABLE. Secondly this case has the ability to clearly define the lines between victims rights and defendants rights, state LAW vs. MILITARY LAW, and military POWER vs. civilian rights...if this rapist is convicted...through the potential law changes and precedences this case will set, ALL MILITARY VICTIMS CAN TAKE A PIECE OF THE VICTORY AWAY WITH THEM. PLEASE!! DEMAND THAT THE AIR FORCE SEE THIS CASE THROUGH BY NOT ALLOWING THIS RAPIST OFF ON ILLEGAL AND UNETHICAL TECHNICALITIES! PLEASE TELL CONGRESS THAT THE LIES, THE INTIMIDATION AND THE DESTRUCTIVE RETRIBUTION TOWARDS RAPE VICTIMS NEEDS TO STOP! Joseph H. should be in jail and registered as a sex offender not commanding troops, flying jets and raping more women. For those of you helping, thank you for your support, your prayers and for your interest in seeing this issue through. Numbers to call if you want to make a difference (please demand that this case move forward to trial.) us armed forces court of appeals: 202-761-1445 bob.bieber@armfor.uscourts.gov air force court of appeals aflsajah.workflow@pentagon.af.mil 202-767-1550/1551 Randolph air force base/ public relations public.affairs@randolph.af.mil 210-652-4410