Earlier this morning, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to directly address the sexual assault allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh:
I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!
"I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents," the president tweeted to his 54.6 million followers. "I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!"
In a follow-up tweet, President Trump asked "Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?", referring to the time that had passed since Dr. Ford's alleged assault by Kavanaugh during their high school years. The president's loaded question prompted hundreds of sexual assault victims to share their own reasons for not contacting authorities via the now-viral #WhyIDidntReport hashtag.
The #WhyIDidntReport hashtag answers this stupid, nonsensical question that should never have been asked. https://t.co/9Vbs1GY10Q
1. "I told my mother when I was a teenager and she told me never to tell my father because he would kill our [neighbor's] son."
Which one? I told my mother when I was a teenager and she told me never to tell my father because he would kill our neighbors son. I didn’t report the other one because he was my supervisor and I needed the direct deposit. #WhyIDidntReport
2. "Because I was in a combat zone in Afghanistan & assaulted by one of my teammates."
#WhyIDidntReport Because I was in a combat zone in Afghanistan & assaulted by one of my teammates. I was one of few girls doing convoys and briefed "not to cause problems" as soon as I got into AOR. He ambushed me during my shower time. I cried watching blood go down the drain.
3. "I was 7 years old, she was my mom's best friend. I didn't want my mom to lose her best friend, and I didn't want to be known as a rape victim."
#WhyIDidntReport. I was 7 years old, she was my mom's best friend. I didn't want my mom to lose her best friend, and I didn't want to be known as a rape victim. So many thoughts go thru a 7 years old head once molested...took me over 20 years to be strong enough to come forward
4. "Because the first adult I told, my mom, said she didn't believe me. She said my brother was a 'good kid.'"
#WhyIDidntReport Because the first adult I told, my mom, said she didn't believe me. She said my brother was a 'good kid'. I was 7, he was 14. I had to endure years of it because they didn't believe me. He has a daughter now and I can't protect her.
5. "Because we were in a FWB situation and I knew no one would believe me because of that."
#WhyIDidntReport Because we were in a FWB situation and I knew no one would believe me because of that.
FWB: friends with benefits.
6. "Because I was a new private in the Army, deployed overseas, and didn't know anyone. I trusted him because he was my NCO."
#WhyIDidntReport because I was a new private in the Army, deployed overseas, and didn't know anyone. I trusted him because he was my NCO. Everyone loved him, he could no wrong, no one would have believed me.
NCO: non-commissioned officer
7. "My mom said she would kill anyone who hurt me and at 9 years old I believed her."
My mom said she would kill anyone who hurt me and at 9 years old i believed her. I was afraid she would go to jail. #WhyIDidntReport
8. "He was the nephew of my father’s girlfriend at the time & was older & stronger than me... I thought he’d hurt me more & that nobody would believe me."
He was the nephew of my father’s girlfriend at the time & was older & stronger than me. It started when I was 7 & I thought he’d hurt me more & that nobody would believe me. It took 4 years to break the silence. He was abusing other kids too, I later found out. #WhyIDidntReport
9. "I was afraid it would ruin my professional reputation before I had even started."
I was humiliated. I knew everyone would find out. I was afraid it would ruin my professional reputation before I had even started. I was afraid they would not believe me and let him hold my grade back. I was afraid they would not let me graduate from law school. #WhyIDidntReport
10. "...because I had been drinking, because I couldn’t believe that it had happened. Because I’ve been conditioned to believe I asked for it. That was 1,784 days ago."
#WhyIDidntReport because he was a close friend who I had been supporting through his breakup, because I had been drinking, because I couldn’t believe that it had happened. Because I’ve been conditioned to believe I asked for it. That was 1,784 days ago.
11. "I was confused. In denial. Afraid... Ppl liked him. The only friend I told--responded w: 'He wld never do that.' I didn't think anyone would help me."
I was 17. Raped by a friend. I was confused. In denial. Afraid. His parents were richer & better connected than my parents. He was a "good" student. Ppl liked him. The only friend I told--responded w: "He wld never do that." I didn't think anyone would help me. #WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/YbCuIMg07M
12. "Because I felt no one listened to me or would believe a guy married and who has kids would do such a thing. Or that my ex would take advantage of me."
#whyididntreport because I felt no one listened to me or would believe a guy married and who has kids would do such a thing. Or that my ex would take advantage of me.
13. "Because I was little boy and 'girls can't assault boys' was a social narrative. Little did I know she was acting out because she was a victim too."
#whyididntreport because I was little boy and "girls can't assault boys" was a social narrative. Little did I know she was acting out because she was a victim too.
14. "Because of the shame I felt after going to the doctor the day after, the way they made me feel as if I let it happen."
#WhyIDidntReport because of the shame I felt after going to the doctor the day after, the way they made me feel as if I let it happen.
15. "It was 'only' sexual assault, not rape, so not serious enough to waste people's time with when I knew other people had been through worse."
It was 'only' sexual assault, not rape, so not serious enough to waste people's time with when I knew other people had been through worse #WhyIDidntReport
16. "I didn’t kick and scream like I’d been taught, so it had to be my fault, right?"
#whyididntreport I didn’t kick and scream like I’d been taught, so it had to be my fault, right?
17. "I had to wait until after my suicidal father died because I was scared he would do something awful to the perps or himself. His misery was far more important than mine when I was 17."
@IowaPeg @kurteichenwald I had to wait until after my suicidal father died because I was scared he would do something awful to the perps or himself. His misery was far more important than mine when I was 17. #WhyIDidntReport
18. "Because we know the questions people will ask: what were you wearing? Were you drinking? Did you give them any signs to indicate you were into them? Were you flirting? The victim blaming starts immediately."
#WhyIDidntReport because we know the questions people will ask: what were you wearing? Were you drinking? Did you give them any signs to indicate you were into them? Were you flirting? The victim blaming starts immediately.
19. "Because the next morning everyone in the house clapped as if they were proud this 19yo 'man' had sex with me. I was 16yo. That gave me the impression it wasn’t a bad thing."
#WhyIDidntReport because the next morning everyone in the house clapped as if they were proud this 19yo “man” had sex with me. I was 16yo. That gave me the impression it wasn’t a bad thing
20. "He was a friend of my brothers. I had five of them and they and my dad would have killed him. I couldn’t be the cause of my family being torn apart. I was 13."
#WhyIDidntReport He was a friend of my brothers. I had five of them and they and my dad would have killed him. I couldn’t be the cause of my family being torn apart. I was 13.
21. "Because he was my boyfriend and I wasn't supposed to have one. So I couldn't tell anyone when he became a monster."
Because he was my boyfriend and I wasn't supposed to have one. So I couldn't tell anyone when he became a monster. #whyididntreport
22. "Because I had spent years cultivating a tomboy reputation and didn't want to admit I couldn't fight him off."
Because I had spent years cultivating a tomboy reputation and didn't want to admit I couldn't fight him off. #whyididntreport
23. "I loved him and I thought he would kill himself."
I loved him and I thought he would kill himself #WhyIDidntReport