WARNING: This post contains sensitive material, may be a trigger to some, and might not be appropriate for all ages. I talk about my experience with sexual assault.................. Today, I am finally going to share the truth about what happened to me when I was 13 years old. You can swipe right to read my victim impact statement that I read in front of the whole court room.
So many people have tried to take away my voice in this situation. Some people think that it is okay to call me a liar and publically share lies and tell people they don't know the WHOLE story. Nobody knows the whole truth except ME, Joe, and G-d.
As if my experience wasn't painful enough, I have been revictimized by people on Instagram calling me a liar, a slut, cunning, & promiscuous.
Yesterday, the man that abused me admitted to what he did to me, and accepted 2 felony counts of child abuse and 10 years of probation with sex offender conditions.
Speaking up and telling your story is overwhelming and intimidating. Everyone feels differently in sharing their experience publicly,ย I finally felt in control of a situation I had no control of.
When I finished reading my victim impact statement, I felt as though I was speaking up against injustice, holding perpetrators accountable, and empowering and supporting survivors.
Abuse often leaves the survivor feeling powerless. On this day, I felt confident, strong, and in control. I finally felt closure.
I hope that in sharing my Victim Impact Statement, I am able to help victims of sexual assault and abuse know that they are not alone, and I hope I can also help them in knowing that they are believed.
Unbelievably, there will be people that will attack me for speaking out. I REFUSE to be a victim or silenced anymore. I am currently, and will continue to defend myself against any attempts at defamation.