My Letter to Dan A. Turner, Father of Brock Turner, Upon Reading His Misogynistic Letter to Judge Aaron Persky
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Dear Dan A. Turner,
I am calling on you to immediately retract the full text of your letter to Judge Aaron Persky, apologize to the world, beg forgiveness, and become an advocate for Persky’s removal. This is in everyone’s best interest.
The unmitigated arrogance of the letter you sent the judge is reprehensible. Do you think the court needs to know that Brock Turner used to eat steak and now has trouble eating? That Brock Turner is shattered and would do better being an educator than serving time because he raped someone?
Do you really believe that Brock’s becoming an educator and that his efforts would be a “net positive” for society?
That’s heartbreaking. You have patriarchy on the brain and it’s got a bad grip on you.
As a fellow man, I have to wonder how you got to this point. Where you can go on and on about how much your son suffered after he sexually assaulted a woman and how you chalk that up to campus climates where drinking is prevalent?
Your letter was careless, invested only in Brock and showed no regard, regret, care, or concern.
I’m asking you:
-to become clear right now on the difference between “20 minutes of action” and raping a woman and to state to the court and the world that this was a dramatically disconnected and thoughtless statement
-to retract the full text of your letter in deference to its deep disregard for human life and its considerable failure to show regard for anyone but Brock
- to specifically disavow your victim-blaming statements throughout the letter
and to join other men in calling for a recall of Judge Aaron Persky whose sentence was both a product of sick “good ol’ boys” leniency and patriarchal toxicity.
As men, we have an obligation to speak up when other men are creating a culture of violence, inequality, injustice, fear, and misogyny. You, Brock, and Judge Persky can only contribute to a safer, more just world by renouncing your letter, holding Brock fully accountable, and apologizing with both words and justice-centered action for this terrible crime.
In resistance,
“20 Men of Action”
