BREAKING NEWS: Action Kit available for nationwide rallies on Oct 10 – email RapeisRape@gmail.com Let your voice be heard! We must be the voice for everyone who has been silenced by sexual violence! Visit http://www.RapeIsRape.com
In an excerpt from the NY Times:
In March 1977, Mr. Polanski, 43 at the time, invited a 13-year-old to pose for pictures in a magazine he was guest-editing. He took her to Jack Nicholson’s house on Mulholland Drive and gave her Champagne and a Quaalude. He knew she was 13; he called her mother to tell her they were running late. Then he had oral and vaginal sex with the girl. After learning that she was not on the pill, he penetrated her anally. In grand jury testimony, the girl said that she told him no, repeatedly, but they were alone in the house — Mr. Nicholson was away — and she was afraid.
But Whoopi says – it’s not “Rape-Rape”. Watch the video and join PAVE for a global campaign Rape IS Rape: Join Team Ten on Oct 10 (see press release below)
Media Contact: info@pavingtheway.net
p: 877.399.1346
PROMOTING AWARENESS, VICTIM EMPOWERMENT CHALLENGES CELEBRITIES SUPPORT OF ROMAN POLANSKI
Moviegoers Encouraged to Boycott Films by Hollywood Supporters
CHICAGO, October 2, 2009 — On October 10, rallies will be held in front of movie theatres across the country and abroad in response to the startling media and Hollywood support of Roman Polanski, the film director convicted of sexual assault and fleeing the country. These powerful demonstrations happening on October 10 are part of a global campaign, Rape IS Rape: Join Team Ten. This effort is being orchestrated by the nonprofit PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, who was responsible for the 2007 nationwide “Call it RAPE Protest” that was held in over 40 cities and covered on CNN, TIME, and NBC’s Today Show.
PAVE Founder and Executive Director Angela Rose was kidnapped from a shopping mall when she was 17 years old, “As an outspoken survivor of sexual violence, I am horrified at the media and Hollywood’s support for a man who fled the country after pleading guilty to a sex crime against a child. The outcry of support for a sexual assault perpetrator is a strong message we are sending out to victims across the country that they will be forever silenced and blamed for these atrocious acts.”
According to the US Department of Justice, every two minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60% still being left unreported.
Rose said, “Ask any sexual assault survivor and they will tell you that the scars left from the abuse can last a lifetime, especially when the sexual violence is followed by silence, shame and lack of support. The fact that there are several celebrities standing behind Polanski is nothing short of appalling.”
PAVE is seeking support from all moviegoers to join in helping shatter the silence of sexual violence. On October 10th, people in cities across North America will gather signatures at movie theatres for a petition that supports survivors of sexual violence. The awareness campaign calls for a boycott of movies by Polanski’s supporters.
“This situation saddens me greatly because it sets us back so many years. In supporting Polanski, Hollywood directors, actors and producers are contributing to the ongoing silence surrounding sexual assault,” noted Rose. “Our public figures need to support the voices of our vulnerable youth – not those who prey on them.”
PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment is a national, grassroots nonprofit. PAVE uses education and action to shatter the silence of sexual violence with targeted social, educational and legislative tactics. PAVE initiatives have been implemented in over 55 cities and in 3 countries.
GET INVOLVED AND START A RALLY IN YOUR TOWN!! Email: info@pavingtheway.net
READ THE TESTIMONY: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/polanskia1.html
http://womenspeakout.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/polanski-raped-her/
Angela Rose 
October 1, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Fantastic work, Angela!
October 1, 2009 at 10:00 pm
brilliant campaign. we need increase public awareness on this in an effort to make an impact and affect public opinion. there are far too many people missing the issue at hand. we support your efforts.
October 1, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Amen. Finally, an organization and a leader speaking out on this crime. What is wrong with people? thanks, Angela. You’re the best
Cheyla
October 1, 2009 at 10:42 pm
you know I am here, to support in any and every way I can!
this is a great plan, and I know we will have many more great plans to continue to create awareness, with all of our big mouths…
🙂
you are doing great things girl!
xox
October 1, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Hi Angelea,
Great work! I agree with you 100%…Rape is Rape! I am sick to my stomach with Whoopi’s comments…You go girl!! This is an unspeakable outrage!
October 1, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I really don’t see why this is a discussion on the table the man admittedly raped a 13 year old girl. I think this takes a giant step back for a global cause on changing the laws on sexual offenders.
October 1, 2009 at 11:39 pm
It is ASOLUTELY RAPE! There is no other way to look at it. Once a child molester always a child molester! There should be no time limit, he is as guilty today as he was then!! It is high time for our laws pertaining to CSA to change world wide!!!
October 15, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I agree 100% with Billie Lynch! This guy is a rapist and child mollester! I’m so ashamed of Whoppi for defending this guy and trying to downplay his crime by playing a game of semantics!! He committed a crime- he deserves to be held accountable- period!! Our criminal justice system does not protect children. Child mollesters never get long enough sentences!! I think the death penalty is the way to go here!
October 1, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Hi Angela,
You are so right. Rape is Rape. Whoopi is sick!
October 15, 2009 at 4:13 pm
A-men to that sister!!
October 2, 2009 at 12:56 am
Hi Angela,
I agree! Rape is rape. I hadn’t heard Whoopi’s comment’s yet but I believe once a child molester, always a child molester. Abuse is abuse. For the victim, the crime feels the same today as it did the day it happened, even if it happened thirty years ago. Time stands still. The pain that comes from being a victim of sexual abuse never really goes away. It may lessen but never fully disappears. Inner pain effects the victims every action and threatens their well being, not just one time, every single day for always. I know. I’ve been there. I have survived yet there are days in which I still feel the pain of my past. Surviving abuse takes a life time to heal. The clock has been stilled the moment rape occurs. Why should an abuser be free to live when their victim lives within their own inner prison.
October 3, 2009 at 1:34 am
Indeed, Rape is Rape, Abuse is abuse. However, the person is NOT a victim, they are a survivor and can be a thriver once a healing process has been completed.
Sexual Abuse can be healed. I have helped hundreds of sexual abuse survivors heal. For information check
October 18, 2009 at 10:10 am
Yes, I am a survivor! I have completed my healing process and have shared my story in hope to help those who continue on their own journey to wellness. However, Rape is Rape. And each of us reacts differently to the trauma experienced. Every now and than, an old ‘feeling’ will creep into my day. A dark thought of past is triggered and it’s hard to get up and go. On those days I find myself experiencing a ‘heaviness’. These feelings come and go. I believe the body holds the memory of pain of what happened even though the mind heals. The mind may be powerful but the body remembers. That’s why I belive it takes a lifetime to heal from sexual abuse.
I agree with Janie Woods comment below.
I am Karen. I am a survivor.
October 3, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I agree with you 100% Karen. I too was a victim of sexual abuse for many years from a family member. The pain NEVER goes away. Sometimes it’s almost like it just happened. The memories are just burned into my brain. Sometimes you wish you could just erase all those bad memories so you may live a normal life!
October 2, 2009 at 2:53 am
How do we organize this in our town?
October 3, 2009 at 6:26 pm
GET INVOLVED AND START A RALLY IN YOUR TOWN!! Email: info@pavingtheway.net
October 2, 2009 at 9:52 am
My friend Nicole actually engaged Sherri Shepard on Twitter regarding Whoopi’s comments – check it out.
http://www.mybottlesup.com/conversation-via-twitter-with-sherrie-shepherd
October 2, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hi Angela,
Of course, you and the members of PAVE are standing up and speaking out on this matter…how could we not! I am stunned, saddened and outraged at this clip of Whoopi Goldberg minimizing this crime and those who are supporting this rapist.
Until, we as a society, stop defending and protecting those who prey on women and children…we will never know true safety or true freedom.
October 2, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Hollywood is no better — and perhaps worse! — than the Catholic church covering up for priests having non-consensual sex with altar boys, saying it’s okay for Polanski (or any powerful/profitable director) to rape a teen.
October 3, 2009 at 2:05 am
Rape IS Rape. A Child Rapist is A Child Rapist, and Roman Polanski is a Child Rapist. If he raped your daughter or sister, would you be on his side?
October 3, 2009 at 10:37 am
[…] the defense of Roman Polanski, admitted child-rapist. This includes the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Whoopie Goldberg, and Peter Fonda, to name a […]
October 4, 2009 at 8:55 am
I watched the video and was appalled that they missed the whole point! I don’t care if the girl was 13 or 43 or 25, she said NO over and over. She did NOT want to have that sex. How could that not be rape rape? To sit there and blame the mother and the victim, shame on you, Whoopi! I am so disappointed in you that I will never support any of your other projects until you publically admit that you are gravely ignorant on this subject.
I was sexually assaulted 30 years ago, and I have PTSD symptoms that have follwed me for the rest of my life. I was also 13 years old.
Let’s take the focus off of how old is acceptable for a man to rape a child, and focus on the fact that he had sex with her against her will. He RAPED her.
October 4, 2009 at 9:02 am
I was appalled in watching this video because they missed the whole point! It doesn’t matter whether she was 13 or 43 or 25, he forced her to have sex against her will. She kept saying no. How much more rape rape can this be? Shame on you, Whoopi Goldberg! You need to admit that you are extremely ignorant on this subject. It’s time to study up on it!
The PTSD from rape is equivalent to that of a soldier returning from war. They stay with you for life. I am a survivor and I was 13 when I was raped. Why should he go free after giving her a life sentence? PLEEEEZ!
Rape IS Rape. It’s time for him to face the music. We need to stand up and make perpetrators have consequences no matter who they are.
October 4, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I can’t believe Whoopi is defending the pervert, fugitive Polanski! Polanski needs to serve his punishment regardless of the time that has passed!
October 4, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I listened very carefully to the video. I don’t think Whoopi was condoning, excusing, or minimizing Polanski’s actions. She was actually adding information about how other countries feel about sex with a 13 year old. We know that in some countries girls are legally married at this age and younger. And I am not saying that it is right. The fact that the child kept saying no, no is good enough for me. One other thing. I don’t believe in putting temptation in front of someone.
October 7, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Key words–OTHER countries. WE are not a thrid world country where eight year olds are married off for a dowry. WE are not a country where virgin women are raped before they are executed because killing a virgin is a sin. WE are not a country where if a rape occurs, it’s an embarassment to the family and the victim’s fault-no matter their age. She was THIRTEEN. Where was her mother? Who knows and yes, she was wrong to let her daughter be alone with him. But to say “…putting temptation in front of someone” is another way to say it’s her fault. That’s like saying if a woman marries a man and he molests her daughter, it’s her fault? HE is the culpable party in this. This was NOT a “youthful mistake” as his supporters have called it…He was a middle-aged man. I don’t think the CHILD should HAVE to say know. You’re saying that if a 13 yo says “yes”, you think they’re old enough to make that decision? They truly understand the consequences? Think 30 years ago when sex ed was not what it is today; when the internet was not around; when you were supposed to be able to TRUST adults. He was convicted, he ran, he should pay dearly for this.
October 7, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Sorry…typed too fast. *third and *no (not know)
October 18, 2009 at 10:14 am
I agree! Well said. Thank you!
Karen
October 4, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I love whoppie…but what the hell is Rape- Rape..I sure as hell can’t agree with you on this one. I don’t care how much time has passed..He should pay the price.
October 5, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Whoopie did not say that this isn’t “Rape Rape.” What she said is that he was not charged with “Rape Rape”. This clip begins in the middle of the debate over what his actual charges were versus what they believed he was charged with. She is not trying to defend Polanski in any way. She even says in the end that she hopes that all parties involved with letting that child be alone with Polanski end up in court. I agree with that.
October 5, 2009 at 3:40 pm
We need to educate Whoppie. Our e-mails need to go directly to her. What earth has she been living on? As a woman who is on a national talk show, supposidly an educated, informed participant, how could she be so terribly misinformed? We have so much work to do.
October 7, 2009 at 12:52 pm
“RAPE IS RAPE”
No matter who does the ‘rape’ they are
‘rapist’.
The United States can not, should not
tolerate rape and a person or persons that
commit a rape should be prosecuted!
No matter who they are!
October 9, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Rape is Rape. Even if the girl hadn’t said ‘No’ its still rape. She was 13 which in the US (and most civilized countries) is below the age of consent. So she legally cannot give consent.
Now a 13 year wouldn’t know this, but a GROWN ADULT MAN would. So its HIS responsibility as THE ADULT to control his conduct. Even if she was shaking it in his face (which she wasn’t obviously).
He is no different than those sexual predators who think they are hooking up with minors through the Internet that they are always featuring on Dateline. THE ADULT is always the responsible party.
July 1, 2012 at 9:33 pm
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal website now 😉
August 8, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Mini, the tune of the military and economic perspective.