Congresswoman Jackie Speier Discusses STOP Act & the Significance of General Sinclair's Punishment

Congresswoman Jackie Speier comes forward to speak on General Sinclair. She highlights the exact point I've been making to her for 3 years now... Commanders are not law enforcement nor are they lawyers. They have no investigation experience or training. If you need heart surgery do you go to the foot doctor? Then why would anyone be okay with letting untrained personnel decide violent felonies... let's call it what it is. The really sad part was they were using General Sinclair as an example of how tough & serious they were about "zero tolerance" ... we walked away with a fine.... A fine his wife complained about... do you think she cared that her husband is a convicted rapist now? No she just cared that the fine isn't fair & we need that money. That's the "justice" survivors get... This survivor is lucky she even got to court martial. Oh & I forgot to mention that the asked him to retire as in here have full benefits even if you are a convicted sex offender. That's the uphill battle survivors & advocates fight daily- a system that's designed to force survivors out & reward the violent criminals. 

And just for the record I'm not bashing the military nor am I saying all soldiers marines or squids are rapists because they aren't. I'm simply saying that this is a problem & we need to fix it now. Let's make it a safe environment where people don't have to be afraid of getting raped violated or having things literally shoved up their anal area. 

3 years ago I teamed up with Jackie along with other advocates as well.... and in those 3 years we have moved mountains, (which we never expected) but still it hasn't been enough. Every victory we won there was still the looming issues of why is the commander the legal expert & jury without an ounce of investigation experience. We won't stop until we force that change. It's coming whether they like it or not. Commanders you've now officially been put on notice.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/opinion/speier-military-prosecution/index.html?c=&page=1

Thoughts and Confessions

I have to be ho nest, I rarely read articles about myself. When they get ready to cover me in the media, I usually avoid watching. I just always expect the responses to be negative just like the Marine Corps was.
A very good friend of mine who is also a very well known advocate told me that I really should read when they cover me. I've been thinking about it and then finally I did it.
I was completely shocked & amazed by article after article. People are genuinely Infuriated by what happened to me and how they treated me. They realize that if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.
The outrage & support has been amazing. I never expected .... never even crossed my mind that complete strangers would hear my story and fight for me. They took my voice and kicked me when I was down but then the public was on my side and it felt like justice was alive again. The morals I thought most had lost were back & for the first time in my life the public's voice had become louder than my commander and every other participant. All the times they put me down the public cried louder and it was in support of me. I am the girl next door. I am the All American kid who is going places that has potential... and it was cut short out of discrimination and gender hate and bias.
I can keep going because people like you support me. They help me prove my point. So to all the reports who helped me, thank you. It has still been a long hard road, but it's been made easier with your verbal support. ♡

Exactly How Much Power Should Commanders Have?

Every appearance I make, people say to me that Commanders need total control for the "good order of the unit". I have to be honest, I really want to ask those people 'what is wrong with you?'! Let's break this down barney style and think about it logically- Commanders have no law enforcement investigation experience. They aren't lawyers. They have absolutely no legal or investigative experience. Why on earth would anyone try to say Commanders should be the judge and jury for a criminal trial? If the person you loved got raped would you want the Commander "investigating" your case? I doubt it. If you need heart surgery, do you go to the foot doctor? What I want to know even more is why Commanders are even fighting to keep the ability to be judge and jury... Doesn't it make more sense to pass this to "Agency X" who does have the experienced investigators? That cuts the Commander off the hook for any disagreements or mess ups. That means s/he can get back to playing golf (unless POTUS is coming around) What kind of example is the brass setting for our junior Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers? They know that this behavior is wrong, but they see their leaders doing it but know they can't speak up either... for the same reason rape survivors can't come forward- retaliation. When is the brass going to get serious and admit they are wrong? No one asked for all of the Commander's power.. just to have felony crimes investigated and treated as what they are- violent crimes.