The thing in the Oval Office asked in a tweet, “Why didn’t someone call the FBI 36 years ago?”
So Twitter is answering.
But, in the spirit of a diary I wrote yesterday, “I am Christine Blasey Ford,” they’re answering personally. Telling their own stories of why they didn’t report.
By the thousands.
It’s heartbreaking.
And it’s trending #1 in the USA as I write.
There were 5 other rich, white boys in my boyfriend's college frat room.I was poor white trash on a scholarship.I was drunk and drugged and passed around like a fucking bong.Like a game of hot potato.I thought he loved me.I was embarrassed and scared.#WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/CtJekvDFD9â Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 21, 2018
There were 5 other rich, white boys in my boyfriend's college frat room.I was poor white trash on a scholarship.I was drunk and drugged and passed around like a fucking bong.Like a game of hot potato.I thought he loved me.I was embarrassed and scared.#WhyIDidntReport https://t.co/CtJekvDFD9
Because the last time I had said something, I was told I was making a big deal out of nothing, it was all in my head, it was with my clothes on, I was lying. #WhyIDidntReportâ Breathe breathy breathsðÂÂÂð¬ (@omaha_runner) September 21, 2018
Because the last time I had said something, I was told I was making a big deal out of nothing, it was all in my head, it was with my clothes on, I was lying. #WhyIDidntReport
Because he was a friend of my parents and I knew they'd never believe me. I was 12 or 13. Years later, when I did tell them, they didn't believe me. #WhyIDidntReportâ ITMFA (@jenpalex) September 21, 2018
Because he was a friend of my parents and I knew they'd never believe me. I was 12 or 13. Years later, when I did tell them, they didn't believe me. #WhyIDidntReport
I was sexually assaulted 3 times when I was a teen: 14,16, and 17. HereâÂÂs #WhyIDidntReport Because everything I saw told me I would be put on trial not my rapists and I would likely lose. Because they were all he said she said. Because for one I was drunk at a college party.â Rev. Believe Women Rawlings (@rawlingseliza) September 21, 2018
I was sexually assaulted 3 times when I was a teen: 14,16, and 17. HereâÂÂs #WhyIDidntReport Because everything I saw told me I would be put on trial not my rapists and I would likely lose. Because they were all he said she said. Because for one I was drunk at a college party.
The only time I ever went to the police was after a man tried to pull me into his car when I was 19. The beat cops were annoyed that I didn't know the make of the vehicle, or if it had two doors or four. #WhyIDidntReportâ Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) September 21, 2018
The only time I ever went to the police was after a man tried to pull me into his car when I was 19. The beat cops were annoyed that I didn't know the make of the vehicle, or if it had two doors or four. #WhyIDidntReport
#WhyIDidntReport because the first time it happened I was 4.When I was 6 my uncle put me in his lap and moved me around until...When I was 10...When I was 11...When I was 14...Nobody believes a foster child. Besides, all foster children are sluts anyway - is what I was told.â TraCee ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂðªð (@TraCee_tr) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport because the first time it happened I was 4.When I was 6 my uncle put me in his lap and moved me around until...When I was 10...When I was 11...When I was 14...Nobody believes a foster child. Besides, all foster children are sluts anyway - is what I was told.
#whyididntreport because it started before I was 3. I didnâÂÂt know there was a word for it or that it was wrong. I blocked it out until high school.â Lezliew (@Lezliew) September 17, 2018
#whyididntreport because it started before I was 3. I didnâÂÂt know there was a word for it or that it was wrong. I blocked it out until high school.
Because in my small southern hometown, even rape meant I compromised my "virtue" & it somehow was my fault. I would have been ostracized & hated for "ruining" such a popular likable guy.#WhyIDidntReportâ I Would Sign My NYT Op-Ed (@engineerchick85) September 21, 2018
Because in my small southern hometown, even rape meant I compromised my "virtue" & it somehow was my fault. I would have been ostracized & hated for "ruining" such a popular likable guy.#WhyIDidntReport
It's a sad state in America when this is trending & women have to come forward to justify why they didn't call the law after an attackI did callThey called it mischiefI slept with a knife#WhyIDidntReportâ Kim Hornsby (@kimhornsby) September 21, 2018
It's a sad state in America when this is trending & women have to come forward to justify why they didn't call the law after an attackI did callThey called it mischiefI slept with a knife#WhyIDidntReport
I loved him and I thought he would kill himself #WhyIDidntReportâ Alannah Boyle (@AlannahBoyle_) September 21, 2018
I loved him and I thought he would kill himself #WhyIDidntReport
Because he worked at the FBI. Who do you think they wouldâÂÂve believed? I was a couple years out of college, one of my 3 degrees was Criminal Justice. I interned for a criminal defense atty. I watched him obliterate the victim. I refused to be victimized again #WhyIDidntReportâ MountaineerFeevaDiva (@Auntie_Allison) September 21, 2018
Because he worked at the FBI. Who do you think they wouldâÂÂve believed? I was a couple years out of college, one of my 3 degrees was Criminal Justice. I interned for a criminal defense atty. I watched him obliterate the victim. I refused to be victimized again #WhyIDidntReport
#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.â Dr. Dre (@adara328) September 21, 2018
#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.
#WhyIDidntReport I did report the abuse of my preschool age daughter by my ex and took her to the hospital. I was attacked by him and CPS and lost custody. I wish I had never said a word.â Liberalibrarian (@Liberalibrarian) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I did report the abuse of my preschool age daughter by my ex and took her to the hospital. I was attacked by him and CPS and lost custody. I wish I had never said a word.
I have nothing to add. (Though if needed I’ll textualize it later for non-Twitter folks.)
—
I was four, and he said heâÂÂd kill me. #WhyIDidntReportâ David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) September 21, 2018
I was four, and he said heâÂÂd kill me. #WhyIDidntReport
#WhyIDidntReport He was supposed to be my friend, but he beat me when I said no. This is the first time I've talked about it in public.â Jen Steer (@jensteer) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport He was supposed to be my friend, but he beat me when I said no. This is the first time I've talked about it in public.
#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.â Chrissy (@MzKhrisCoop) September 21, 2018
#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.
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. #WhyIDidntReportâ Amee KavaNOPE Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 21, 2018
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
Because I was a baby. Because he threatened to kill me. Because my best friend was committed to a psych ward and blamed for breaking up her family because her father raped her. Because I felt shame. Because people blame the victim. I could go on for hours ... #WhyIDidntReportâ Jenniferð¹#YemenGenocide (@teddy_cat1) September 21, 2018
Because I was a baby. Because he threatened to kill me. Because my best friend was committed to a psych ward and blamed for breaking up her family because her father raped her. Because I felt shame. Because people blame the victim. I could go on for hours ... #WhyIDidntReport
Multiple women accused a man running for President. They blamed the victims, called them liars & crazy, claimed he would sue them. They said one wasn't attractive enough. He got elected President. Why would anyone report anything? #WhyIDidntReportâ Madeleine McKendrick (@MGMcKendrick) September 21, 2018
Multiple women accused a man running for President. They blamed the victims, called them liars & crazy, claimed he would sue them. They said one wasn't attractive enough. He got elected President. Why would anyone report anything? #WhyIDidntReport
It was my father, and he told me that if I did, he'd go to jail and my mother would die of a heart attack. The fate of my whole family was on my shoulders.Later, however, I sued him and won. #WhyIDidntReport— KM Wehrstein (@Chevenga) September 21, 2018
It was my father, and he told me that if I did, he'd go to jail and my mother would die of a heart attack. The fate of my whole family was on my shoulders.Later, however, I sued him and won. #WhyIDidntReport
There aren’t a lot of tweets on the topic accusing the disclosers of lying. There are far more like these:
To everyone sharing their #WhyIDidntReport stories, We see you, we believe you, and we stand with you. You are not alone.â Ms.FoundationWomen (@msfoundation) September 21, 2018
To everyone sharing their #WhyIDidntReport stories, We see you, we believe you, and we stand with you. You are not alone.
#WhyIDidntReport has been explained, absolutely clearly, thousands and thousands and thousands of times. If you don't understand it, it is because you do not want to understand it.PS. The world is not flat.â John Lurie (@lurie_john) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport has been explained, absolutely clearly, thousands and thousands and thousands of times. If you don't understand it, it is because you do not want to understand it.PS. The world is not flat.
The #WhyIDidntReport tweets are powerful, but please understand that those are only coming from people comfortable about talking about what happened to them in some way. There are many people who are still silent. This represents just a portion of the problem we face as a societyâ Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) September 21, 2018
The #WhyIDidntReport tweets are powerful, but please understand that those are only coming from people comfortable about talking about what happened to them in some way. There are many people who are still silent. This represents just a portion of the problem we face as a society
I have nothing but admiration and respect for the women (and men!) sharing their experiences on the #WhyIDidntReport hashtag.It is eye opening, but we've all seen it before, publicly:19 different women came forward against trump. He berated them and called them ALL liars. pic.twitter.com/4WIQZsaN9iâ BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) September 21, 2018
I have nothing but admiration and respect for the women (and men!) sharing their experiences on the #WhyIDidntReport hashtag.It is eye opening, but we've all seen it before, publicly:19 different women came forward against trump. He berated them and called them ALL liars. pic.twitter.com/4WIQZsaN9i
#WhyIDidntReport I was a teenager and he was older with 2 kids. ItâÂÂs how I lost my virginity and became pregnant. I had a history of mental illness so no one ever believed me. My parents didnâÂÂt even believe me. They thought I was being dramatic.â ðÂÂÂspoopy tulip in a cup ð (@hello_jaime) September 21, 2018
#WhyIDidntReport I was a teenager and he was older with 2 kids. ItâÂÂs how I lost my virginity and became pregnant. I had a history of mental illness so no one ever believed me. My parents didnâÂÂt even believe me. They thought I was being dramatic.
I got 2 consecutive restraining orders against an MIT professor, the 1st of which he forced an evidentiary hearing w his own character witnesses & full cross examination of me on the stand, he wasn't disciplined at all.I was 21. He was 34.Why do that ever again#WhyIDidntReportâ Katie Moussouris (@k8em0) September 21, 2018
I got 2 consecutive restraining orders against an MIT professor, the 1st of which he forced an evidentiary hearing w his own character witnesses & full cross examination of me on the stand, he wasn't disciplined at all.I was 21. He was 34.Why do that ever again#WhyIDidntReport
Remember the woman who was ganged raped on a pool table in Bedford? It happened in the 80s and they gave a goddamned motherfucking PARADE for the rapists. The woman had to move to Florida. She was killed there. The men walk free. #WhyIDidntReportâ Astorix ðÂÂÂðÂÂÂðÂÂÂð½ð¨ð¦ð³ï¸ÂâÂÂðÂÂÂðºð¸ (@Astorix23) September 21, 2018
Remember the woman who was ganged raped on a pool table in Bedford? It happened in the 80s and they gave a goddamned motherfucking PARADE for the rapists. The woman had to move to Florida. She was killed there. The men walk free. #WhyIDidntReport
Read the whole thread.
1. It keeps being asked: Why would anyone wait decades to publicly disclose sexual assault?I know why. I can write this cause I wrestled with disclosure in years of writing my book A Mind Unraveled. Rather than wait til October book release, as Dr. Ford is slammed, I tell now..â Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 20, 2018
1. It keeps being asked: Why would anyone wait decades to publicly disclose sexual assault?I know why. I can write this cause I wrestled with disclosure in years of writing my book A Mind Unraveled. Rather than wait til October book release, as Dr. Ford is slammed, I tell now..
Just one more.
You know how you drain the swamp? By telling millions of women who have suffered the terrible pain and humiliation of sexual assault that youâÂÂre not interested in their stories. Yep. And then #WhyIDidntReport will become #WhyIWillDefinitelyVote.â Ken Olin (@kenolin1) September 22, 2018
You know how you drain the swamp? By telling millions of women who have suffered the terrible pain and humiliation of sexual assault that youâÂÂre not interested in their stories. Yep. And then #WhyIDidntReport will become #WhyIWillDefinitelyVote.