Activists to Deliver Nearly 1M Signatures to CA Commission on Judicial Performance Calling for the Removal of Judge Persky Over Brock Turner Rape Sentence
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Friday, June 10, 2016
FRI 12PM: Activists Deliver Nearly 1M Signatures to CA Commission on Judicial Performance Calling for the Removal of Judge Persky Over Brock Turner Rape Sentence
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — On Friday, June 10th, activists from UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization, joined by concerned Californians will deliver nearly 1,000,000 signatures to the California Commission on Judicial Performance calling for the removal of Judge Aaron Persky from the bench.
The petition delivery comes after Judge Persky chose to put the well-being of convicted rapist Brock Turner ahead of the woman he assaulted, sentencing him to a mere six months in prison.
WHEN: Friday, June 10th. 12:00pm noon PT
WHERE: California Commission on Judicial Performance. 455 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Stanford Law Professor Michele Landis Dauber; members of UltraViolet, Daily Kos, and MoveOn; Bay-Area survivors of sexual assault.
Activists rallying outside the California Commission on Judicial Performance on Friday will be joined by three bicycle billboards that read: “Protect Survivors, Not Rapists. #PerskyMustGo.” UltraViolet commissioned the bicycle billboards after being inspired by testimony from the survivor who praised two Stanford students on bikes who saw the rape, and intervened to stop it.
In her statement to the court, she explained, “I sleep with two bicycles that I drew taped above my bed to remind myself there are heroes in this story. That we are looking out for one another. To have known all of these people, to have felt their protection and love, is something I will never forget.”
VIEW THE BICYCLE BILLBOARDS HERE: https://www.flickr.com/photos/
“With one-in-four women sexually assaulted in college, we need judges who work to protect survivors, not their rapists. The California Commission on Judicial Performance must move swiftly to remove Judge Persky from the bench and send a clear signal that rape apologists will never be tolerated as part of the criminal justice system,” explained Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet.
UltraViolet’s petition has been signed by more than 824,000 people since launching earlier this week, along with petitions from partners MoveOn.org, Courage Campaign and Daily Kos that have received an additional 167,000 signatures – bringing the total number of people calling for Judge Persky’s removal to nearly 1,000,000.
UltraViolet will also be on-the-ground at Stanford’s graduation this Sunday, with the bicycle billboards accompanying student protesters as they march in solidarity with the survivor and against Judge Persky’s decision. A full page ad in the Stanford Daily June 10thgraduation issue will invite graduates and alumni to sign onto a letter calling for Persky’s removal as well.
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UltraViolet is an online community of over 700,000 women and men who want to take collective action to expose and fight sexism in the public sector, private sector and the media. Find out more at WeAreUltraViolet.org.