UltraViolet Celebrates Recall of Judge Aaron Persky
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 6, 2018
CONTACT: Madison Donzis | madison@unbendablmedia.com | (210) 488-6220
UltraViolet Celebrates Recall of Judge Aaron Persky
CALIFORNIA — Judge Aaron Persky, a Santa Clara County judge who sparked outrage over his lenient sentencing of former Stanford swimmer and convicted rapist, Brock Turner, to only six months in jail, was recalled from office today. Persky will become the first California jurist recalled from the bench in 86 years.
Statement from Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading women’s rights organization, that campaigned for the California Commission on Judicial Performance to remove Judge Persky from the bench following his decision in the Brock Turner rape case:
“Last night, in a monumental victory, California voters recalled Judge Aaron Persky because of his record of prioritizing rapists over the survivors of their crimes – including his infamous decision to let convicted rapist Brock Turner off with a slap on the wrist. This would not have been possible without the leadership of Professor Michele Dauber and the Committee to Recall Judge Persky, who worked tirelessly to guarantee that Persky’s recall measure was on the ballot.
“This recall shows that voters are justifiably outraged with a so-called justice system that protects privileged white rapists over the survivors of their crimes. With one in five women sexually assaulted in this country, judges who take violence against women seriously must be the rule, not the exception. Time’s up for judges that perpetuate rape culture from the bench.
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UltraViolet is an online community of over 1,000,000 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