By Lori Adelman • @ladelman • 12 years ago

Penn State riots for rape

students holding sign saying we loev joepaStarved for worthwhile causes for which they can take to the streets, the Youth of Today have chosen bravely, nay heroically, to take up that most honorable of riot-inciting aims: the defense and protection of an alleged enabler of serial sexual assault and child rape.

It’s hard to know where to start or what to say when faced with events like these.

I could talk about the chilling effect of massive, violent, and public shows of support on the willingness of victims and survivors of sexual assault to come forward with their stories.

Or I could quote my friend and fellow member of feminist group Permanent Wave Heidi Vanderlee, who wrote last night in an incredulous email about the rioting that “football is pretty much a religion at that school, which, ironically, makes this more similar to the abuse that happens in the Catholic Church than we could even realize .”

Or, I could quote the rioters themselves, via the New York Times, without further comment:

riots at penn state

““We got rowdy, and we got maced,” Jeff Heim, 19, said rubbing his red, teary eyes. “But make no mistake, the board started this riot by firing our coach. They tarnished a legend.”

“It’s not fair,” Mr. Muir said hurling a white ribbon. “The board is an embarrassment to our school and a disservice to the student population.”

Read this entire New York Times article about the riots that occurred at Penn State last night after Joe Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier were fired by the Board of Trustees and try to maintain a little faith in humanity. Go ahead, give it your best shot.

Brooklyn, NY

Lori Adelman started blogging with Feministing in 2008, and now runs partnerships and strategy as a co-Executive Director. She is also the Director of Youth Engagement at Women Deliver, where she promotes meaningful youth engagement in international development efforts, including through running the award-winning Women Deliver Young Leaders Program. Lori was formerly the Director of Global Communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and has also worked at the United Nations Foundation on the Secretary-General's flagship Every Woman Every Child initiative, and at the International Women’s Health Coalition and Human Rights Watch. As a leading voice on women’s rights issues, Lori frequently consults, speaks and publishes on feminism, activism and movement-building. A graduate of Harvard University, Lori has been named to The Root 100 list of the most influential African Americans in the United States, and to Forbes Magazine‘s list of the “30 Under 30” successful mediamakers. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Lori Adelman is an Executive Director of Feministing in charge of Partnerships.

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