Spanish Woman who was Raped, Recieves Justice Thanks to the #MeToo movement

via eldiario.e

In 2006, Tarana Burke coined #metoo as a term to draw awareness of

centuries-long sexual abuse and assault. What began its influence in an American hashtag, has evolved into an international movement— advocating for people everywhere.

Friday morning, the Spainish Supreme Court adjusted its April 2018 “Wolf Pack” ruling admist protests from women’s organizations and political parties. The inital ruling which declared the rape of a woman by five men as ‘sexual abuse,’ was officially reclassified as rape.

Last year, five men were legally found not guilty of gang raping a young woman at the 2016 Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls. Thanks to the global solidarity of the #MeToo movement, the Spanish Supreme Court has now found those men guilty; sentencing them to 15 years in jail. The men, otherwise known as “La Manada” are Jesus Escudero, Jose Angel Prenda, Alfonso Jesus Cabesuelo, Antonio Manuel Guerrero Escudero and Angel Boza. An additional two year term was added to Escuedero’s sentence for purposefully stealing the victim’s phone to prevent her from seeking help reports Matthew Bennett.

This monumental decision proves how the #MeToo movement has ground and validity across industries and countries. It is not an attack ‘on men,’ but an attack on the ideology that power must be achieved through sexual intimidation, exploitation and assault. The continued dismissal of victim accounts in favor of male-centered redemption is no longer a gamble we can afford. Last September four members of “La Manada” appeared back in court in a new case that involved sexual assault of a woman in a car. The confidence of these men to attack yet again is the direct result of society dismissing violence against women the first time; permitting its continuance on another. Sexual predators will continue to violate women, especially when cases like this are downgraded or rejected, delivering the message that women are not to be believed or supported.

The only way to end sexist and rapist rhetoric and eventual activity, is with precise anti rapist and anti sexist action. Now.