Goodson is a 14 year old traumatised rape victim who has been charged with first-degree murder and the media seems to be under the impression this is a good thing. A child is dead and the life of another one is destroyed. Yet, somehow charging Goodson with first-degree murder is going to fix this. This isn't justice. This is what happens in a society that hates women. This is what happens when rape victims are labelled liars and whores. This is what happens when there is no non-judgmental welfare state to support the most vulnerable members. This is what happens when the life of 14 year old is destroyed by male violence. They hide their pregnancies and give birth by themselves. She must have been terrified and desperate but already the misogynists are out baying for blood.
Goodson is no more than a child herself. She should be tried and helped under the juvenile justice system. She should not have been arrested for first degree murder. She should not have been publicly named and her photo should not have been released to the press. I am not a lawyer and I know nothing about the criminal law codes in the state of Florida but I do know that a child victim of rape deserves our compassion and our support. The inevitable witchhunt that will follow will do nothing to prevent these tragedies from occurring again. It won't change what has already happened and it won't do anything to help Goodson.
We need a society where violence against women isn't commonplace.
We need a society where rape victims are believed.
We need a society where the privacy of rape victims is protected.
We need a society where the juvenile justice system actually exists.
We need a society where trial by media is illegal.
Oh, and by the way, dear misogynists at the Huffington Post: investigators are not trying to determine the baby's father. They are searching for a rapist. A rapist isn't a father. He's a rapist. Let's try to keep that straight.
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