Some of the industry’s most prominent women said they believe Polanski, who faces a sentence as low as probation and as high as 16 months in prison for pleading guilty to having sex with a minor, should be freed. “My personal thoughts are let the guy go,” said Peg Yorkin, founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation. “It’s bad a person was raped. But that was so many years ago. The guy has been through so much in his life. It’s crazy to arrest him now. Let it go. The government could spend its money on other things.”–The Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2009
Of all the things I’ve heard about Roman Polanski, this is the most infuriating and saddening. Feminists disagree on many things, but the importance of prosecuting rapists and fighting rape culture is not one of them. If the founder and chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation–which refers victims to sexual assault hotlines and survivors resources–makes a statement like that, she has betrayed one of the fundamental missions of her own organization, and of feminism itself.
Just in case it’s not obvious why, let’s parse her statement:
“It’s bad that a person was raped.” Yes. Even non-feminists would agree.
“But…” There should never a “but” after that sentence.
“…it was so many years ago.” Crimes do not become less criminal with the passing of time. Avoiding punishment doesn’t make a rapist less accountable for the attack.
“The guy has been through so much in his life.” If personal tragedy meant that criminals weren’t accountable for their crimes, we’d have to release much of our prison population. Personal tragedy doesn’t give Roman Polanski a free pass to rape. Would Peg Yorkin counsel a rape victim not to prosecute because her attacker “has been through so much.”?
“It’s crazy to arrest him now.” Why? Skipping town didn’t automatically void his sentence.
“Let it go.” I don’t think that’s an appropriate response to child rape. Why do you?
“The government could spend its money on other things.” Rest assured, the government did not halt all spending activity in order to catch one French-Polish child-rapist. Besides, putting rapists away is an excellent use of government funds.
Peg Yorkin, you’re so phenomenally wrong here, and your statement is so incredibly offensive to rape victims– and to all women–that you must issue a complete and public retraction, and condemn sexual predator Roman Polanski and the rape-apologists who want to protect him.
Until you do, no woman can in good conscience donate to or support the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Sincerely,
BeckySharper
(I left my cell number and my real name with people at your California and Virginia offices).
I swear to God that I don’t understand the problem here. If the guy in line behind you at the grocery store had the same tragedies and committed the same crime, he’d be in prison. It simply cannot be the case that being famous makes it okay.
“Chinatown” is one of my favorite movies of all time, but so what? A lifetime of artistic achievement doesn’t equal destroying one real human being’s life. What if his victim had been the deeply compassionate Peg Yorkin herself? Think she would say that Polanski has suffered enough?In fact, his fame makes it even more important that he be prosecuted. It has to be clear to everyone that celebrity will not protect you from the consequence of your criminal acts.
Stuff like this is why I stopped supporting mainstream feminist organizations. Way too often, they don’t have a clue.
Thank you for this. I’m appalled every time I hear about yet another high-profile person signing on to this Free Polanski bullshit, but it’s particularly reprehensible coming from the head of a feminist organization! I’m mean, seriously, what the fuck?? Whether or not we pursue a rapist (and a child rapist at that) is now contingent on some crap criteria that she likely wouldn’t apply in any other situation?? Seriously, how hard does a dude’s life have to be before we give him a free pass on rape? I’d really like to know. Or is it only child rapists who flee the country who get a walk?
I just posted this as my facebook status:
Call or write the Feminist Majority Foundation and tell them that child rapists belong in prison, no matter how famous they are: feedback@feminist.org or 703-522-2214. With friends like Peg Yorkin…
Insular communities protect their own, and Hollywood may be the worst offender.
But plenty of women and women’s groups admired Ted Kennedy even in light of Chappaquiddick and still admire Bill Clinton in spite of unsavory allegations against him. Regarding Chappaquiddick, I heard the same rationale from his defenders as I’m hearing from the Polanski apologists–”it was so long ago, he has suffered enough” etc. etc.
Look, thatguy, Bill Clinton was never accused of rape by anyone sane-and for God’s sake, certainly not child rape. His marital problems were between him and his wife as far as I was concerned. As for Teddy Kennedy, you may not like the sentence he got, but he confessed, cooperated with authorities at every step of the process. Polanski decided he didn’t want to go to prison for the rape he admitted he’d committed, so he took himself off to Europe to live the life he would have lived anyhow, except with fewer trips to LA. And both Clinton and Kennedy spent their professional lives trying to make this planet a better place for the women and men who live on it. Making art, even great art is not in the same realm.
There is no comparison.
Misch– Actually, there are legitimate comparisons to be made. Clinton was accused of sexual battery by at least three women-Paula Jones, Kathleen Wiley and Juanita Broderick–I think they were probably lying, but I don’t know for sure. Kennedy negligently killed a woman and got away with a slap on the wrist and never really came clean on the matter.
You rightly condemn Polanski for his rape but withhold judgment on Kennedy and Clinton and make excuses and even use the “nuts and sluts” defense. Why? Because of their politics? How about some consistency? My larger point is that women’s groups have frequently been selective in their outrage.
Thatguy, I make no excuses for Clinton. But here is the difference between Polanski and Kennedy:
As far as I can tell, Kennedy’s crime was not one committed with intent to harm. Of course, he committed harm. But I honestly and truly do not believe he did so on purpose. He expressed regret. He didn’t flee the country. I’m sure his family influenced the outcome, which is not right. But he took the consequences of that night like a man (as opposed to a child, not opposed to a woman), IMO.
Polanski, on the other hand, took numerous conscious steps to do what he did to that girl. He didn’t accidentally slip her drugs or stick his dick into her. Then he fled the country and has been hiding out for three decades, unwilling to face the music or apologize.
SaraMC- Fair enough. Certainly intent is a big factor to consider. And Kennedy did express some remorse while I’m not sure Polanski every really has.
Thatguy, I’ve written about how I hold Kennedy’s participation in a smear campaign against his nephew’s rape victim against him far more than Chappaquiddick. I don’t let liberals off the hook.
Thatguy, Kennedy and Clinton did bad things. Does that make you feel better? Now that’s aside, the difference is Kennedy received his punishment from the law. Clinton was never convicted of a crime. Polanski was charged wtih a crime, pleaded guilty to a crime, and fled the country before sentencing. Do you see the difference between these three men, now? Two took the punishments as deemed appropriate by law and Polanski did not. Polanski deserves to fulfill the punishment as stipulated BY LAW since he, unlike Kennedy and Clinton, failed to do so.
Excellent letter. Can’t wait for the response.
Co-sign.
This is absolutely shameful. I really hope this isn’t the kind of thing she would say to a sexual assualt victim who comes to this organization for help. So why is it OK to say it about this victim (“Let it go”???) and this rapist?
Co-Sign.
Co-sign. Word. Thank you for this.
Co-sign!
It’s so disheartening to hear that the leader of a feminist organization would say something like that. I absolutely believe Polanski should be brought back and held accountable for what he did.
The only time I start to have questions or wonder what to do is when I read a statement from the victim that says she wants it to be dropped. Part of me says, no, he needs to pay. But then I feel badly, like, does she need it to be dropped so she can move past it. Because I wouldn’t want her to be caused more trauma but I don’t think Polanski should get away with anything.
I know we talked about this in person last night, but it is absolutely astounding the blind spot otherwise sane people seem to have when it comes to this case. I don’t know what to say beyond that. Pardon me while I wipe the froth from my mouth.
Is it weird that she said:
“It’s bad that a person was raped.”
And not:
“It’s bad that he raped someone.”?
Rape doesn’t just “occur,” like meteor showers or Spring. It is committed. By a person. Actually, by the person that you, Peg Yorkin, are defending.
Anyway, weird.
Also, obviously: co-sign.
@amyb: Just because she has forgiven him and moved on with her life doesn’t mean he’s any less a rapist or any less responsible. He still must serve his sentence.
Co-sign.
@braak: Yeah, the use of the passive voice and “person” serves to dehumanize the victim and minimize the crime.
I expect that from Fox News. Not from Peg Yorkin.
Now let’s try it another way:
“It’s bad that an adult raped a 7th grader.”
Better, no?
Co-sign, obviously.
The reason the victim has not been able to move on is because her rapist has been evading U.S. law enforcement for three decades. He is the one to blame for that.
I think if she’s going to go for it, she should go all the way.
“Yes, I am defending Roman Polanski, a man who, at forty-seven, administered drugs to and then raped a thirteen year old girl. And then fled the country to escape sentencing. But my feeling is, let the guy go.”
Dear Peg: if you find a statement like that hard to say, or would be embarrassed to put it up on your website…well, there’s a reason for that.
Co-sign.
The only thing I’d add is that “it was so many years ago” not because the victim or prosecution was wasting time, but precisely because Polanski evaded the justice system for so long.
I completely agree with this letter and everything stated therein. This is not a gray area. A retraction is necessary in order to stand together against this horrendous crime.
Co-sign.
Co-sign, although personally I don’t think an apology is enough. Peg Yorkin should resign.
Co-sign.
I, too, am interested how they back pedal from this. What a slap in the face to all women and victims of sexual assault.
Co-sign. Thank you to the commenter who left the email address of the foundation – I wrote my own letter expressing my protest and boycott of the organization until a statement is issued, as well. I am simply stunned by anyone actually telling people trying to prosecute a child rape “let it go.”
So, oddly enough, today I receive a letter from the FMF asking for money! HA! Before I shred it, I find a phone number and call and complain about this exact matter and the woman on the phone claims they will be posting an apology or somesuch! I ask them to remove me from their mailing list and cut off all ties! It felt sooo good!
Co-sign,
Thank you writing this letter.
Co-sign.
AMEN! & Co-sign!
I can “let it go” AFTER he pays the dues for the crime and shows he never does it again.
Let’s remember he contributed to the delinquiency of a minor and provided her with alcohol so she would be an easier victim- I say he should share a cell here in Utah with Brian David Mitchell. Yet another fine man who has had a troubled life… please…
Co-signed.
Peg Yorkin is a hypocrite. It really makes me sick.
Thanks for this Becky!
co-sign
About the “it was so many years ago”:
Yes, it was. He’s been evading justice all that time. When someone flees the country to avoid paying income taxes, the IRS doesn’t say, “Well, it was so many years ago, we’ll let it go”; they charge interest and penalties, to make sure that delay is not worth it.
@Kathmandu: I am all about Roman Polanski incurring additional “interest and penalties,” if such a thing were possible.
I am so glad you addressed this because I’ll bet too many of us are seeing red on this to be able to see the pc screen now. Excellent rebuttal. Thank you for doing this!
“your statement is so incredibly offensive to rape victims– and to all women [...]”
It’s not just incredibly offensive to women, it’s incredibly offensive to anybody who has a body.
One’s body is one’s own domain; if Peg Yorkin doesn’t realise that, she should really be spokesperson for a different kind of association.
co-signed! and i sent my own letter.
CO-SIGN!!! Thank you for writing this.
[...] An open letter by Becky Sharper to Peg Yorkin of the Feminist Majority Foundation who thinks Roman Polanski should be left alone. (Poor guy!) [...]
Co-sign, on behalf of at least a few of us.