Groups Protest DA's Failure To Press Charges in Eyewitnessed Rape Case of 17-Year-Old

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katherine Redmond
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 NCAVA, 303-909-6379

GROUPS CALL FOR RECONSIDERATION OF D.A.’S DECISION IN DeANZA RAPE CASE Outraged Local and National Organizations Demand Prosecution

SAN JOSE - Two female De Anza college students who witnessed the rape of a 17 year-old high school student at an off-campus party in March will be joined by several national organizations Thursday in a protest demanding that District Attorney Dolores Carr reconsider her decision not to file criminal charges. Both witnesses, April Grolle and Lauren Chief Elk, told authorities that the victim was clearly incapacitated, if not virtually unconscious, at the time of the rape. Yet District Attorney Carr has disregarded this compelling testimony, along with physical evidence including that the victim's blood-alcohol content was .27 more than 24 hours after the assault.

WHAT: De Anza Rape Protest of District Attorney Carr’s Decision Not to Prosecute
WHERE: Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose
WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 2007, 1pm
WHO: Two Eyewitnesses to the Rape, Lauren Chief Elk and April Grolle
California National Organization for Women (CA NOW), Mandy Benson
Stop Family Violence, New York, Irene Weiser
Security On Campus, Inc., Pennsylvania, S. Daniel Carter
Victim Advocacy and Research Group, Boston, Wendy Murphy
National Coalition Against Violent Athletes, Colorado, Katherine Redmond
WHY: To force the District Attorney to reconsider her decision and allow a jury to decide the case. Whether a
victim is incapable of consenting should not be a political decision! Also recognizing the brave women
eyewitnesses who rescued the victim

“Sexual assault in social settings is a pervasive and devastating problem in college communities where justice is often elusive with devastating consequences for victims. The DA should open her eyes to the abundance of compelling evidence in this case, including eyewitness testimony, and let a jury hear it so that this victim can get the justice she deserves,” said S. Daniel Carter, Security On Campus, Inc.

“This kind of case highlights the culture around rape that keeps victims from coming forward, rapists from being prosecuted, and society from successfully eradicating violence against women,” said Mandy Benson, President of California National Organization for Women (CA NOW). “We join the call for the pursuit of justice for this young woman, and for accountability for those charged with protecting women’s safety.”

"The District Attorney’s statements have brought into question her dedication to the pursuit of justice. This is one of the few cases of gang rape in which eyewitnesses are present and a solid scientific basis exists for prosecution. In the interest of preventing the brutal act of rape across the country, the DA must reconsider her flawed decision. The perpetrators must be held accountable in order to send a direct message to our society that the accepted culture of rape and the entitled status of athletes will no longer be tolerated," said Katherine Redmond, National Coalition Against Violent Athletes.

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