They line up in front of a courthouse in southeastern France, from morning to evening, and have gathered in the thousands in cities across the country. They hold signs reading, “one rape every six minutes,” “not all men but always a man,” and “giving in is not consenting.”
They chant: “Rapist we see you, victim we believe you.”
Women across France are rallying in support of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old reluctant icon whose husband is on trial in the city of Avignon for systematically drugging her and inviting dozens of men, 50 of whom are now his co-defendants, into their home to rape her over nearly a decade.
The shocking case has sparked what many women in France call a long-overdue reckoning over “rape culture” and systemic sexism in the way the judicial system handles sexual violence.
Don’t make me tap “the sign.” Y’know, the one you keep defending? The “always men” one? Idgaf if it’s supposed to be literal or not, fuck that sign either way.
If it’s an issue why attempt to silence me on the issue? If you agree it’s an issue why are you not calling it out when you see it? Would you agree racism is an issue? Do you also police when victims of racism can speak or only victims of rape?
Sure it does, so stop trying to get me to stop speaking against an example of it right now. If you don’t have anything good to ad don’t add anything at all.
you keep saying “silence me” while you’re clearly very much the opposite of silent. no one’s silencing you. go protest.
You’re attempting to and I’m refusing, in protest. Go bother someone who cares about your opinion or something.
you’re giving yourself too much credit. I didn’t know you exist; you’re the one who replied to me. you have a weird way of showing you don’t care about my opinion.
You’re trying so hard lmao. Just give up, your attempts to insult and bully me quite clearly don’t keep me from speaking. You’ve devolved from telling me why I should shut up to “Nuh uh, you do too care!” My guy, it’s sad. Quit while you’re behind, for your own sake.
I understand you have traumas but you are looking for victimization. no one’s silencing you. I’m literally engaging in conversation that you put yourself into, and you’re literally crying bully and claiming there’s a whole effort to silence you or whatever. there isn’t. also you’re the one who said you don’t care after what feels like 900 replies. I just said that’s funny. no one told you to shut up.