BrettKavanaugh.com is a forum for sexual assault survivors
link: https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/11/politics/brett-kavanaugh-domain-name-trnd/index.html
At the beginning of the month of October, someone bought the URL BrettKavanaugh and turned it into a forum to help sexual assault survivors. Rather than seeing photos of the new Supreme Court Justice and information about him you are greeted with the photo above when you first open the website. A picture with the quote saying, "We Believe Survivors" and below the photo are links to resources to help survivors and victims of sexual assault and abuse.
The URL was bought by a nonpartisan Court reform organization by the name of "Fix the Court". They have a goal of trying to make the Supreme Court have full transparency or at least more then they have now.
The domain name for this website was actually bought about three years ago by the Fix the Court Executive director while he was researching potential nominees for the Supreme Court in the future. He also is the owner of the domain names MerrickGarland.net and JudgeGorsuch.com. His reason for buying these domain names being he "knew that justices were 75 years or older or could retire and the upcoming president would need to pick new ones. So [he] thought of people who could be in line for the job." -Fix the Court director
Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed on Saturday, October 6th with a Senate vote of 50-48. With 50 votes saying confirm and 48 saying not to, Kavanaugh proceeded to get a spot in the highest court in the nation. The process of confirming judge Kavanaugh was elongated when allegations against the judge came out by several women, one by the name of Christine Blasey Ford. Despite the serious allegations of sexual assault and misconduct made by the victims the Senate still proceeded to confirm him as Supreme Court Justice to replace former justice, Anthony Kennedy.
The blog was officially created by Gabe Roth after listening to president Donald Trump say that he apologizes for "the incredible pain and suffering" Kavanaugh and his family were "forced to endure" during the process of his confirmation. Roth was frustrated that Trump totally did not acknowledge the pain and suffering the victims had to endure during this process and also the terrible pain they must feel now that he is confirmed. So he published the website.
Roth hopes his website can help survivors while also helping to start the conversation about more transparency in the court.
Roth also went on to say he would not turn down the Courts if they asked him to take down the website and replace it with the original Fix the Court website. He is planning to do so in the future anyway.
1. How do you think the survivors of sexual assault such as Christine Blasey Ford and others reacted to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh? Do you think their voices will still be heard?
2. Do you think a website like this could potentially help the sexual assault epidemic?
The blog was officially created by Gabe Roth after listening to president Donald Trump say that he apologizes for "the incredible pain and suffering" Kavanaugh and his family were "forced to endure" during the process of his confirmation. Roth was frustrated that Trump totally did not acknowledge the pain and suffering the victims had to endure during this process and also the terrible pain they must feel now that he is confirmed. So he published the website.
Roth hopes his website can help survivors while also helping to start the conversation about more transparency in the court.
Roth also went on to say he would not turn down the Courts if they asked him to take down the website and replace it with the original Fix the Court website. He is planning to do so in the future anyway.
1. How do you think the survivors of sexual assault such as Christine Blasey Ford and others reacted to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh? Do you think their voices will still be heard?
2. Do you think a website like this could potentially help the sexual assault epidemic?
1. I think the survivors of sexual assault were disappointed in the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh but I do not believe that they were ignored or will be neglected due to his admission. This topic is still widely discussed and a large movement in recent years. The people who stand up for sexual assault will still have the power to speak what they wish. The introduction of Kavanaugh to the supreme court does not mean sexual assault is not important, the case discussed was proved incorrect.
ReplyDelete2. This website does seem helpful for the sexual assault epidemic because it shows support for victims and sides with them regarding the Kavanaugh case. I don't think it will help any victims with finding assistance with personal problems, but it does bring more attention to the epidemic as a whole.
^Sophia McMaster
DeleteHanna Schweinberg
ReplyDelete1. I think sexual assault survivors were probably very frustrated with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. I think survivors have made monumental change with getting their voices heard, but politicians still continue to win the argument. I think this comes down to power, prestige and money.
2. I think websites/blogs like this will help sexual assault survivors get their voices out into the public more and more. But, I think in order for there to be a big change more concrete evidence of sexual assault attacks will have to come forward.
1. Of course sexual assult victims were not happy with the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. That is because sexual assult victims believe the testimony of Christine Ford. It would not be in their best interest for Brett Kavanaugh to be confirmed as a justice of SCOTUS. However, I think sexual assult victims are being heard now more than ever...
ReplyDelete2. ...Websites like this help the #MeToo movement and continue the momentum of sexual assult awareness. Althought the Kavanaugh hearings have been largely out of the news in comparison to weeks before, the #MeToo movement is continuing to gain popularity. I recieved (and still wear) a blue ribbon on my backpack for sexual assult awareness. The movement is not slowing down anytime soon.
1. I think sexual assault victims were very disappointed with the result of the trial. However, the case did help people talk about this subject, which is not talked about a lot. I they will continue to have their voices heard, and will hopefully convince many more people as well.
ReplyDelete2. I think websites like this can help the sexual assault epidemic. This is because it will help give victems a voice. Also, this can help the victim deal with what has happened to them.
1. I think the voices of sexual assault survivors will still be heard because the mainstream media appears to generally be on their side. I believe the survivors were appalled at the decision, and saw it as a sign of corruption.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that the fact that the website holds the title BrettKavanaugh.com will bring it into a controversial limelight, giving the website a bigger platform for other survivors. Because of this, by publicizing survivor stories, it will effectively help the epidemic.
1. I believe that Christine Ford and many other sexual assault victims will be angered and frustrated by the confirmation of Bret Kavanaugh. Even though through the hearings their voices were heard and their stories became public the confirmation of Bret Kavanaugh has silenced them and made them feel neglected.
ReplyDelete2. I think that any channel that a victim of sexual assault feels comfortable confiding in weather it be a friend, social media, or a blog in important. It will make them feel safe and allow the topic to be openly discussed.
Karina Mori
ReplyDelete1. I think that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and other survivors of sexual assault felt extremely maddened by the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. The blindness of the US Senate to see this issue as more than a political problem, as a real issue that many women face daily, is unimaginable. I hope that with Dr. Ford and other survivors coming out in the era of #MeToo, that the US will begin to realize the importance of the issue, and that more attention will be brought to the topic.
2. I think that this website will make strides towards helping victims of assault begin to speak out and get help, but it is definitely not an end-all. We need to make changes as a country in our ethics and the value we put on young women and men who are victims of these horrible crimes.
1. I believe that Dr. Ford and other sexual assault survivors will most likely not be too happy with his confirmation although it shouldn't be a surprise that he was confirmed. As bad as it was for it to happen, admittedly there is no concrete evidence that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Ford, which means he would of gotten confirmed.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that the website will definitely be used to help victims of sexual assault however it alone won't be enough to make any noticeable change in society unless there is more change at a higher level.
1. Survivors of sexual assault will be mortified with Kavanaugh’s confirmation. With the extensive media coverage and clear divisions in partisan lines, people around the country, survivors or not, disagree with placing a possible criminal in the Supreme Court. Sadly, the voices of survivors such as Ford will fall silent in the wake of his confirmation. As with any media, relevance creates an audience. Kavanaugh’s confirmation ends Ford’s time in the media and instigated cries of corruption in the government, although it has emboldened other survivors of secual assault to come forward.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, a website for sexual assault survivors would be helpful if monitored and correctly protected. Small progress must be made before we can change society’s views on sexual assault.
1. The survivors of sexual assault were most likely devastated by Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation. To put themselves and their experiences out their for the world to see, to relieve those experiences and expect action to be taken, but ultimately getting nowhere must have been so frustrating. To see someone do something so horrible and receive no punishment is one of the major flaws in the moral compass of our government.
ReplyDelete2. I think the general idea of somewhere where sexual assault survivors could congregate and support each other is great. However, as we've seen through this whole ordeal, there is opposition to these people, and creating a public forum of sexual assault survivors could turn into a place for cyberbullying and harassment.
1) Frankly, I think that only a small amount of survivors were 'devastated,' but instead were rather sad about Brett's confirmation. I think that they are wrong to be, but they can think however they want; this is America
ReplyDelete2) I don't think that a website is going to affect sexual assault in any meaningful way. I think that the best way we can reduce assaults is to make sure that more females- who are properly vetted- should be carrying protection of some kind so that they can better defend themselves from the horrors of society.
Jessica Masterson
ReplyDelete1. The survivors of sexual assault must have been shocked and frustrated by the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. However, I do not believe that the publicity and efforts to increase awareness of sexual assault were for naught, as a large movement has become even bigger and more well known as a result.
2. A website like this definitely helps raise awareness for the issue and help victims find comfort and support, but one website is not enough to make a monumental impact. Even so, I still think that it is a great addition to the #MeToo movement and will help increase the publicity it receives.
1. I think that the sexual assault survivors were surprise and possibly offended, but I don't believe that they will have much attention from media because there isn't as much attention now that Kavanaugh is confirmed.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the website would be a good source of information to knowledge young women and men, but I don't believe it will have a profound effect because, well, it is just a website. There needs to be more outreach directly to these victims and young people to get the message across in a meaningful manner.