“You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today.”
These are the words a 23-year-old sexual assault survivor, known as “Emily Doe,” read aloud to her attacker Brock Turner when she faced him in court ABC News reported.
Turner, 20, was found guilty in March of three felonies — assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person. Last week, a judge sentenced the former Stanford University student and swimmer to six months in jail and three years of probation. That sentence, which many critics say was too lenient, has provoked widespread outrage.
But even though “Emily” has chosen to remain anonymous, telling the Santa Clara County District Attorney over text message that, “I’m coming to you simply as a woman wanting to be heard… for now I’m every woman," her voice is still being heard.
Read | "Emily Doe's" full statement
Since being published online, her statement has gone viral and there has been an outpouring of support on social media. Her powerful words have especially resonated with survivors of sexual assault and rape around the world.
With the help of End Rape on Campus, a survivor advocacy organization “Nightline” collected video readings of excerpts of "Emily's” statement from 22 others who say they too have survived sexual assault and rape.
“The things that she lost -- privacy, dignity, respect, her voice, her confidence -- these are internal things… that is something that so many people can really resonate -- that resonates with so many people who have gone through this,” Sofie Karasek, the director of education and co-founder of End Rape on Campus, told “Nightline.” “It’s you know it’s hard to compartmentalize that feeling of invalidation and suffering and silence.”