Quote of the Day

[Content Note: Sexual assault; rape culture.]

"Victims who come forward to report sexual assaults often run up against a law enforcement system that writes off their accounts, and defers to the accused. Darren Sharper had an added element: he was a famous athlete who helped propel a team to the Super Bowl and who had a reputation for being a Nice Guy. This had an impact on how his cases were handled. Sharper raped a woman in September 2013 in New Orleans and, despite the officer in charge of the case gathering evidence, compelling Sharper to give a sample of his DNA, that DNA matching the rape kit, video evidence, and witness corroboration, 'it wasn't enough for the district attorney.' The reason, the report argues, is because 'prosecutors were hesitant to move too quickly on a local football hero with deep pockets and savvy lawyers' and so they held off an arrest warrant. They wanted a 'bulletproof case before they would sign off on Sharper's arrest.' He then raped another woman in Los Angeles the next month, two in Arizona the month after that, and then in a 24-hour period in January, two more in Los Angeles and another two in Las Vegas the following night."—Jessica Luther, in a chilling but important piece for Vice Sports about the case of admitted serial rapist and New Orleans Saints football player Darren Sharper, and how it is emblematic of why athletes get away with their crimes.

In her piece, Jess prominently points to this report by ProPublica, co-published with the New Orleans Advocate and Sports Illustrated, on how the police in multiple jurisdictions failed to stop Sharper's rape spree, and that report is also highly recommended reading.

Sharper's victims suffered the failures most. With Sharper, they encountered a man practiced in defense and deception. With police and prosecutors, they found deference toward the accused, and what often felt like disbelief concerning their claims.

ProPublica and The New Orleans Advocate contacted five of Sharper's alleged victims. Except for brief interviews with two women, none wanted to discuss the allegations. And none wanted their names used.

"It's pretty black and white," one woman said about the police. "They didn't do their job."

Rapists lie. And police frequently believe them. Especially when they are famous men.