What the Jameis Winston Presser Taught Us

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston, who was connected to an alleged rape case in December 2012, will not be charged with sexual battery. State Attorney Willie Meggs says it’s “because we would not have…the reasonable likelihood of a conviction.” And, honestly, this announcement isn’t even why I’m writing about the outcome of this terrible crime…committed by someone.

I’m writing because of the excessive, intermittent laughter that erupted while State Attorney Meggs was being interviewed at a press conference on Thursday, December 5, 2013. Watch this compilation for yourself…

Why is anyone making light of the situation? What, exactly, is so damn funny about the questions the press is asking? What may seem like too ‘common sense’ or ‘stupid’ a question to the State Attorney and Former State Senator Alfred Lawson doesn’t excuse their behavior.

And some of the members of the media who attended don’t get a pass either. Just because the interviewees are smirking doesn’t mean their dismissive answers are funny. Rape is serious. Even if the football player is ‘innocent,’ the gravity of the situation isn’t something that should be taken lightly.

So what do we do? How do we carry on from this? For starters, it’s not rocket science that making light of rape is never okay. We should keep the conversation going and expose this video to as many people as possible so they know just how serious of an issue this is considered for some current and former officers of the law. Who’s to say this couldn’t happen in Chicago?

You can also learn more about the fight against this heinous crime (rape) by checking out a local organization like Rape Victim Advocates. The voice of the victim needs to be heard. Even if the accused is found ‘not guilty,’ someone needs to stand up for the victim and assure her, and the rest of the world, that rape isn’t funny.