“Little girls don’t stay little forever. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world,” said Kyle Stephens, one of 160 women to be sexually abused by former team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State employee, Larry Nassar.
Video after video is being released on our timelines surrounding the Nassar sexual abuse scandal. It not only pains the hearts of Americans and young women to see but it also brings them confidence.
Famous Olympians that we all love and supported through the games such as McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman are all survivors of Nassar’s abuse. Each of them have had the courage to come forward and tell their story.
“Larry, you do realize now that we, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force and you are nothing. The tables have turned, Larry, we have our voices, and we are not going anywhere” said Raisman in her 13-minute statement in court.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKyzLRHu18Y
Knowing that each of these brave women competed for our country while a man like this was harassing them truly shows how strong a person can be when it is their only choice. No person should have to go through this type of trauma to achieve a goal they have dedicated their entire lives to.
“Let this sentence strike fear in anyone who thinks it is O.K. to hurt another person. Abusers, your time is up. The survivors are here, standing tall, and we are not going anywhere,” said Raisman.
Nassar wrote meaningless letters blaming these women and the media for this incident and still tried to defend his medical care on these women. “The letter tells me you still don’t get it,” judge Aquilina said. “I wouldn’t send my dogs to you, sir,” she added. Nassar was sentenced up to 175 years in prison after a long 7 days of victim impact statements that served as part of Nassar’s plea deal.
With this being in the spotlight of the media it has the power to influence any and all women to find their voice. Whether they are a victim, a survivor, or an advocate of the movement. Every voice counts. Now that these women have spoken their truth it is up to us, the public, to support them and speak our truth.