Warning: This post contains graphic and disturbing images.
A student from Ithaca College just released her second Brock Turner-inspired photo series. Both extemely powerful and extremely disturbing, “It Happens” depicts what sexual assault and rape truly look like— and that they can happen to anyone.
Yana Mazurkevich, 20, published the photo series on the same day as Brock Turner’s early release from jail. Despite his original six-month sentence (and a suggested prison term of 14 years) the former Stanford University swimmer was let go after serving just three months in prison. He was convicted of three felony counts of sexual assault after his January 2015 rape of an unconscious woman behind a dumpster.
“I saw on the news a few weeks ago he’s being released three months earlier than his original six months’ jail probation time. And I said that would be the perfect day to release it as a huge finger to his face,” Mazurkevich explained to the Ithacan.
“This happens to real people, people close to you, people who you know,” Mazurkevich told BuzzFeed News. She was inspired by her friends’ experiences with sexual assault, the Brock Turner case and her own experience. Her goal for her photos is simple: “Look. Look at this and don’t even try to ignore it because it’s right there in front of you to stare at.”
So far, the series has received over 120,000 notes on Tumblr, and nearly 60,000 shares on Facebook. The photos were originally published on Current Solutions Facebook Page, a company focused on helping people share their stories of sexual assault, abuse and gender violence.
“I am touched by those who took the time to share their story with me, and to me that’s progress,” Mazurkevich told BuzzFeed.