University Students Encouraged Not to Report Rape to the Police Because Police are Men

Students at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are being instructed not to report rape to the police because police officers are often men and putting sexual assault perpetrators in jail contributes to the “harmful police state.” A flier obtained by MRCTV states, in the case of rape, “DO NOT CALL THE POLICE.” Instead, students are encouraged to call a hospital or Safe Horizons, a victim services non-profit. According to the flier, “Police are under-trained and poorly handle rape cases. Often times rape survivors are forced to work on their case with police teams that are 100% male. Most cases are thrown out. Survivors are discouraged to press charges because it costs the police money they don’t want to spend. Investigations are re-traumatizing. People of color, especially black people, undocumented people and trans and gender non-conforming people are targeted and often criminally charged even if they are the survivor.” MRCTV News