The Patrick Kane Rape Allegation is Driving a lot of Emotion

We’ve previously shared the latest Blackhawks ownership comments on the rape allegations against Patrick Kane.

And we thought we were doing the right thing.  Not reporting anything but facts.

Not believing either side of the story until the investigation was complete.

But apparently we were wrong.  By assuming Patrick Kane’s innocence until proven guilty, we apparently are also making an accusation that the accuser is lying.

phylliskessel13 shared a provocative piece from her own perspective entitled “Why I choose to believe accusers” on Pension Plan Puppets.  From her article:

I understand the impulse to not rush to judgment. Many have enjoyed watching Patrick Kane the hockey player — idolized him, even — and would like to believe that he is not the kind of person that would commit such a deplorable and appalling act. Others are simply concerned about the possibility that these accusations will ruin his life, and if so, he has the right to a fair trial before we all make up our collective minds.2

I’ve heard these points. I understand them. But I just can’t bring myself to feel that same way when I hear that a public figure has been accused of sexual assault.3

In my view, “innocent until proven guilty” is not the neutral position that it is often purported to be.

Stating that Kane is “innocent until proven guilty,” by extension, says that his accuser is lying until proven otherwise. While this would of course apply to accusers in any situation, such as a robbery, it is vital that we consider the context. Accusers in sexual assault cases are often accused of lying because they are seeking money, attention, fame, revenge, or anything else that people can think of in ways that accusers in other crimes are not.

Perpetuating the belief that accusers in sexual assault cases are lying is incredibly harmful; not only does this impact those who do come forward, but it is known to discourage people from coming forward at all as well. I am not okay with contributing to a climate where accusers are disbelieved and treated as liars.

I also question the belief that there will be a time where we all have the information that we need to make our informed decisions as to who is telling the truth—Kane or his accuser.

Now, I personally disagree with her opinion that you have to believe the accusers.  Our judicial system is based on the tenet of “innocent until proven guilty.”  And, as a party that is not involved in the situation, you can’t fully believe the accusers without wrecking the foundation of our legal system.

However, I think she makes some good points in the article and it is worth the read.

The best article comes from Julie DeCaro at CBS Chicago.  She shares:

You get my point: When it comes to the Patrick Kane investigation, internet stupid abounds. And while it’s tempting to laugh off some of the comments as written by misguided juveniles with a serious case of hero worship, the problem is actually a much bigger one. Tweets, comments, rumors and articles like those above are reflective of the way our society treats those who report rape, whether the accused is a famous athlete or not.

As both a former rape victim and a former criminal defense attorney, I have some tips on how to talk about the Kane investigation without saying things so out-of-line that people screen cap them and use them as examples of idiocy on local news sites. Here, then, is some advice on how to talk — and not talk — about the Kane investigation.

She then goes on to share 3 pieces of advice on what NOT to do, including “Don’t jump to conclusions” and “Don’t make up facts.”

Those seem pretty obvious.

But then I googled the term “Patrick Kane accuser” and found out that the first result is victim bashing.

A slam story by Sports Mockery, a website covering Chicago pro teams, stating that the accuser already has a settlement figure in line.  (But it is okay.  They write RUMOR in the headline.)

Looking a bit further, they also have another RUMOR entitled Kane Victim Has Dated Pro Athletes before.

Disgusting.