So I have a friend named Jessica. Y’all know her, she’s one of the stars of Awkward Embraces, a series I KNOW y’all are all still watching. (You ARE, right? Cause you need to be. ) But this isn’t about her Jessica.
Jessica also belongs to a group of funny amazing women called The League of Extraordinary Ladies. They offer up reviews, advice, crafts nd info on conventions; all with a fun, geeky flair. But this isn’t about them either.
This is about helping the cheerleader.
This is about a girl designated H.S. for her protection. She needs protection because she is the victim of a crime by not only her attacker, but her school district nd the very adults charged with being the authority figures in her life.
I’m sure you’ve heard the case; the cheerleader who was kicked off the squad for refusing to do a cheer celebrating her attacker. She subsequently sued the school for kicking her off the squad and her case was eventually refused to be heard by the appellate court. In addition, H.S. has been ordered to pay the school district’s court costs, to the tune of $45,000.
I’m not going to argue the case on here. Read here and make your own judgments. However, Jessica and Theresa (the owners of “Help the Cheerleader”) say it best when they say, “Our opinion, regardless of the legal issues, is that this girl has been punished enough.”
Help the Cheerleader was started in order to help H.S. receive donations to cover her amount owed, as well as hopefully recoup some of her family’s own court costs. Because I know Jessica and I know what a good heart she has, I know this is legitimate. HTC has been in contact with H.S.’s lawyer in order to set this donation site up right, so that H.S.’s family will be sure to receive the funds in the proper way. This is all on the up and up, and done with nothing but compassion and concern for a girl to whom this never should have happened.
Think about donating, if you can. Even if she doesn’t get her full amount covered, she will at least know that there are those would want to help her out. Those who don’t know her but, if we could, would reach out, give her a hug and say, “We give a f*ck, sweetheart. You didn’t deserve this.”
Kind of a Mess 
i hadn’t even heard of this…i’ve been living under the rock of silent drives to work instead of listening to the usual NPR Morning Edition. that’s TERRIBLE. what a terrible situation she’s in…hope we can help.
It might not be your fault; it happened late last 2008 and the decision for her to pay only came down on the 5th. I’d completely forgotten about it until Jess tweeted the site…
My heart totally breaks for this girl. I wish I could donate more, but at this time a small amount is all I can give. I really hope this girl knows how many people support her and think that the school district is made up of cold-hearted people.
No way, any amount is worth it. They even say on HTC, what they want most is a little bit from a lot of people.
You might also want to read a previous professor of mine’s comment on it. I think you’ll like him. 🙂
http://bit.ly/j7zQjK
Knowing the story make me angry enough, but hearing the news clip on the ABC link from the HTC site made me feel ill. WTF is wrong with people? 80% decline in rapes since 1992, Baltimore? I don’t believe it. Especially since 60% of reported rape cases aren’t even registered & investigated by the police.
I hope people with brains hear her case. I know it won’t change what happened to her or make things better, but geez, Justice System. Think you could maybe be just, for once?
I’m so incensed right now that I’m completely inarticulate.
I don’t know, you seem pretty damn articulate to me. 🙂
How incredibly painful for her to be subjected to an attack & then the subsequent decision of the $45K fine…. makes no sense. Can’t believe I hadn’t heard about this till now…