Public Raises Over $350K For Teen Rape Victim Ordered To Pay Rapist’s Family For Killing Him - Video

People across the nation have come together to raise over $350,000 so far for a 17-year-old girl who was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the family of the man who trafficked and her after she stabbed him to in self-defense.

Pieper Lewis was at age 15 after fleeing her family and having to sleep in an apartment building hallway to survive. The perpetrator of the offence against her invited her into his apartment, then began to her repeatedly and traffic her out to other men for money. When she became desperate and kil*led him to defend herself from this horror, she was detain and with charges. Still only 15, she took a deal to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful wound, and will face five years of probation in addition to the fine.

If she does anything to violate her probation, such as missing an appointment with her probation officer or being unable to pay one of the many expenses related to being on probation, she could be thrown in for 20 years. This American horror story has people wondering what kind of justice system does this to an underage while white men and boys like Kyle Rittenhouse can multiple after looking for trouble, claim self-defense, and walk free. According to reports, authorities did not dispute the fact that Lewis was trafficked and repeatedly . In the state of Iowa, where this nightmare played out, a law in 1997 requires all people found guilty of homicide, which technically includes involuntary manslaughter, to pay the family of the at least $150,000.

The law apparently does not include exceptions for 17-year-olds with no money who are probably far too to even hold a job and shouldn’t have to worry about anything other than therapy appointments for 20 years. In an attempt to somewhat right this injustice and relieve the massive burden on young Lewis, her freshman math teacher at the Des Moines Lincoln High School, one Leland Schipper, organized a GoFundMe campaign. As Lewis’ story spread to an appalled national audience, donations began pouring in. The original goal was set for $150,000 but has surpassed $372,000 as of this article’s publishing.

“Pieper does not owe that man’s family justice,” Schipper wrote. “Pieper does not deserve to be [financially] burdened for the rest of her life because the state of Iowa wrote a law that fails to give judges any discretion as to how it is applied. This law doesn’t make sense in many cases, but in this case, it’s morally unjustifiable. A child who was , under no circumstances, should owe the rapist’s family money.” Unfortunately, according to the Des Moines Register, Lewis’ attorney expressed that they are unsure whether Iowa law allows for the fine to be paid by donations like this. Why this would be an issue is a baffling mystery unless you’re aware of the way the U.S.

justice system has always treated women and girls who are of , human trafficking, and s*xual as*ault.

Lewis follows in the footsteps of names like CeCe McDonald, Cyntoia Brown, and Bresha Meadows — all Black women who were convicted of the offence of defending themselves from and men and punished for standing up for themselves.

Meanwhile, less than one percent of charge rap*ists are convicted of the offence, and those who are convicted often spend less than a year in custody. In spite of her youth and the horrors she has faced, including over two years in juvenile detention where she wasn’t allowed to communicate with friends or family, Lewis gave an incredible statement at her sentencing hearing. “My spirit has been burned, but still glows through the flames,” she said. “Hear me roar, see me glow, and watch me grow.” “I am a survivor.”

Source: dailydot.com