Pedestrians slowed their pace as they passed a group of about 30 people sitting silently on the ground.
A few members of the group, which gathered in Schenley Plaza Wednesday afternoon, held signs in front of them that read: “Blame the system, not the victim,” “You don’t get to define how survivors survive” and “End rape culture,” among other statements related to sexual assault. A sign with the phrase, “Dismantle the system that allowed this to happen,” sat on a green chair near the center of the circle of people, facing the intersection of Bigelow Boulevard and Forbes Avenue.
The group sat in silence for 20 minutes to symbolize the statement of Dan Turner, father of Brock Turner — a Stanford University student convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman in January 2015 — that the effect of the conviction on his son’s life was “a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action.”
Turner’s conviction caused a national outcry after he received a sentence of six months in county jail and three years of probation. He faced a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Before the 20 minutes of silence began, four survivors shared their stories about suffering sexual assaults and the group of people chanted “However we dress, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no,” as well as, “Say it once, say it again: no excuse for violent men.” Anna Shaw, a rising junior majoring in psychology and gender, sexuality and women’s studies, organized the event. According to Shaw, the event was to help survivors and their recovery, more so than a protest of the conviction itself.
“What this really is for is for our anger, our healing and our solidarity,” Shaw said.
The event rose from the strength and multitude of the public response to Turner’s conviction.
“As a victim myself, I was incredibly saddened by the case,” Shaw said. “I wanted Pittsburgh to do something about it.”
Shaw and those who helped them organize the event eventually decided to broaden the focus to rape culture in general, Jayne May-Stein, a Squirrel Hill resident and survivor who spoke at the event, said.
“We decided it shouldn’t be about one thing,” May-Stein said. “It should be about every rape.”
The silence was originally going to take place in Market Square, Downtown. The location changed to Schenley Plaza early Wednesday, to prevent commotion from Downtown causing distress to survivors.
“We just want to make victims feel as safe as possible,” Shaw said. “That’s why we moved it to Schenley Plaza. Our main concern is watching out for anyone who’s been through this.”
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, an American is sexually assaulted every two minutes.
A 2015 Pitt survey found 23.6 percent of undergraduate female students reported experiencing sexual violence in their four years on campus. The survey also found 6.2 percent of undergraduate men reported experiencing sexual violence while at Pitt.
Shaw told their story of being raped multiple times to the people who gathered.
“Each time I was raped, my life ended and I started a new one,” Shaw said.
Instead of clapping after a survivor spoke, the group said, “We love you, we believe you, we support you,” in unison.
May-Stein, who also spoke, said even though telling her story was “nerve-wracking,” it was necessary.
“I’ve been going to therapy for years, and I knew it was something I had to do,” May-Stein said. “Vulnerability doesn’t mean weakness. Being vulnerable is to be strong. It is one of the most important things that we have as humans.”