Dateline: 6/19/00
Updated: 2/19/01

NOW to hold Rally

On Tuesday, February 20, NOW-NYC will be holding a press conference and demonstration calling for “Justice for Women NOW: Bring the Central Park Attackers AND the NYPD to Justice” in front of the courthouse at 111 Centre Street, from 12-1:30pm.

This is the opening date of the trial of some of the men arrested for attacking women in Central Park last summer. On June 11, 2000, two groups of men—the NYPD and the men who attacked women—had an unspoken “gentlemen’s agreement” not to interfere with each other going about their business. In the case of the attackers, they were free to attack, while the police looked the other way, even declining to take action when women walked up to them and asked for help.

1/15/01 - Life inspires art
The January 15th episode of the t.v. drama "Family Law" featured a storyline inspired by the real-life assault on over 60 women in New York's Central Park last June. In the episode, "Film At Eleven," family law attorney Lynn Holt is publicly molested by a violent mob and her assault is caught on tape, she sues the local news station that broadcast the footage for exploitation.

The show is no stranger to social issues affecting women. In recent episodes, they have tackled fetal rights, domestic violence and the best interests of the children who witness it, and child sexual abuse. And it's one of the few t.v. shows that actually provides a brief background of the legal issues in the "Story Behind the Story" section of its website.

10/18/00 - Teen Pleads Guilty in Central Park Assaults
The first person to come to trial in connection to the assaults on women in New York's Central Park has plead guilty to first degree riot. Imanuel Nunez, 18, hasn't actually been sentenced officially, however State Supreme Court Justice Bernard Fried promised him a sentence of 6 months in jail, 4 1/2 years probation, and 250 hours of community service.

The judge then released him, citing the four months the teen had already served, plus time off for good behavior. The prosecutor in the case, Assistant District Attorney Lisa DelPizzo told the judge that the sentence was appropriate because Nunez's behavior "was not as egregious" as that of some of the other defendants, and he had expressed remorse. DelPizzo also said Nunez had never been arrested before and had received many letters of support from community members and from teachers who said he had never been a disciplinary problem.

Thirty people have been indicted in the case so far. The police are still seeking 12 young men appearing on the videos taped by bystanders.

It was big news when it happened. Now, only a few media outlets continue to follow the story: A gang of young men and teenage boys rampaged though New York's Central Park on Sunday, June 11, attacking women and girls. The victims were doused with water, then many of them were stripped and sexually assaulted. Some were robbed of money and jewelry as well. According to onlookers, nearby police did nothing to stop the attacks, despite numerous pleas from victims. The most recent numbers, as reported by About Crime Guide Bill Bickel, put the number of victims at 53, the number of men at around 60.

As many as ten onlookers videotaped some of the attacks, but few in the crowd of onlookers offered assistance to the victims either. At least one of the tapes ended up on the Fox News Network. About Crime Guide Bill Bickel feels that airing those tapes was wrong; that common decency should have prevented the network from further violating the victims by broadcasting their terror across the air waves. I would usually agree that the use of such material was sleazy exploitation, by most measures of journalistic integrity. But, in this case, I am ambivalent about that judgement. Why? Because far too often, women's claims that police ignore or belittle claims of rape or domestic violence are doubted by far too many people.

The women in the Women's Issues forum have repeatedly recounted experiences where their claims of rape or domestic violence are ignored, belittled, or simply not followed up by police:

I know first hand that often times the police do not report domestic abuse. I was in a bad relationship for over four years and I had several occasions where I felt I needed the police. Each time I was threatened with being locked up and it was swept under the rug. ... One cop here on one occasion said "You're not bleeding that much."
--HUTCH1011

A man having been robbed is not asked if he is "prone" to lending out money or if he has ever lent out money before. A woman is routinely asked or it is insinuated that she gives out sex freely. ... I check out our local crime blotter regularly as well as the court docket. I find that a large number of rapists get five years....PROBATION.
--IRISP1

I have experience with being beaten and calling the cops for help... I was told to go back inside with him...it was between us and to "work it out."
--CCTEX

Back to Article Index