Those who have been closely following the news recently have likely seen the wave of sexual assault and harassment charges coming out of Hollywood. Everything seems to have started with Harvey Weinstein being exposed though it has had ripple effects throughout the industry. Although it’s easy to think only of the horrible crimes that were committed, also worth focusing on is the strength of the victims in their choice to speak out.
Similar revelations broke out in the world of sports concerning the US Olympic Committee and Doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar was a highly-regarded osteopathic physician at Michigan State University and the national medical coordinator for USA gymnastics.
Despite his credentials, Nassar was recently accused by Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney of child molestation from age 13 and onward. She filed a suit and was joined by other voices, including gold medalists Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas. After all the facts and testimonies were collected, Nassar had been accused of molesting at least 250 girls and young women, many of whom were underage.
Nassar was convicted on federal child pornography and evidence tampering charges and on state first-degree sexual conduct charges, with 100s of years of jail time.
Still, one moment showing the pain that Nassar caused these families happened live in the courtroom when father Randall Margraves asked to speak.
Margraves was father to three girls who accused Nassar of sexual misconduct. He began by cursing at Nassar before Judge Janice Cunningham redirected him. “We don’t want to swear,” she said. Still, she gave him a moment to address the court. The father tried again:
“I would ask you, as part of the sentencing, to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon. Would you do that?”
Judge Cunningham, of course, denied the request before the father asked for only one minute. She denied him again, saying that it was not how the justice system worked.
Upon those words, Margraves charged at Nassar in the courtroom.
Before he was able to harm Nassar, courtroom guards were able to restrain Margraves.
Still, he shouted from the ground at Nassar. “I want that son of a bitch!” he shouted. Although he was safely restrained, the entire courtroom was shaken by the experience. After the outburst, Margraves was lead out of the courtroom. “What if this had happened to you?” he asked the officers on the way out of the room. After he left, Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilatis addressed the courtroom:
“You can not behave like this. This is letting [Nassar] have this power over us. [Judge Cunningham] will come out and tell you this. I don’t want to see another parent get arrested or put in handcuffs on, or a victim [sic]. . . I understand Mr. Margraves’ frustration but you can not do this.”
Margraves later said he regretted the outburst.
He said that in the courtroom, all he could think about was his family’s pain:
“I was blinded by the fancy degrees hanging on the wall. I delivered, unintentionally, my three daughters to a demon . . . but I lost control. I apologize one hundred times . . . I’m not here to upstage my daughters. I’m here to help them heal.”
Above all, this story shows the very human side of the Nassar trial and others like it. This kind of systematic abuse hurts victims, families and undermines the trust in institutions we thought we could turn to. Now that Nassar has been sentenced, the process of grieving and acceptance can begin.
In the meantime, we can support the bravery and strength of the victims who came forward, along with their families.
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