From the 60 Minutes Archive: "Know My Name," Chanel Miller's story

Summary

Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, recounts her experience of being sexually assaulted by Stanford athlete Brock Turner in 2015. The case gained international attention due to the powerful victim impact statement she delivered, which went viral and became a manifesto for assault survivors. Miller, a literature major, shares her story in her new book 'Know My Name,' detailing the trauma and legal process she endured. The case led to significant changes in California law and the recall of Judge Aaron Persky, demonstrating the impact of her resilience and advocacy.

Takeaways

• 📚 Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, is the author of a powerful victim impact statement that went viral after she was sexually assaulted by a Stanford athlete, Brock Turner, in 2015.
• 🎓 Miller, a literature major at UC Santa Barbara, decided to write her own story to ensure her experience was told accurately, as she felt misrepresented by the media and the courtroom proceedings.
• 🚑 Chanel was found unconscious with severe abrasions and her belongings scattered, but she was not informed of the full extent of the assault until she read an online article about the case.
• 👥 Two Swedish grad students, Peter Johnson and Carl Arndt, witnessed and stopped the assault, playing a crucial role in the case by providing eyewitness accounts.
• 🏊‍♂️ Turner, a Stanford swimmer and Olympic hopeful, was charged with three felony sex crimes, with rape charges dropped due to the lack of evidence of intercourse.
• 👩‍⚖️ The trial was challenging for Miller as she had no memory of the assault, and Turner's defense attorney attempted to discredit her by focusing on her intoxication rather than his actions.
• 📖 Miller's victim impact statement, which she wrote for Turner's sentencing, became a manifesto for assault survivors, highlighting the emotional trauma and the legal process she endured.
• 😢 The statement resonated globally, receiving millions of views and leading to an outpouring of support from survivors around the world.
• 🏆 Despite Turner being found guilty, Judge Aaron Persky sentenced him to only six months in jail, a decision that sparked national outrage and led to Persky being recalled, a rare event in California.
• 📈 The case prompted changes in California law, including mandatory prison sentences for those convicted of assaulting unconscious or intoxicated persons and an expanded definition of rape.
• 🌟 Miller's bravery and the impact of her statement led to significant legal and societal changes, demonstrating the power of one person's story to effect real-world improvements.

Q & A

Who is Chanel Miller and what is her connection to the Brock Turner case?

Chanel Miller is the woman who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner, a Stanford University athlete, in 2015. She was known as Emily Doe during the trial to protect her identity and became a symbol for sexual assault survivors worldwide.

What was the significance of Chanel Miller's victim impact statement?

Chanel Miller's victim impact statement was significant because it detailed the emotional trauma she experienced from the assault and the legal process. It went viral, becoming a manifesto for assault survivors and leading to widespread changes in public perception and legal practices.

How did Chanel Miller learn about the details of her assault?

Chanel Miller first learned about the details of her assault by reading an online article about the case, where she discovered that she had been penetrated with fingers at the very least.

What role did the two Swedish graduate students play in the case?

The two Swedish graduate students, Peter Johnson and Carl Arndt, witnessed the assault, stopped it, and held Brock Turner down until the police arrived. Their actions were crucial in identifying Turner and preventing further harm to Chanel Miller.

How did the media's portrayal of Brock Turner affect Chanel Miller?

The media's portrayal of Brock Turner as a champion swimmer and Olympic hopeful affected Chanel Miller by shifting the narrative to focus on what Turner had to lose, rather than the harm he had caused her.

What was the public's reaction to Chanel Miller's case after her impact statement went viral?

The public's reaction was overwhelmingly supportive, with millions of views and shares of her statement. It led to an international outcry, prompting changes in California law and the recall of Judge Aaron Persky.

What changes did Chanel Miller's case bring about in California law?

Chanel Miller's case led to the signing of two bills into law by California Governor Jerry Brown, which mandated prison sentences for anyone convicted of assaulting a person who is unconscious or intoxicated and expanded the definition of rape.

What was the outcome of Brock Turner's trial and sentencing?

Brock Turner was found guilty of three felony counts but was sentenced to only six months in jail, with the possibility of being released after 90 days for good behavior, which was met with public outrage.

How did Chanel Miller cope with the aftermath of the assault and trial?

Chanel Miller experienced anger, withdrawal, and deep depression. She found solace in writing her memoir, 'Know My Name,' which allowed her to process her feelings and experiences.

What was the role of Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci in the case?

Deputy District Attorney Alaleh Kianerci was the prosecutor who charged Brock Turner with three felony sex crimes and guided Chanel Miller through the legal process, ultimately presenting her victim impact statement to the court.

How did Chanel Miller's memoir 'Know My Name' contribute to her healing process?

Chanel Miller's memoir 'Know My Name' contributed to her healing process by providing her with a platform to share her story in her own words, challenge the narrative surrounding her case, and advocate for herself and other sexual assault survivors.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Chanel Miller's Journey to Reclaim Her Identity

Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, shares her story publicly for the first time. She was sexually assaulted in 2015 by Brock Turner, a Stanford University athlete. Miller delivers a powerful victim impact statement during his sentencing, which goes viral and becomes a manifesto for assault survivors worldwide. She has written a book titled 'Know My Name,' detailing her experience and the aftermath of the assault, including the media's portrayal and the legal process.

05:00

🚨 The Assault and Public Reaction

Chanel Miller recounts the night of the assault and the days following, where she remained unaware of the full extent of what had happened to her. She discovered the details of her assault through an online news article, which led to a flood of victim-blaming comments. Despite the emotional trauma, Miller is determined to challenge the narrative and the culture that excuses sexual assault due to alcohol consumption.

10:02

🏊‍♂️ The Trial and Media Bias

The case gains international attention, with the media focusing on Brock Turner's achievements as a swimmer and downplaying the severity of the crime. This narrative shift puts Chanel on the defensive, forcing her to explain her actions rather than focusing on Turner's guilt. The trial becomes a high-profile event, highlighting the challenges faced by sexual assault victims in the courtroom.

15:08

⚖️ The Courtroom Experience and Sentencing

Chanel Miller describes the dread and preparation leading up to the trial, as well as the adversarial atmosphere within the courtroom. Despite the presence of two key eyewitnesses, the case is difficult to prosecute due to Miller's lack of memory of the event. The sentencing phase is particularly distressing, with Turner receiving a lenient sentence that does not reflect the gravity of his crimes.

20:14

📝 The Impact Statement and Global Reach

Following the verdict, Chanel Miller is asked to write a victim impact statement to inform the judge's sentencing decision. She crafts a powerful and personal narrative that resonates with millions when it is published by BuzzFeed. Her statement sparks a global conversation and becomes a symbol of strength for survivors of sexual assault.

25:18

🌐 Legal Reforms and Turner's Consequences

The public outcry following the lenient sentence leads to the recall of Judge Aaron Persky and significant changes in California law, including mandatory prison sentences for those convicted of assaulting intoxicated or unconscious individuals. Chanel Miller's impact statement catalyzes legal reforms and contributes to a broader conversation about justice and accountability in sexual assault cases.

Keywords

💡Sexual Assault

Sexual assault refers to any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. In the video's theme, it is central to the story of Chanel Miller, who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner, a Stanford University athlete. The script mentions the assault as a pivotal event that led to a court case and a powerful victim impact statement that resonated globally.

💡Victim Impact Statement

A victim impact statement is a written or oral statement by a victim of a crime that provides insight into the physical, emotional, and financial effects of the crime on the victim. In the video, Chanel Miller's victim impact statement is a key element, as it details the trauma she experienced and becomes a manifesto for assault survivors worldwide.

💡Chanel Miller

Chanel Miller is the real name of the woman who was sexually assaulted by Brock Turner. In the script, she is initially referred to by the pseudonym Emily Doe to protect her identity. Her decision to reclaim her identity and share her story is a significant part of the video's narrative, highlighting her courage and the personal journey she underwent.

💡Brock Turner

Brock Turner is the name of the Stanford University athlete who was found guilty of sexually assaulting Chanel Miller. In the video, he is portrayed as a privileged athlete whose actions and subsequent trial became a high-profile case, sparking discussions on sexual assault, the criminal justice system, and victim rights.

💡Cultural Mindset

The cultural mindset refers to the shared attitudes, values, and beliefs of a society or group. In the video, Chanel Miller challenges the cultural mindset that blames victims for their assaults, particularly when they have been drinking. This concept is crucial to understanding the broader implications of the case and the societal attitudes towards sexual assault.

💡Trauma

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have long-lasting emotional effects. The video discusses the emotional trauma Chanel Miller experienced as a result of the assault and the legal process that followed. Her struggle with trauma is a central theme, illustrating the profound impact of such experiences on a victim's life.

💡Legal Process

The legal process refers to the procedures and actions taken to resolve a legal dispute. In the video, the legal process is highlighted through Chanel Miller's experience with the court system following her assault. It underscores the challenges victims face in seeking justice and the emotional toll it can take.

💡Witnesses

Witnesses are individuals who have seen an event or crime take place. In the script, two Swedish grad students, Peter Johnson and Carl Arndt, are mentioned as witnesses to the assault. Their intervention and testimony are critical to the case against Brock Turner, demonstrating the role witnesses can play in sexual assault cases.

💡Adversarial System

An adversarial system is a legal framework where two opposing parties present their cases before an impartial judge or jury. The video describes the courtroom as an adversarial and intimidating atmosphere, highlighting the challenges Chanel Miller faced in presenting her case and the difficulties inherent in such a system for victims of crime.

💡Public Outcry

Public outcry refers to a strong expression of disapproval or protest by the public. In the video, the public outcry following the light sentencing of Brock Turner led to significant changes in California law and the recall of Judge Aaron Persky. This demonstrates the power of public opinion to influence legal outcomes and policy.

💡Survivors

Survivors are individuals who have lived through a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault. The video emphasizes the impact of Chanel Miller's story on other survivors, who found strength and solidarity in her words. The term is used to acknowledge the ongoing journey of healing and the community that forms among those who have experienced similar traumas.

Highlights

Chanel Miller, previously known as Emily Doe, shares her story publicly for the first time.

Miller was sexually assaulted in 2015 by Stanford athlete Brock Turner.

Her powerful victim impact statement went viral, becoming a manifesto for assault survivors worldwide.

Miller majored in literature and has been writing her story for the past three years.

She attended a party at Stanford where the assault occurred, despite not being a student there.

Miller woke up in a hospital with no memory of the assault.

Two Swedish grad students witnessed and stopped the assault, leading to Turner's arrest.

Miller found out about the extent of the assault through an online news article.

Hateful comments online blamed Miller for the assault due to her intoxication.

Deputy District Attorney Alei Kia Narasi highlighted the case's challenges, including Turner's privileged background.

The trial received international attention, focusing on Turner's swimming achievements rather than the assault.

Miller felt alone and struggled with anger, withdrawal, and depression during the trial.

She was deeply affected by the courtroom experience and the adversarial atmosphere.

Turner's defense attorney's narrative and Turner's own testimony were challenged by Miller.

Miller's memoir, 'Know My Name,' recounts her experiences with humor and anguish.

She wrote a victim impact statement that became a viral sensation, influencing law and public opinion.

Judge Aaron Persky's lenient sentencing of Turner sparked national outrage and led to his recall.

California law was changed to set mandatory prison sentences for assaulting unconscious or intoxicated individuals.

Miller's case led to significant legal reforms and a shift in public perception about sexual assault.

Transcripts

60 minutes rewind

you probably don't know the name chanel miller  but chances are you have heard of her court  

case and the name used to protect her identity  emily doe she was sexually assaulted in 2015 by  

a stanford university athlete named brock turner  who was found guilty of three felonies including  

assault with intent to rape before his sentencing  emily doe stood in the courtroom and delivered  

a powerful victim impact statement detailing the  emotional trauma the assault and the legal process  

had put her through it instantly went viral  becoming a kind of manifesto for assault survivors  

all over the world tonight chanel miller reclaims  her identity as the author of that statement  

and shares her story for the first time as you're  about to see she chooses her words carefully when  

she speaks just as she did when she put them to  paper for her new book aptly titled know my name  

so this is where you write for the last three  years chanel miller has been writing her own  

story here are some of the drafts the 27 year old  majored in literature at uc santa barbara and has  

wanted to be a writer since she was a child police  reports she decided to relive the most painful  

experience of her life because she believes her  story filtered through the glare of the media  

and restrictive lens of the courtroom remains  untold i'm sure it wasn't your top choice to write  

a book about this it's not the topic i would have  chosen but it was the topic i was given so start  

at the top and uh let him have it we were there  when she recorded her audio book in january 2015  

i was 22 living and working in my hometown of palo  alto california i attended a party at stanford she  

didn't attend stanford university but she grew  up in its shadow why did you decide to go to a  

fraternity party you were out of college at that  time my sister was home for the weekend and it was  

my way of spending time with her so people were  drinking yes a lot of red cups like a typical  

fraternity scene do you remember having fun at  the party what were you doing i was dancing on  

top of a chair and my sister was sort of coaxing  me down to stop embarrassing her chanel has never  

denied she drank a combination of whiskey vodka  and champagne you drank until you blacked out

she came to about four hours later in a hospital  surrounded by nurses and a police deputy she had  

abrasions all over her body her hair was tangled  with pine needles i had no idea how to put those  

pieces together how did they tell you what they  thought had happened all they said was that i  

had been found and that somebody had been  arrested and that he had been chased down  

because he had been acting hinky hinky was the  word the detective used did they tell you where  

you were found behind a dumpster what they  didn't tell her was that her underwear and  

cell phone were found on the ground by her body  they also didn't tell her there were witnesses  

two of them who not only saw the attack they  stopped it swedish grad students peter johnson and  

carl arndt were riding their bikes to the party  that night when they saw something disturbing  

behind the dumpster outside the frat house we  see a couple lying on the ground with one person  

on top of the other p was moving a lot but we just  saw her lying there completely still they realized  

the woman was unconscious johnson says when he  approached them the man later identified as brock  

turner got up and ran i didn't really have time to  think so i just chased after him i remember quite  

vividly like i was on his left side and i got my  right leg in front of him and then i took my body  

my upper body and threw him over my leg and down  on the ground so carl you go over to help peter  

hold brock turner down yes he was trying to  get loose he was he was squirming trying to  

get away yeah did he seem drunk not super drunk  like he could talk and he clearly could run  

they held him until police arrived they  also checked on chanel she was completely  

unconscious i was trying to like shake her and  nothing happened chanel was taken by ambulance  

to the hospital in san jose early that morning she  was examined and told she may have been sexually  

assaulted the deputy asked if she'd be willing  to undergo a rape kit test she agreed did it  

sink in the gravity of your situation absolutely  not i just thought i had passed out somewhere and  

that there was a suspicious man at the party who  had been behaving in an odd way and i had no idea  

that he was connected directly to me in any way  chanelle's sister who had left the party early  

and had been frantically calling and looking  for her got a call from chanel at the hospital  

and came to pick her up the sisters agreed not to  tell anyone not even their parents until chanel  

knew more for ten long days she heard nothing  not from the hospital police a counselor nobody  

what's going through your head in order to survive  you just shut everything down you have to function  

you have to go to work in the morning so it was  much easier to just repress everything of course i  

had questions i woke up and didn't have underwear  why is that no one tells me where it went but you  

just have to keep living then one morning at her  job at a small tech startup in silicon valley  

this item popped up on her news feed the words  stanford rape and intoxicated unconscious woman  

leapt off the screen she knew it was her and she  learned for the first time that her assailant had  

penetrated her with his fingers at the very least  that's how you found out what happened to you  

yes reading an article online yes it was surreal  having the news broken to me by the internet i was  

alone sitting at my desk surrounded by co-workers  reading about how i was stripped and then  

penetrated and discarded in a bed of pine needles  behind a dumpster and that's how i figured out  

all of those elements and they all added up  and i finally understood the name brock turner  

was mentioned in the article had you heard his  name before never the first thing i did after  

reading the article was read the comments and  there were many hateful words what were some  

of the comments what was she doing at a frat  party this isn't really rape why was she alone  

she's the predator because she's older  why would you ever get that drunk  

it was endless so what do you say to those critics  people who say you did drink until you blacked out  

you did make yourself vulnerable what do you  say to those people rape is not a punishment  

for getting drunk we have this really sick  mindset in our culture as if you deserve  

rape if you drink to excess you  deserve a hangover a really bad  

hangover but you don't deserve to have  somebody insert their body parts inside of you  

the day the news broke she received a call it  was deputy district attorney alei kiyanersi  

who told chanel she would be handling the case  were there specific elements of this case that  

stood out to you i mean the entirety of it the  fact that it was a stanford swimmer who was an  

olympic hopeful really a privileged athlete and  student so that stood out the fact that it was  

so very clear to anyone who encountered chanel  that evening that she was not conscious that she  

was super intoxicated so she was in no position  to consent what did his privilege and stanford  

have to do with making this more difficult  to prosecute a lot of people were looking at  

what brock turner had to lose versus what he did  to chanel and so the narrative changed we were  

almost on the defense explaining why chanel got  too intoxicated instead of focusing the attention  

on why did he think it was okay why did he think  that he could take advantage of her when she was  

in such a vulnerable state the case received  international attention the media couldn't  

resist the story of the fallen athlete from one of  america's most prestigious schools to protect her  

identity chanel was dubbed emily doe turner was  almost always identified by his accomplishments  

in the pool when you saw the description of him  as a champion swimmer on the stanford swim team  

what did you think of that i didn't understand  why it was relevant when you're also reporting  

that my lower half was completely exposed that  my necklace was wrapped around my neck that my  

hair was disheveled that my bra was only covering  one breast and the rest was pulled out of my dress  

i don't understand why it is relevant how quickly  he can move across a body of water in the context  

of that article did you feel that that description  of him as a championship swimmer sort of changed  

the narrative yes they were framing it like he  had so much to lose and were not focusing on  

what had already been lost for me by then she had  told her boyfriend and parents but despite their  

love and support she felt alone chanelle told us  she became angry withdrawn and deeply depressed  

i would just sit it work and do nothing i would  stare at the screen and then i would come home  

and i wouldn't sleep and so physically i began  breaking down she didn't want anyone to know  

she was emily doe the woman in the news four years  later the trauma remains just below the surface  

i felt if anyone ever found out that that was me  that it would be absolutely humiliating i felt  

dirty and embarrassed i my dream is to write  children's books i felt no parent is going to

want me as a role model if i'm  just discarded drunk half-naked  

body behind a dumpster nobody wants to be that

how did you carry on when i was reliving all of  this i thought well the same night the assault  

happened a miracle also happened which was that  i was saved and thinking of the two swedes who  

knew to do the right thing and who wanted  me really to be okay always gave me hope so  

they changed the story they changed the story  they changed the entire trajectory of my life  

when we come back the trial the sentencing and  chanel miller's compelling courtroom address  

to her assailant that would reverberate around  the world the story will continue after this

chanel miller was at the center of one of the most  high profile and consequential trials in recent  

memory she was sexually assaulted in 2015 by brock  turner a former stanford university athlete now a  

convicted felon known during the contentious trial  as emily doe a name used to protect her identity  

chanel miller would become an anonymous icon for  assault survivors the world over tonight in her  

first television interview chanel miller takes  us back to 2016 as the trial approached for the  

then 23 year old what was it like when you finally  realized that you were going to have to face brock  

turner in court it was absolute dread and i went  to a therapist almost like a personal trainer  

and said you have three weeks to get me mentally  ready but until then i thought you have to drag me  

into the courtroom because i'm not going to  go the case would become a media maelstrom

chanel miller told us that as bad as the previous  14 months had been nothing prepared her for the  

cold adversarial and intimidating atmosphere  inside the courtroom i remember standing outside  

the courtroom doors and there's a very thin  sliver of window in the door where you can look  

in and i remember seeing the back of rock's head  in his neck and i thought wow this is this is him  

it is incredibly difficult for a victim of  sexual assault to walk into court in front  

of their perpetrator and recount the worst thing  that happened to them in a room full of strangers  

deputy district attorney alei kia narasi had  charged brock turner with three felony sex crimes  

rape charges were dropped because  there was no evidence of intercourse  

which was required in california at the time  but she was convinced she had a strong case  

because of the two swedish eyewitnesses they  were integral without them we would not know the  

identity of brock turner they chased him down and  they physically held him down until police arrived  

he's an athlete this is somebody got into  school because of you know physical prowess  

and these are two engineering grad  students and they're really the most  

important reason why chanel didn't suffer  a more devastating sexual assault because  

i believe and i argue this to the jury that had  they not stopped him he would have completed the  

the rape so what was the hardest part about  making your case to the jury chanel had no  

memory she was completely unconscious or  too intoxicated to remember the immediate  

moments before so we had a perpetrator who was  able to write the script turner's first draft of  

that script was his police interrogation conducted  just hours after the attack he told a detective he  

met chanel outside the frat house they started  kissing and that he followed her holding hands  

behind the dumpster he said he placed his hand  between her legs and she seemed to enjoy it  

he also told police he didn't recall running  when the swedish grad students interrupted them  

but when turner got on the witness  stand 14 months later his story changed  

now he said he recalled meeting and dancing with  chanel inside the fraternity asking her to go back  

to his dorm room leaving together slipping and  falling and laughing then he said he specifically  

asked her if he could touch her intimately  and she said yes and now he admitted running  

from the swedish grad students who he claimed  attacked him i thought you are bound by the truth  

i thought those are the rules that's how court  works you wrote that this version of events  

sounded like a poorly written young adult novel  yes there was a lot of tumbling and laughing  

sounds at great odds with what he said shortly  after having been arrested it was all completely  

new he had written a new narrative so in this new  narrative you're in agreement the new narrative  

was extremely convenient because he needed consent  he needed the word yes turner would add one more  

lurid detail he claimed under oath that she had  climaxed i was livid i didn't understand why  

it had been allowed to go that far i think  you told us before that you felt as though you  

had been assaulted a second time i felt like i  was assaulted multiple times every time you're  

reliving this like this is the list of body parts  submitted as evidence the trial took its toll the  

barrage of questions the mortifying photos  of her half-naked and unconscious body shown  

in open court and worst she says turner's defense  attorney constantly objecting and cutting her off  

to make her words fit his narrative i remember in  court the defense attorney always said chanel has  

no memory chanel has no memory and i remember  sitting there and thinking i will remember  

everything i will remember every remark i will  remember the lighting inside this courtroom i will  

remember the texture of the defense attorney's  hair i will remember the depth of the pain you  

made me feel i will remember it and i will record  it and i will write it so that it will not be lost  

chanel poured all of those memories feelings and  frustrations into her memoir know my name with  

anguish and humor she takes on a criminal justice  system she says fails the most vulnerable i want  

to read something you wrote this was not a  quest for justice but a test of endurance  

swearing under oath was just a made-up  promise honesty was for children that's  

what the courtroom experience felt like to you  yes after brock's testimony it felt like all  

rules had been abandoned he will go to any end  to come out of this without a guilty conviction  

and for me it felt like how many times can we make  her relive this after all those traumatic days  

you get the verdict tell me about the  verdict my heart was beating extremely loud  

it was deafening it was really hard for me to  focus and i was just waiting for the sound of  

guilty and she heard it all 12 jurors found brock  turner guilty of all three felony counts but it  

wasn't over the sentencing was two months  away and chanel was asked by the deputy d.a  

to write a victim impact statement a letter to  the judge to inform his decision it's basically  

documentation of your thoughts and feelings  throughout this process and i majored in  

literature which was basically four years  of talking about my feelings and reading  

about other people's feelings so i thought wow  there's an assignment that exists in the world  

that i was made to do she had been keeping  notes on her iphone throughout the process  

and in one impassioned all-nighter she wove  them into a defiant first-person narrative  

a few days before the sentencing she gave  it to the prosecutor when i first read her  

letter i immediately shared it with people  because i thought this is so good this is what we  

see victims go through what we know that they go  through but it's never been summarized in such an  

articulate and profound way chanel recently read  those words for her audio book your honor if it  

is all right for the majority of this statement  i would like to address the defendant directly  

you don't know me but you've been inside me  and that's why we're here today chanel spoke  

directly to her assailant in court she says she  noticed people crying brock turner wouldn't look  

at her your damage was concrete stripped of titles  degrees enrollment my damage was internal unseen

i carry it with me you took away my  worth my privacy my energy my time  

my safety my intimacy my confidence my own  voice until today as he handed down his sentence  

judge aaron persky acknowledged chanel's words  but also cited the defendant's good character  

the fact that he'd been drinking and  the impact prison would have on his life  

judge persky sentenced turner to six months in  jail a sentence at the low end of state guidelines  

with good behavior he'd walk free in 90 days  your prosecutor had been asking for six years yes  

how did that hit you i was in shock  so you're saying i just put aside  

a year and a half of my life so he  could go to county jail for three months  

there are young men particularly young men of  color serving longer sentences for non-violent  

crimes for having a teeny weeny bit of marijuana  in their pockets and he's just been convicted of  

three felonies and he's going to serve one month  for each felony how can you explain that to me  

chanel didn't think her voice had been heard  but it had the news website buzzfeed asked to  

publish her impact statement in its entirety  without giving it much thought she agreed i  

didn't think it would take off anywhere and i  actually felt really vulnerable again thinking  

why am i putting myself out there one last time  you know who's going to sit and read through this  

entire thing but then the view started trickling  in and soon it was a hundred thousand and five  

hundred thousand and by the end of the day it  was a million within four days it hit 11 million  

by then her statement had been shared globally  published by newspapers and read aloud in its  

entirety on tv members of congress staged readings  in the capitol you have dragged me through this  

hell with you and so did people all over the world  you don't know me but you've been inside of me and  

thousands of emails and letters addressed to emily  doe flooded the courthouse eventually making their  

way to her kitchen table these started coming in  the next day the next day and it was really like  

medicine reading these was like feeling the  shame dissolve you know bringing all the light  

in you heard from a number of survivors so many  survivors and sometimes they would say you are the  

first person i'm telling this to or this is the  first time i've been able to speak in six years  

in the wake of the sentencing there was a national  uproar and after a contentious special election  

judge aaron persky became the first judge to be  recalled from california's bench in more than 80  

years the case also led to significant changes  in california law setting mandatory prison  

sentences for anyone convicted of assaulting  a person who is unconscious or intoxicated  

and expanding the definition of rape to include  non-consensual sexual penetration i mean that's  

democracy in action within 90 days the law was  changed all because of her words and her strength  

what do you think of that i'm extremely proud of  that i'll take the defeat of a light sentence for  

a change in the law two bills were signed into  law by california governor jerry brown allele  

mailed me a copy of the signed document like a  certificate that granted me the right to sleep  

peacefully knowing this botched sentencing would  not be repeated i began to believe again injustice

after the trial brock turner was  required to register as a sex offender  

his appeal of his felony convictions was  unanimously rejected by three judges last year