Bystanders Watch Gang Rape
CNN.com reports that up to 20 people were present when a 15-year-old girl was gang raped and beaten in Richmond, California last weekend. As many as 10 people were involved in the 2 ½ hour assault while 10 more watched. Not one of the 10 bystanders called the police to report the incident. Instead, witnesses laughed and took photographs. Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan stated that “ ‘as people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated.’ ” The gang rape took place in a back alley on the Richmond High School campus during the school’s annual homecoming dance. CNN.com reports that the police were called by “someone in the area who had overheard people at the assault scene ‘reminiscing about the incident.’ ” They found the victim under a bench, unconscious. She was flown to a hospital and was admitted in critical condition.
- How could this have happened? How is this possible? As you read the article, what questions come to mind?
- In the “most comprehensive nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s exposure to violence to date,” the United States Department of Justice found that “more than 60 percent of the children surveyed were exposed to violence within the past year, either directly or indirectly.” How do you think students are affected by the violence they witness?
- The victim was gang raped on school grounds. The school said it would “hold a safety meeting for parents and students Wednesday evening to address the assault.” What do you think of this response? How else do you think the school should respond? What can schools do to ensure that the school environment is literally a safe space for students? Whose job is it to make schools safe—not just a “safe learning environment,” but a safe place for students to be?
- What is a bystander? Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan stated that “ ‘as people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated.’ ” Why do you think that people stood by or actively helped the perpetrators? How do you understand the behavior of the perpetrators? The bystanders?
- The CNN.com article “Alleged Rape Raises Questions about Bystanders” talks about the “bystander effect”—a social phenomenon where, experts say, “the larger the number of people involved in a situation, the less will get done.” Why might this be the case? Can you think of any other examples of the “bystander effect”? Despite the bystander effect, experts say that “witnesses have the power to deter violence—or stop a crime from going on.” What could the bystanders have done to help the victim? What kind of intervention might have made a difference? Are there times when you could have intervened, but didn’t? Why did you not intervene?
- According to the article, “a 1999 California law makes it illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child, but the law applies only to children 14 and under.” Gagan said “ ‘we do not have the ability to arrest people who witnessed the crime and did nothing.’ ” Not one person called the police. Why do you think that is? What factors influence decision making? Do you think the people who witnessed the rape and did nothing should be held responsible for their decision not to act? What would being held responsible look like?
- Richmond school board member Charles Ramsey said “the school district bears some responsibility for the attack. School administrators and police apparently weren’t watching the area as they should have.” As you read the article “As Many as 20 Present at Gang Rape outside School Dance,” who do you hold responsible?
- Under what conditions are most people likely to feel more responsible for helping others? What factors reduce feelings of personal responsibility?
