More than 200 women came forward to accuse former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. Many of them read emotional testimonies in Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s courtroom during his trial. She told the survivors: “You are no longer victims, you are survivors. You’re very strong.”
This year, Glamour is honoring this Sister Army that brought down Nassar: Judge Aquilina, Police Detective Lt. Andrea Munford, Michigan Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis, and the survivors, including Aly Raisman and Rachael Denhollander.
“There were so many,” Judge Aquilina said of the survivors in Glamour‘s December issue. “You could feel the empowerment. You could feel the rage.”
Munford, Raisman, Povilaitis, Denhollander, and other survivors went on stage at the Women of the Year Awards on Sunday night and delivered a moving joint speech.
Raisman stepped up to the microphone first. “I am so inspired by the brave and powerful women on stage with me tonight and I would like to thank them for everything they have done,” she said. “Amazing things happen when women support women.”
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Aly Raisman, Rachael Denhollander, Andrea Munford, and Angela Povilaitis at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards
“We are a group that fought until an abuser was stopped,” she continued. “Stats show that each one of us knows someone suffering from abuse. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 16. Those are just who speak up.”
Raisman continued with a call to cation. “For those of you who are struggling, your story matters and you deserve to be heard […] I know it’s hard, but I encourage you to keep fighting until you find someone who will listen and believe in you.
“Make kindness and empathy your superpower. Trust that the ripple effect will change generations to come,” she said. “Never underestimate the power of doing the right thing. Never underestimate the power of doing the right thing.”
Next, fellow survivor Denhollander spoke. She called attention to the members of the Sister Army who were not present, as well as the survivors of hundreds of other cases beyond Nassar. “Outside of these doors are hundreds of survivors. We need to remember them,” she said. “What happened to you matters. Raising your voice matters. This award is for the survivors out there who are living in silence. Your story matters. Your voice matters.”
Then Police Detective Lt. Munford discussed the need for all points of the justice process to do better by survivors. “It can’t be talked about enough. I want to challenge one of you when someone talks about sexual harassment, instead of thinking about how it could’ve been prevented, be mindful of what they are saying. They are looking for you for help,” she said. “Police need to be better. Prosecutors need to better. But we all need to be better […] and remember that we could be the first person they tell. Our reactions can help or hurt for survivors out there who haven’t felt safe about coming forward.”
Michigan Assistant Attorney General Povilaitis echoed that message. “This award is for all survivors who didn’t come forward because they feared no one would believe and support them. This is for all survivors whose cases were not investigated or prosecuted by police. This is an award for thousands of women who have gone under a rape kit examination just to have the rape kit sit on a shelf and not be tested.”
“I want them to know that we believe them and their stories matter,” she continued. “This award is for courageous Nassar survivors. It is for all survivors who have been marginalized by race, sex, gender class. Survivors like Reesy Taylor and Johanna Hall. Their voices have been silenced. Btu we believe you and will continue to fight for justice.”
Lastly, Judge Aquilina gave her own acceptance speech, talking about the power of the Sister Army’s testimony and how our culture has to change to support survivors of sexual assault. Read it in full, below.
PHOTO: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards
“I am so incredibly proud of the women here on this stage and every member of the Army of Sister Survivors. This case demonstrates the power of listening, of believing, and the destruction that happens when voices are ignored. This is a story about when things finally went right.
“I have always believed that a judge represents the people. That’s what I do. I listen. I treat people with respect. And the minute I’m told that I can’t give everyone a voice, like I did in this case … like I do in every case, I walk off the bench.
“The culture has to change. We have to change the way that sexual assault survivors are treated in this country. To do that, we have to be honest every day in what we say. So here’s my message to everyone– especially the young girls in this room, and the boys and girls around the world: Get real. Get honest. Tell the truth. Change the dialogue around equality and safety. Don’t say you’re fine when you’re not. Say, ‘You’ve hurt me.’ Say it loudly. Say it until you’re heard. Say it until you’re believed.”
The award was presented by Padma Lakshmi, who came forward with her own account of sexual abuse earlier this year. In her introduction, she highlighted just how important it was these women speak up and be believed. “The Sister Army won this battle not just because they spoke up—many had done that already—but because this time, someone actually listened. And believed,” she said. “Rachael came forward. Andrea listened. Angie believed. More women spoke out. Judge Aquilina listened. The Court believed. Aly and even more women came forward, over 330 in all.”
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Padma Lakshmi at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards
“Today, because of their bravery and determination, college campuses are changing their ways, and it is about fucking time. Sports organizations are reviewing their procedures, and the US Olympic Committee is looking to revoke USA Gymnastics’ status as the sport’s governing body as it damn well should,” Lakshmi continued. “With the strength of this Army behind us, we all will be believed.”
Find more empowering moments from Glamour‘s 2018 Women of the Year Awards here.
Relates Stories:
‘My Voice Matters’: The Survivors of Larry Nassar, In Their Own Words
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s 10 Most Powerful Quotes From the Nassar Hearings
Judge Sentences Larry Nassar to Another 40 to 125 Years In Prison