Saturday, October 24, 2009, in Richmond, California at the Richmond High School; students attended their Home Coming Dance which was meant to be a fun and wonderful night for everyone.  One 15 year old girl’s fun ended when she called her dad to pick her up, then left the dance.  She met up with a 15 year old boy; they walked to a back alley, away from the dance area.  It is not clear if the girl went willingly or if she was forced to go with the boy.  There are reports that some kind of weapon was used in the crime, it wasn’t clear which young man had the weapon.

Other young men joined them in the alley where the young girl was overpowered, robbed, beaten and gang raped by at least five young men 15,16,17 19 and 21 years old.  Gang rape is horrible enough, but, the time frame that this girl was brutalized - beaten and gang raped is what made this crime so horrifying.  This girl was beaten, and raped for approximately two and a half hours, she was also raped with a foreign object. 

The sad thing was; a crowd of approximately 20 spectators that looked on didn’t do anything to rescue the student.  Some of them wanted to join in, others laughed and cheered the rapists on.  It was reported that some took pictures and video taped the crime in action. What kind of world do we live in, people like this who enjoys someone else’s pain and suffering.  Nobody came to the girl’s rescue, nobody ran to get help, nobody pulled out a cell phone and called for help.  They cheered and laughed. 

Some people say they don’t get involved because they fear for their own safety and they fear the authorities won’t protect them.  What excuse do people have for watching such horrendous crime and cheering it on?  

What excuse is there for laughing, taking pictures and video taping a gang rape,?  This is true life people, it’s not a movie.  A real human being was brutalized; a  helpless girl fallen at the hands of many  rapists  and nobody even pulled out a cell phone to call for help.  Couldn’t at least one person feel her pain?

Help came when the buzz got around and someone overheard and notified the police.  When the police officers found the girl, she was unconscious and practically nude.  She was beaten and brutalized so badly, she spent four days in the hospital. 

I hope this child gets the love, the care, understanding and support she needs, to one day get back her life.  With love and care from her family and friends and with the right kind of therapy, she can one day over come this tragic ordeal.    

It was reported that alcohol was involved but no reports that this girl was drinking.  Even if a female was drinking; she doesn’t deserve to be beaten and gang raped.  But, there were no reports that this child was drinking.

There were security guards on duty but nobody was policing the area where the girl was attacked.  If the school is going to have after school events for our children, they should try to have enough security guards to police all areas including dark areas that are away from where the event is taking place.  If needed, raise the price of the event tickets to help pay for extra security guards.

People who are not attending the event should be asked to leave the school campus.  If they refuse to leave; get the police involved.   One girl said she saw a group of young men hanging around the campus, she said  the security guards saw them but didn’t ask for ID and didn’t ask them at leave.  She said security did nothing. 

When a student leaves an event early, it is a good idea to wait inside and have your ride call your cell phone when they arrive.  A security guard, a male teacher or a group of friends should walk the student outside.  It is too dangerous to be outside, alone, in the dark, waiting for a ride.

Five arrest  have been made in this case.  It was reported that the DA said, the 15 year old that led the girl to the back alley will be charged as an adult.  All the minors in this case should be charged as adults, for what they did to this girl. Two and a half hours is an awful long time to go through the kind of agony this girl went through.