
Going public can also help fight back against stigma surrounding victims of sexual violence. I have the right to say no,'" she told the Today show. "I want other people to feel empowered and just strong enough to be able to say, 'I have the right to my body. One of the greatest benefits of opening up about these experiences is the opportunity to help other survivors feel like someone has their back, which is a major reason Prout chose to come forward. Sexual assault victims think they are alone and it’s important for them to see they are not." If I can help just one victim become a survivor then it’s worth it for me. "It is most certainly case by case for each victim." She found that sharing her experience led to "another level of the healing process and a profound sense of empowerment. It ultimately helped me feel empowered over the situation.For others who might lack the appropriate support structure or who face a lot of backlash, it can be a really challenging experience that exacerbates some of the symptoms of being an assault victim-feelings of depression, isolation, and fear."īuttaro is also glad she made the choice to speak out, though she encourages other survivors to consider their own individual needs before doing the same. "It was not a decision I made lightly, and although I did experience some negative reactions to my public disclosure, I have not once regretted my decision to come forward and own my story. "It's been two years now since the whole ordeal, and I feel ready to stand up and own what happened to me and make sure other people, other girls and boys, don't need to be ashamed either."įor Esquivel, however, the choice was right for her, despite the struggles that came along with it. "I want everyone to know that I am not afraid or ashamed anymore, and I never should have been," she told NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie on Today. Last week, Prout made the decision to reveal her identity on the Today show. Though the case gained national notoriety, Prout remained anonymous during proceedings against Labrie. Paul's ritual called the "Senior Salute," in which some senior students allegedly attempted to have sex with underclassmen before graduating.
#Chessy prout barnard trial
(He is now seeking a new trial based on claims that his lawyers did a poor job of representing him, and is also appealing his case with the New Hampshire Supreme Court.) The assault was part of a St.

Labrie, now 20, was acquitted of a felony charge, but convicted of three counts of misdemeanor sexual assault for his crimes. Paul's, a New Hampshire boarding school, in 2014. Prout was a 15-year-old freshman when she reported being raped by then-senior Owen Labrie at St. Two years after she was sexually assaulted on her high school campus, 17-year-old Chessy Prout is speaking out about her experience.
