“We are here, we have our voices and we are not going anywhere.”
Aly Raisman was one of numerous women to make a victim impact statement during Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing this week in Michigan.
Nassar is a former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State team doctor who is being sentenced on 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Raisman joined fellow Olympic gymnast Jordyn Wieber in speaking in court Friday, and they are among the more than 140 women and girls who say Nassar abused them while claiming to provide treatment. Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are also among the survivors.
When Raisman addressed the court, she said she was “scared and nervous,” but she also hadn’t planned on attending the sentencing hearing. She said she was inspired to speak by the many other survivors who made victim impact statements this week, and her powerful words were met with applause from those in the courtroom.
Addressing Nassar directly, Raisman said:
“Larry, you do realize now that we – this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time – are now a force, and you are nothing. The tables have turned, Larry. We are here, we have our voices and we are not going anywhere.”
She continued:
“If we are to believe in change, we must first understand the problem and everything that contributed to it. Now is not the time for false reassurances. We need an independent investigation of exactly what happened, what went wrong and how it can be avoided for the future. Only then can we know what changes are needed. Only then can we believe such changes are real.
“Your Honor, I ask you to give Larry the strongest possible sentence, which his actions deserve, for by doing so, you will send a message to him and to other abusers that they can not get away with their horrible crimes. They will be exposed for the evil they are, and they will be punished to the maximum extent of the law. Let this sentence strike fear in anyone who thinks it is OK to hurt another person. Abusers, your time is up. The survivors are here standing tall, and we are not going anywhere.
“And please, your Honor, stress the need to investigate how this happened so that we can hold accountable those who empowered and enabled Larry Nassar, so we can repair and, once again, believe in this wonderful sport. My dream is that one day, everyone will know what the words ‘me too’ signify, but they will be educated and able to protect themselves from predators like Larry so that they will never, ever, ever have to say the words ‘me too.'”
In addition to these criminal charges against Nassar, he was also sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography charges in December.
Read more at USA TODAY Sports.
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