Donald Trump mocking sexual assault survivors and the disabled

I apologize to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for the outrageous behavior of Donald Trump in stoking misogyny by mocking sexual assault survivors.  He did the very same to a disabled man when he was campaigning to stoke his right wing cult. For many people, the mocking of a disabled person was the low point in his campaign and I know several people who changed their opinion about him as a result of that horrible acting out in such a heinous manner.  Time after time, Donald Trump has shocked the world with his rudeness, I can't understand how anybody can tolerate being in the same room with him or his cult.  

This letter to the editor was published in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Seacoastonline.com.  "Shame on Trump for mocking sexual assault survivors" from State Representative Debra Altschiller of Stratham, NH.

Watching the president of the United States mimic and mock sexual assault survivor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Tuesday night from a rally in Mississippi made my knees buckle.  I know I'm not the only one.

I have two jobs, one is as the community liaison for our local domestic and sexual violence crisis center and the other is as a legislator representing my hometown.

Volunteering is part of my core values and I donate my time as a confidential advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  I have heard, and seen how vicious, cruel, and savage sexual, and domestic violence is to the victims, their families, friends and communities.  Survivors all over our state in New Hampshire have been finding the courage to come forward and seek solace and support, and they are being met with disdain and disbelief from the highest office in the land and silence from Donald Trump supporters.  I know what that feels like.

In May of 2017, I gathered up my courage to speak on teh floor of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  My service to my community and state in this role was coming up on five months.  In that short period of time, in a place I revered, I and the small number of women, and supportive men I worked with had experienced a State House culture saturated in misogyny, victim blaming, and trivializing of sexual assault and abuse, also known as rape culture. I spoke out. 

Many were taken aback by the term which means "a society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing sexual assault and abuse".  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) had reported just the week before that New Hampshire had some of the highest sexual assault rates in the nation.  This was reinforced just last week with the release of the latest FBI crime rate data, showing the rate of rape is significantly higher here than the rest of the country.  When I made this speech, the majority of the GOP stated a walkout.

After I spoke, the minority leader rose to move my remarks be entered in the permanent journals, as is customary.  The Speaker of the Hosue insisted that without a quorum (achieved by the walkout) that request could not be honored.  I was essentially shunned and shushed.

Two weeks later, when the House reconvened, a female member, who has served more than a decade in the House, rose to ask that now that we had a quorum, would my remarks now be entered into the permanent journal?  This time, in a roll call vote, every single Republican voted to erase my words.  That experienced was followed by online harassment from elected officials.

I wont be silenced.  Dr. Ford won't be silenced.  Every child abused by a coach, teacher, family member or priest should not be silenced. Every person abused or violated will not be silenced. The President of the United States has taken his honorable position and dishonored it, himself and our country with his disgusting behavior. 

Please do not be discouraged. We who can must continue to speak up. Do it with your vote in November.

From State Rep. Debra Altschiller, Stratham, NH.