The Invisible War: Sexual Trauma in the Military
Presented by the Central Illinois Civillian-Soldier Alliance
Today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Sexual assault within the ranks is so frequent that one in three female service members are raped while in the military. These crimes are routinely covered up by the chain of command, with higher-ranking officers granted virtual impunity for assaulting junior service members. As part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Central Illinois Iraq Veterans Against the War and Civillian-Soldier Alliance, in conjunction with the University of Illinois Women’s Resource Center will be screening The Invisible War, a documentary on the that examines the epidemic levels of sexual assault in the military which debuted this January at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of multiple rape victims, The Invisible War is a moving indictment of the systemic cover-up of military sex crimes, chronicling the women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. It also features hard-hitting interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the perfect storm of conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long-hidden history, and what can be done to bring about much-needed change. The screening will be followed by a discussion of what we can do to end sexual assault in the military and in our communities. The event is free and open to the public.
A sample of some of the testimony contained in the film:
THERESA VERDERBER-PHILLIPS: When you report something, you better be prepared for the repercussions.
CAPT. DEBRA DICKERSON: If a man gets accused of rape, it’s a setup, the woman is lying.
REBECCA CATAGNUS: I could choose to report it, but if I wasn’t—you know, if they found that what I saying wasn’t to be truthful, then that I would be reduced in rank.
ALLISON GILL: You could lose your rate, you could lose rank, you could lose your school, if you file a false report. So do you want to file a report?
CHRISTINA JONES: Even with the rape kit and everything, and the—my friend catching him raping me, they still don’t believe me.
TANDY FINK: I reported it two different times to my squad leader. And he told me that there is nothing he can do about it, because I didn’t have any proof.
ANDREA WERNER: They actually did charge me with adultery. I wasn’t married. He was.
TIA CHRISTOPHER: They took me before my lieutenant commander. He says, “You think this is funny?” And I say, “What do you mean?” He’s like, “Is this all a joke to you?” I was like, “What do you mean?” And he goes, “You’re the third girl to report rape this week. Are you guys like all in cahoots? You think this is a game?”
(Source: Democracy Now, January 30 2012. http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/30/the_invisible_war_new_film_exposes)
Event Details in Brief:
The Invisible War | Film Screening
Thursday, April 12th at 7:30pm
Allen Hall’s Main Lounge (1005 W. Gregory Dr., MC-050, Urbana, IL 61801)
Featuring post-film talk-back
Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact Alex Cline at rev.a.r.cline@gmail.com
Founded in 2007, the Civilian Soldier Alliance is an organization of civilians working with veterans and active-duty service-members to build a GI resistance movement towards a just foreign policy.
The Invisible War: Sexual Trauma in the Military
Presented by the Central Illinois Civillian-Soldier Alliance
Today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Sexual assault within the ranks is so frequent that one in three female service members are raped while in the military. These crimes are routinely covered up by the chain of command, with higher-ranking officers granted virtual impunity for assaulting junior service members. As part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Central Illinois Iraq Veterans Against the War and Civillian-Soldier Alliance, in conjunction with the University of Illinois Women’s Resource Center will be screening The Invisible War, a documentary on the that examines the epidemic levels of sexual assault in the military which debuted this January at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of multiple rape victims, The Invisible War is a moving indictment of the systemic cover-up of military sex crimes, chronicling the women’s struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. It also features hard-hitting interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the perfect storm of conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long-hidden history, and what can be done to bring about much-needed change. The screening will be followed by a discussion of what we can do to end sexual assault in the military and in our communities. The event is free and open to the public.
A sample of some of the testimony contained in the film:
THERESA VERDERBER-PHILLIPS: When you report something, you better be prepared for the repercussions.
CAPT. DEBRA DICKERSON: If a man gets accused of rape, it’s a setup, the woman is lying.
REBECCA CATAGNUS: I could choose to report it, but if I wasn’t—you know, if they found that what I saying wasn’t to be truthful, then that I would be reduced in rank.
ALLISON GILL: You could lose your rate, you could lose rank, you could lose your school, if you file a false report. So do you want to file a report?
CHRISTINA JONES: Even with the rape kit and everything, and the—my friend catching him raping me, they still don’t believe me.
TANDY FINK: I reported it two different times to my squad leader. And he told me that there is nothing he can do about it, because I didn’t have any proof.
ANDREA WERNER: They actually did charge me with adultery. I wasn’t married. He was.
TIA CHRISTOPHER: They took me before my lieutenant commander. He says, “You think this is funny?” And I say, “What do you mean?” He’s like, “Is this all a joke to you?” I was like, “What do you mean?” And he goes, “You’re the third girl to report rape this week. Are you guys like all in cahoots? You think this is a game?”
(Source: Democracy Now, January 30 2012. http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/30/the_invisible_war_new_film_exposes)
Event Details in Brief:
The Invisible War | Film Screening
Thursday, April 12th at 7:30pm
Allen Hall’s Main Lounge (1005 W. Gregory Dr., MC-050, Urbana, IL 61801)
Featuring post-film talk-back
Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact Alex Cline at rev.a.r.cline@gmail.com
Founded in 2007, the Civilian Soldier Alliance is an organization of civilians working with veterans and active-duty service-members to build a GI resistance movement towards a just foreign policy.