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Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Sexual Assault Hotline Caves to Trump in Chilling Move
The largest organization devoted to survivors of sexual abuse is caving to Donald Trump and dropping support for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized groups, out of fear of losing federal funding. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) has directed staff at its crisis hotline not to direct callers to resources that would violate the White House's executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion, The New York Times reports. A list of organizations that staffers are authorized to refer callers to has been stripped of specialized mental health hotlines for gay and transgender people, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a group that educates students about sex-based discrimination, and books about male-on-male or female-on-female sexual violence. The changes went into effect three months ago, a RAINN spokesperson told the Times. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, one of the country's largest crisis hotlines for survivors of sexual violence, which served 460,000 people in 2024. It also operates a federally funded hotline for military servicemembers. The move to drop support for resources to help immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, groups that are at particular risk of facing sexual violence, has not gone over well with RAINN's volunteers. In February, a group of those volunteers signed a letter urging the organization's leaders to restore the prohibited resources, and sent another letter to the RAINN's board of directors sharing their concerns. In the second letter, the volunteers wrote, 'When trans, queer, Black, brown, Asian and undocumented survivors come to the hotline in crisis, we are not allowed to provide them with the same level of supportive care as other survivors.' 'RAINN may face uncertain risks in the future if we stand by marginalized survivors, but we are certain to lose our values now if we do not stand with them today,' the letter stated. RAINN's actions show how easily one of the largest resources can be intimidated by the Trump administration. Trump in his second term has sought to punish organizations and institutions that defy his executive orders by withdrawing federal funding, and now RAINN has joined the ranks of Columbia University and others who have complied. In the process, the most marginalized and vulnerable Americans have lost support in combating sexual abuse.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Top Sexual Assault Hotline Drops Resources After Trump Orders
Fearing the loss of federal funding, the nation's largest anti-sexual-violence organization has barred its crisis hotline staff from pointing people to resources that might violate President Trump's executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The organization, RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) has removed more than two dozen resources for L.G.B.T.Q. people, immigrants and other marginalized groups from its list of permissible referrals, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. The employees who answer phone calls, and the volunteers who answer online and text chats, are instructed not to deviate from that list, a policy that predates the Trump administration. For more than three months, they have been prohibited from suggesting specialized mental health hotlines for gay and transgender people, referring immigrants to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, directing students to a group that educates them about sex-based discrimination, recommending books about male-on-male or female-on-female sexual violence, and more. Jennifer Simmons Kaleba, a spokeswoman for RAINN, confirmed that these resources had been removed. RAINN and local affiliates operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which reported serving 460,000 people last year and is one of the country's largest crisis lines for sexual violence survivors. RAINN also runs a federally funded help line for members of the military. The Trump administration's push to prohibit the use of federal funds for D.E.I. initiatives has led to debates within organizations across science, education, health and law over whether — and how — to comply in order to continue receiving federal funding. Mr. Trump has made dismantling these initiatives a central goal of his presidency, arguing that programs designed to redress discrimination against marginalized groups are themselves discriminatory. His executive orders face ongoing legal challenges. At RAINN, the decision to ban referrals specific to L.G.B.T.Q. people and immigrants — groups that are disproportionately likely to experience sexual violence — angered many volunteers. A group of them signed a letter in February urging their leaders to restore the resources, and volunteers sent another letter this month escalating their concerns to the organization's board of directors, whose members did not respond to requests for comment. 'When trans, queer, Black, brown, Asian and undocumented survivors come to the hotline in crisis, we are not allowed to provide them with the same level of supportive care as other survivors,' the letter to the board said. 'RAINN may face uncertain risks in the future if we stand by marginalized survivors, but we are certain to lose our values now if we do not stand with them today,' the organization said. The letter asked the board to restore the resources and to develop a plan to keep RAINN running if it were to lose federal funding. The organization has a contract with the Defense Department worth millions of dollars to run the military hotline, and receives additional funding through federal grants. But RAINN also gets a significant portion of its revenue from private donations. Ms. Simmons Kaleba said in an interview that the executive orders had forced RAINN's hand, and that people who filled out comment cards after contacting the hotline had not noted a decline in service. She added that RAINN had decided which resources to remove based on 'guidance' from government officials, but declined to identify the officials or to describe what they had said, citing confidentiality agreements. 'In an environment where nonprofits are trying to do everything we can to stay open, to stay active, to support as many survivors as we can through some pretty unprecedented times, it's disappointing that that can't be our singular focus,' she said. In a meeting with volunteers shortly after the resources were cut — a partial audio recording of which one volunteer shared — Ms. Simmons Kaleba and Megan Cutter, RAINN's chief of victim services, said that the organization had no good options. 'We've put each of these choices up against this core question: If we do this, are we still serving RAINN's mission of ending sexual violence?' Ms. Simmons Kaleba said. She recognized that many people were 'going to think we had better options to choose from, and they're going to be mad, and I don't blame them,' she added. Ms. Cutter acknowledged in the meeting that 'we're not able to offer what we've always offered,' and said she understood why volunteers were upset. She added, 'We're trying to be as thoughtful as we can within the circumstances.' Some other organizations have responded more defiantly to the executive orders. The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention organization for L.G.B.T.Q. youth, is at risk of losing funding and is running an emergency fund-raising campaign to try to compensate without making concessions. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center initially removed references to transgender people from its website, but then restored the content and apologized for 'a fear-based decision.' Jennifer Grove, the organization's director, said it had not lost funding or heard from the Trump administration since then. RAINN also deleted references to transgender people from its website, a move reported by The Washington Post in February. It has not restored them. The volunteers who signed the letter to RAINN's board of directors cited the Trevor Project and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center as models. 'What we are asking you today is not even as expansive as these examples of public leadership,' they wrote. 'We are simply requesting the quiet but immediate restoration of internal services for all survivors.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Family plans to sue after 7-year-old non-verbal boy allegedly raped on Indiana school bus
Editor's note: This story discusses sexual assault. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network has a free and confidential sexual assault hotline at 800-656-4673. The family of a special needs 7-year-old boy is planning to sue an Indiana school corporation after allegations surfaced that their son was repeatedly sexually assaulted on a school bus by an older student. The Indianapolis-based law firm, Wagner Reese, filed a civil tort claim notice against Jennings County School Corporation on April 29, claiming that the district's 'grossly negligent' actions resulted in permanent injury to the boy and violated his civil rights. The teen accused in the case is a 15-year-old boy and officials said he is facing 12 charges, including rape. He remains detained in a juvenile facility. The family's attorneys, Laura Swafford and Jason Reese, alleged that abuse occurred on a district school bus when the non-verbal second-grade student was 'improperly' sat next to a 15-year-old student and left unmonitored by two school employees, according to a news release. Lawyers say the 7-year-old boy was "helplessly left unmonitored by two school employees who were on the bus and charged with caring for his safety." Upon reviewing camera footage from inside the bus, it was discovered that the 7-year-old student was sexually assaulted and raped on multiple occasions, according to the lawyer's statement. 'Bullying epidemic:' Lawsuits allege Perry Township schools failed to protect students 'This nightmare tragedy should never have happened,' Swafford said. 'Like all parents in the community, the boy's family believed the school would protect their young, vulnerable son.' The North Vernon Police Department is investigating the case along with the Jennings County Juvenile Probation Office, which confirmed that an incident did happen on April 16. The Jennings County School Corporation said they are reviewing safety protocols and working closely with authorities to address the situation. "We realize that our community would like detailed information about the event," the statement said. "But at this time, we must make sure that we do not hinder the police investigation." Superintendent Nicole Johnson said the school corporation is aware of the legal filing connected to the "very concerning incidents" that allegedly occurred on one of their special needs transportation buses, and is responding to the filing through the appropriate legal channels. They are cooperating with an active investigation. "I want to emphasize, though, that these reports involving students' safety have been heartbreaking and devastating to all of us," Johnson said. "While this incident must still be investigated and resolved through our criminal justice system, we are taking steps to try to better ensure the safety of our students. Johnson said the school corporation is adding adult supervisors to the special transportation bus in question to monitor student behavior. They are reducing the number of students on each special transportation bus and seating them individually whenever possible. Students will be grouped with similar-aged peers when individual seating isn't available. The school corporation is also requiring similar peer-aged seating on general education bus routes and will be using their recorded monitoring system to quickly identify and address inappropriate behavior. The school district in North Vernon, Indiana, is approximately an hour and a half south of Indianapolis. It serves about 3,800 students from kindergarten through the 12th grade in Jennings County. According to U.S. Census data, the county is home to about 27,000 people. Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@ follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @ Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Boy, 7, 'helpless' as he was raped on Indiana school bus, lawyers say
Indianapolis Star
30-04-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Family plans to sue after 7-year-old non-verbal boy allegedly raped on Indiana school bus
Editor's note: This story discusses sexual assault. The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network has a free and confidential sexual assault hotline at 800-656-4673. The family of a special needs 7-year-old boy is planning to sue an Indiana school corporation after allegations surfaced that their son was repeatedly sexually assaulted on a school bus by an older student. The Indianapolis-based law firm, Wagner Reese, filed a civil tort claim notice against Jennings County School Corporation on April 29, claiming that the district's 'grossly negligent' actions resulted in permanent injury to the boy and violated his civil rights. The teen accused in the case is a 15-year-old boy and officials said he is facing 12 charges, including rape. He remains detained in a juvenile facility. What the civil tort alleges The family's attorneys, Laura Swafford and Jason Reese, alleged that abuse occurred on a district school bus when the non-verbal second-grade student was 'improperly' sat next to a 15-year-old student and left unmonitored by two school employees, according to a news release. Lawyers say the 7-year-old boy was "helplessly left unmonitored by two school employees who were on the bus and charged with caring for his safety." Upon reviewing camera footage from inside the bus, it was discovered that the 7-year-old student was sexually assaulted and raped on multiple occasions, according to the lawyer's statement. 'Bullying epidemic:' Lawsuits allege Perry Township schools failed to protect students 'This nightmare tragedy should never have happened,' Swafford said. 'Like all parents in the community, the boy's family believed the school would protect their young, vulnerable son.' The North Vernon Police Department is investigating the case along with the Jennings County Juvenile Probation Office, which confirmed that an incident did happen on April 16. 'Heartbreaking and devastating.' School superintendant responds to allegations The Jennings County School Corporation said they are reviewing safety protocols and working closely with authorities to address the situation. "We realize that our community would like detailed information about the event," the statement said. "But at this time, we must make sure that we do not hinder the police investigation." Superintendent Nicole Johnson said the school corporation is aware of the legal filing connected to the "very concerning incidents" that allegedly occurred on one of their special needs transportation buses, and is responding to the filing through the appropriate legal channels. They are cooperating with an active investigation. "I want to emphasize, though, that these reports involving students' safety have been heartbreaking and devastating to all of us," Johnson said. "While this incident must still be investigated and resolved through our criminal justice system, we are taking steps to try to better ensure the safety of our students. How Jennings County School Corp is addressing allegations Johnson said the school corporation is adding adult supervisors to the special transportation bus in question to monitor student behavior. They are reducing the number of students on each special transportation bus and seating them individually whenever possible. Students will be grouped with similar-aged peers when individual seating isn't available. The school corporation is also requiring similar peer-aged seating on general education bus routes and will be using their recorded monitoring system to quickly identify and address inappropriate behavior. The school district in North Vernon, Indiana, is approximately an hour and a half south of Indianapolis. It serves about 3,800 students from kindergarten through the 12th grade in Jennings County. According to U.S. Census data, the county is home to about 27,000 people.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Long Island pediatrician accused of abuse by more than 100 must pay $1.6B
A former Long Island pediatrician has been ordered to pay $1.6 billion to more than 100 women who accused him of sexual abuse, marking one of the largest ever judgments of its kind. Stuart Copperman, who was accused of abuse dating all the way back to the 1960s, for decades operated a practice out of the basement of his home in Merrick. While he never faced any criminal charges for the abuse, he had his license to practice medicine suspended in 2000 over the allegations. Statute of limitations laws, however, prevented Copperman's accusers from filing lawsuits until the passage of the New York Child Victims Act, a 2019 law that extended the time sex abuse survivors have to file civil and criminal cases, creating a temporary window for previously time-barred lawsuits. The judgement comes after a 19-month review of cases involving allegations against Copperman, during which time Nassau Supreme Court Justice Leonard Steinman issued damages to every plaintiff who filed suit. Decisions in the last five cases were filed on Friday, Newsday reported. Stefan Turkheimer, vice president of public policy for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, said the $1.6 billion pot is 'one of the largest civil judgments in a class action sexual assault suit that we have seen in our country.' Copperman previously denied wrongdoing, claiming that he was only being 'thorough' during his exams. He did not respond to the litigation nor did he mount a defense, prompting a judge to issue a default judgment against him in 2023.
