She said, he said

SHE SAID that the most hurtful part of the sexual assault was the sound of the laughter of the two young men assaulting her.

HE SAID he didn't do it, but was not willing to talk with investigators. He claimed that she was a part of a conspiracy to keep him from being appointed to the Supreme Court.

THEY SAID they believed him without proof.

HE WROTE that he was sorry for his angry outburst, spouting about a conspiracy, and lack of judicial temperament while testifying before the committee.

THEY PLOWED AHEAD with preparations for a vote, while survivors of sexual assault protested and prayed.

THE PRESIDENT took to the stage and mocked her testimony and the crowd laughed with him.

THEY CONTINUED to attack her testimony with the age-old attacks that keep Survivors of sexual harassment and assault from coming forward in the first place, and then they voted to promote him to the Supreme Court.

THERE WAS LAUGHTER in the White House when the votes to confirm were counted.

THERE WAS ANGUISH in the hearts of Survivors and those who stood with them.

SHE was not laughing, nor were the millions who believed her story.

WE still are not laughing. We soon will be voting.

--Carolyn Cress, Pullman