Public anger continues to mount around the case of Brock Turner, the ex-Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault but given what some call a light sentence of six months in jail.
The public fallout has created a series of petitions demanding more direct action against Judge Aaron Persky.
The group Ultraviolet has generated more than 700,000 signatures in a petition aimed at the California Commission on Judicial Performance, demanding Persky be removed.
The demands for action are coming from different directions, all stemming from the pain of an anonymous victim.
On Wednesday, the Santa Clara District Attorney's office is no longer commenting, but as NBC Bay Area reported Tuesday, one of the last things prosecutor Alaleh Kianerci did was share a text message from the victim herself:
“I don't need labels or categories to prove I'm worthy of respect to prove I should be listened to. I came out simply as a woman wanting to be heard. Yes, there's plenty more I'd like to tell you about me ... For now ... I'm every woman.
"I remain anonymous ... yes to protect my identity … But it is also a statement that 'all these people are fighting for someone they don't know.'"
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And her words are pushing things forward.
The six-month jail sentence Persky handed to Turner is generating numerous efforts to remove him from the bench.
Multiple petitions opposing Brock's sentencing are circulating online, including a Change.org petition that has also received more than 700,000 signatures. A White House petition to “impeach Persky for bias shown in Brock Turner sentencing” has received 41,810 of the 58,190 signatures required on Thursday.
Critics cite the description by students of Turner's actions when they saw him on an unconcious woman in January 2015.
A Stanford law professor who started an online recall petition has launched a new petition to meet guidelines for an official recall effort.
"I just simply think that he applied the law incorrectly and came to the wrong decision and that his decision is dangerous and that it makes women at colleges less safe."
Legal analyst Steven Clark advises public caution.
"What you don't want to have happen is a judge more concerned about public opinion," Clark said.
Persky declined requests for an interview.
The attorney for Turner has filed an intention to appeal.[[290569551, C]]
Text msg from #brockturnervictim to DA:"I remain anonymous..a statement all these people are fighting for someone they don't know." — RobertHanda (@RHandaNBC) June 9, 2016
#UltraViolet petitions near 800K signatures demanding CA commission remove judge #AaronPersky. 6pmNews pic.twitter.com/TjjK6VD1kX — RobertHanda (@RHandaNBC) June 9, 2016
