Launch of campaign protesting dinner event with rapist Mike Tyson
Sarah Cheverton
WVoN co-editor and
Aurora New Dawn Writer in Residence
A service working with victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence has launched a campaign calling for the cancellation of a VIP dinner event with convicted rapist Mike Tyson to be held at Portsmouth Guildhall, Hampshire.
Tyson was convicted for six years in 1992 after raping an 18 year old woman, but served only three years.
His attitudes and behaviour towards women have been called into question many times, before and since, including as described in a recent article by Mary Elizabeth Williams and during a highly offensive commentary (Trigger Warning) last year featuring Tyson’s opinions on Sarah Palin’s love life.
Initial advertising for the event – scheduled for October – on the Guildhall’s website drew attention to Tyson’s “controversial behaviour both inside and outside the ring.”
Following protests, this sentence was removed and a new webpage for the event published, but the original page still remains live.
The advertising appears to nod towards Tyson’s continued notoriety, resulting not only from his career as a heavyweight boxer but also from his outspoken views, attitudes and past actions towards women.
Tyson’s reputation as a misogynist was also raised in his trial – interestingly enough by his own defence counsel, who used what is known as the ‘trash defence’.
According to a report from People magazine following Tyson’s conviction in 1992, he was portrayed by his own defence team as “a crude-mannered punk who paws, fondles and gropes every woman he sees.”
In 2003, during an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren, Tyson described the woman he raped as “a lying, reptilian, monstrous, young lady. I just hate her guts. She put me in that state where, I don’t know, I really wish I did know. Now I really do want to rape her and her mama.”
Aurora New Dawn, a Hampshire-based advocacy and campaign organisation, has launched an online petition calling on the operators of Portsmouth Guildhall to cancel the event.
“By inviting a convicted rapist to speak at one of the leading venues in Portsmouth the Guildhall goes against the hard work that the city has undertaken to ensure that survivors of rape feel valued, safe and believed,” states the petition.
It goes on to point out that: “Fewer than 6% of rapists are convicted for their offence. Victims and survivors struggle to be believed and – even when there is a conviction, as in this case – are still confronted with an organisation choosing to champion a rapist.”
Responding to the online petition, manager of Portsmouth Guildhall, Andy Grays said:
“The Guildhall works with many promoters who hire the venue to put on a wide variety of concerts, some of whom feature controversial artists.
“Within reason our position must remain neutral otherwise we start to go down a path which requires a subjective view of the content of every artist that puts on a concert at the venue.
“I certainly recognise and understand your position and I have asked the promoter to tone down the description of Mike Tyson, and you should see this reflected on our website.”
The petition is being promoted this week by the Change.org campaign team and is circulating widely in women’s rights networks, including British author and broadcaster Bidisha, who has also written for us here at WVoN.
Rape Crisis has also condemned the event, warning it sends a message that “money speaks louder than humanity.”
Christina Diamandopoulos of Rape Crisis said “Any offender convicted of sexual violence cannot be counted a legend or hero in any sense without diminishing the importance and seriousness of rape and sexual assault.
“The message to survivors and to women being victimised, at present, is that ‘society does not think you are important and your suffering is not important. It may have the effect of silencing women or deterring them from coming forward.”
You can sign the online petition here.
I was dismayed when he was allowed into the UK following his conviction, to hear there is going to be a big dinner for him now doesn’t surprise me at all. I’m still saddened to hear it, just not surprised.