film / tv / substack / social media / lists / web / celeb / pajiba love / misc / about / cbr
film / tv / substack / web / celeb

jonsson and arndt.jpg

They're the Heroes Women (Unfortunately) Need and (Definitely) Deserve

By Jodi Smith | Think Pieces | June 7, 2016 |

By Jodi Smith | Think Pieces | June 7, 2016 |


We’ve been bombarded by the man-child who committed the rape on Stanford’s campus this past March. I refuse to repeat his name here, as his continued lack of acceptance as to the impact his actions have on his victim, coupled with his father’s inability to see past his son’s existence, makes me want to vomit. Therefore I will only refer to him as The Rapist. Because that’s what he is: The Rapist.

In the ongoing coverage of the ridiculous 6 month sentence handed to The Rapist, because of his wittle baby feelings, we’ve all had a substantial portion of our faith in humanity restored thanks to the Swedish men who stopped as they bicycled past the assault. Those men are Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt and they are heroes.

I’ll put their names here again: Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt.

These men did what, sadly, most of us would not do: they stopped and asked questions when they saw something that didn’t look right. They were riding their bikes on campus and saw The Rapist thrusting on what appeared to be an unconscious figure. Jonsson and Arndt called out to the two people to make sure what was happening was consensual. When they moved closer, they could see that the victim was unconscious, and then The Rapist fled from the scene.

Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt chased and caught The Rapist, with Jonsson sitting on him until the police arrived. If not for Jonsson and Arndt, this assault may have never been reported or prosecuted. The victim was unconscious and unable to remember the events of the night, much less the identity of The Rapist who shoved dirt and pine needles into her vagina as he thrust his unwanted digits into her.

As much as The Rapist embodies the privileged, consequence-free class of people who do what they want and enjoy little or no punishment, Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt have come to represent those who understand we are all in this together. That we are not above the law because of athletic ability or the fortune to be born white and male in America. Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt understand consent, boundaries, and the worth of other people.

Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt are the heroes that all men, and women, should strive to be in the fight for the dismantling of our rape culture. They give me hope that if, god forbid, I was ever in a situation like this, someone would intervene. Someone would care. Someone would help.

So thank you, Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt. Thank you for helping someone unable to help herself. Thank you for being good people.