Rape activist Amber Amour, 27, has caused controversy
over an alleged rape that occurred in Cape Town, South Africa, in November of
2015. Amour is originally from New York City and was speaking on behalf of her
“Stop Rape. Educate” campaign when she alleged that she was sexually assaulted
by a man named Shakir. Moments after the alleged rape, Amor began live blogging
her rape experience on Instagram and Facebook. This included a picture of her
during evidence collection for a rape kit.
She posted the following to Facebook on Nov. 21, 2015:
“I’ve been sick for the past 2 days and today was my
first day out. I went back to my old hostel to leave a note for a friend, Nick.
There was another guy there, Shakir, who was desperately trying to get with me.
I kissed him once but he seemed drunk so I told him it was bad timing, I had
already met someone. Before heading out, I went upstairs to say hi to one more
friend, Clyde from the states. Shakir followed me upstairs and said he was
going to take a shower. He invited me to join. I said yes because the water at
my current hostel is pretty cold and after 2 days of being sick, I just really
wanted a hot shower. As soon as I got in the bathroom, he forced me to my
knees. I said “stop!” but he just got more violent. He lifted me up and put his
penis in my vagina. I asked him to stop, again, as I began to cry. When he
shoved it in my ass, that’s when I passed out. I woke up a few minutes later
and saw him trying to creep out the door. When he saw that I was awake, he came
back to finish me off in the shower. I have all those fucked up feelings that
we get after rape…shame, disgust, suffering. I’m here, alone, and any DNA has
been wiped away in the shower. The South African police will just roll their
eyes when I walk in. Feeling sicker than ever now… All the more reason to
#StopRapeEducate but today I just need rest. (Amber The Activist/Facebook)”
Since the alleged rape she has received positive and
negative responses from critics of her decision to take a shower with a man she
had just met. But Amour stated that being naked does not give someone consent
to rape and that people are engaging in victim blaming. To reinforce this idea,
she has decided to start spending more time naked with strangers in public and
created a new campaign called “Creating Consent Culture.” Since the attack,
Amour has given numerous interviews defending her decision to take a shower
with her alleged assailant. She has stated that showering naked with someone is
not an invitation to sex or rape.
Photo Credit:Instagram @ambertheactivist
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