Nebraska Judge's Word Ban Sparks Protests

National Protests to Be Held July 17th

On Tuesday, July 17^th, a national demonstration, dubbed, "CALL IT RAPE", is expected to be held in major cities across the U.S. in front of numerous community courthouses. Protestors will be carrying placards that say RAPE, SEXUAL ASSUALT KIT, VICTIM, and other words that Judge Jeffre Cheuvrant of Lancaster County, Nebraska District Court has banned from use in the courtroom in a sexual assault case.

And the protestors' mouths will be gagged with scarves and bandanas.

The alleged victim in the sexual assault case, Tory Bowen, has already endured one trial with the word ban in place. That trial ended in a hung jury. Judge Cheuvrant had gagged her again for the second trial, prohibiting her or the attorneys from using the words rape, sexual assault, sexual assault kit, along with other similar words and phrases.

But the words sex and sexual intercourse are just fine with the Judge.

He declared a mistrial on July 12^th during jury selection for the second trial due to protests on July 9^th and 11^th in front of the Lancaster courthouse. The group PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment organized the protests. It is this group that is promoting the nation wide protests on July 17^th.

The judge also cited Ms. Bowen as a reason for his declaring this mistrial, that she and her friends created a media frenzy with the intention of tainting the jury pool.(1)

Angela Rose, Executive Director of PAVE, states in the press release for the protest, "The irony of Judge Cheuvrant's order for the mistrial is that yet again he is trying to ban free speech. It was his unconstitutional ruling that led the people to the streets in protest in the first place. This is causing national outrage and we must be the voice for all who have been silenced by violence."