Abuse survivor hails Coger as champion

As a survivor of sexual abuse, I write to endorse attorney Stephen Coger in his run for prosecutor of Washington and Madison counties.

Several weeks ago, I saw a social media post from Coger about the mishandling of an abuse case in Madison County. As documented in this publication, Huntsville junior high students stated they’d been sexually assaulted by other students. School and School Board officials received this information but did not fulfill their duties as mandated reporters. Coger’s opponent in the race, incumbent Matt Durrett, decided not to file charges against any of the officials.

Like all abuse and assault survivors, I know what it feels like to experience powerlessness. If a sexual violation is not addressed properly and immediately, it can camp out in the nervous system, emitting a fog of shame and self-doubt, destroying self-esteem, generating panic attacks and depression. It can produce acute states of fight/flight/freeze for decades. Trauma without justice can destroy a person.

In the aftermath of my abuse, I attempted to end my life once, and I wrestled with suicidality that ran my brain ragged deep into adulthood. Therapy helped, but for relief from symptoms I relied on (effective) cannabis and (ineffective) pharmaceuticals until I was able to get true healing through Ketamine infusions. Thank goodness there are practitioners out there dedicated to helping survivors make it through the storm.

And thank goodness there are people like Stephen Coger, fighting for young people when they are brutalized. Coger has been a tireless advocate for violated and abused youth for years. His commitment is profound.

In my family’s experience, delivering victim impact statements to a judge who clearly wanted us to have our say and supported by a driven district attorney, I felt something fundamental shift within me. It was as if the community was saying that what had happened was unacceptable and we deserved justice. That’s the kind of tectonic correction only the law can effect.

We need a prosecutor who is not frightened to battle those in power when their actions harm innocent people.

Coger’s post criticized the incumbent for ignoring the experiences of those boys and blatantly misreading the law. When elected, Coger said, he will fight for young victims like those in Huntsville and not let authorities off the hook like his opponent seemed comfortable doing.

Stephen Coger is allied with the vulnerable. He understands that victims need warriors, and he’s not afraid to be a champion for justice. He has my vote, and if you have felt powerless when you should have been protected, I hope he’ll have your vote, too.

GABRIELLE IDLET

West Fork