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Help the Cheerleader!



We’ve Moved!

The response to the fundraising campaign has been popular – and to help spread the word even more, we’ve moved fundraising to its own domain: http://www.helpthecheerleader.com.

Visit now to donate, join the Facebook group, sign the petition, or email the cheerleader to show your support. Check back regularly for updates, too!

Thanks for your interest!
Jessica & Theresa

  • Tom

    UNBELIEVABLE! That’s just insane.

  • http://dominic.stripysock.com/ Dominic

    By signing up to a cheerleading squad she surrenders her constitutional right to free speech? Buh-wha? I didn’t think it was possible to waive constitutional rights at all, even if you sign a document, as you may be under coercion.

    And how is that different to me joining a company and then speaking out against practices that I don’t believe in – sure, I might lose my job over it, but I don’t surrender my right to free speech by signing a job contract.

    This is outrageous bullshit. I hope there’s some way they can appeal this decision and get this nonsense overturned.

    • Anonymous

      Actually, that is basically the same thing. What if instead of silently protesting she had called out “rapist” instead of his name? Would you argue she has the right to make up her own cheers?

      She didn’t do what was required of her as a cheerleader, so she got fired.

  • http://twitter.com/UberDorkGirlie Natali

    This whole thing is so appalling to me. Starting with the fact they even let the boy back on the team. That right there is such a horrible message to begin with. Then to claim that joining a squad of any sort is the waiver of your Constitutional right to free speech? She was cheering for the team, even when he was on the court. She is a MUCH stronger person than me. I could not have continued to be on the squad. To go through that on a weekly basis must have been horrible for her. But she did it. That shows a strength in character to be commended, admired and upheld.

    • Anonymous

      We completely agree, Natali! Thanks for your support.

  • Anonimous

    Wait, that barely even makes sense! They confirmed that boy was the rapist, right? And… how come he was still allowed on that school to begin with?!
    Sincerely, I think she should, at the very least, have left the school as soon as it happened, if such school had the absurd behavior of doing nothing about that guy. AND then sue the school. And the guy.

  • Anonymous

    I should be surprised, but I’ve seen this sort of thing before. Two years ago, my church took the cause of a young woman who had been raped by her school’s baseball team. We raised money for her case, offered support, and advocated for her.

    It was so tragic and infuriating that this young lady had been assaulted, but no one cared except for a group of people who were strangers to her (us).

    My Pastor is definitely going to hear about
    this. We will do whatever we can to help.

    • Anonymous

      Thank you for spreading the word! Feel free to email the address above if your church wants to get involved in some other way!

  • Anonymous

    Punished enough? She shouldn’t have been punished at all– HE should have! He should have been kicked off the team, out of the school, and into prison. I think that every school administrator and lawyer and judge who contributed to this situation should be fired and fined $45,000, payable to H.S. I guess women’s safety is less important that high school sports. What a travesty.

  • http://notterriblyordinary.wordpress.com/ Beth

    This is un-freakin-believable. Oh, and PS: your petition link doesn’t work so well. PPSS: How did I not know about your website before? Clearly I’ve been living under a rock.

    • http://thelxl.com Theresa

      @openid-26884:disqus thanks for the note! I fixed the link. :)

  • Pingback: Cheerleader kicked off squad for refusing to cheer for her rapist! | AccidentalPatriot.com

  • http://profiles.google.com/level1paladin Robert Wainscott

    This is unbelievable. However, it’s hard for me to donate to pay the school that kicked her off the squad. Did she file charges against the alleged rapist when this initially happened?

    • Jessica

      Yes, she did. The ABC news and AOL news articles linked above are both from 2010, and have quite a bit of detail about the case.

  • http://twitter.com/BaronessHeather Heather Harris

    This really is so horrible. Thank you for setting up this way to help someone who has been horribly mistreated by everyone but her parents. I’m glad that at least she has their support, but appalled at the conduct of everyone else she’s had contact with.

  • Anonymous

    Ok, I’m all for donating here, but how do we a) know how much she’s raised so far because I’m sure you’re not the only ones raising, b) know how much you’ve raised, and c) (not to be a bitch) know that’s where the money’s going… Because the whole thing IS ridiculous, the girl got raped and should NEVER have to pay back the school, in fact they should be paying her for the rest of her life, but anyway… I’m just not a fan of giving money that isn’t easily tracked. Call me paranoid :)

    • Jessica

      I contacted their lawyer. He set up a trust account in her name and I created a paypal account for it. Mr. Larry Watts (her attorney) has access to the paypal account so he can track the funds as well. Theresa and I are tracking the donations and will take down the donation link when we have reached our goal.

      If others are raising money, they have not spoken to her lawyer as I was the first person to approach him about this sort of campaign.

      They are appealing the decision, but their hopes are not high. None of the funds will go into the account until the decision is completely finalized. If the school chooses not to take the money, allrefunds will be issued to the donators.

      You are totally right to be paranoid! That’s why we have the campaign up on the lxl site. You’ve got names and faces tied to the campaign, rather than just an anonymous paypal link.

      Thanks so much for taking the time to visit our page and voice your concerns!

    • Patty Jean

      Jessica has done her homework in contacting the girl’s lawyer, asking these same questions and how to get it all set up. The money is going to the girl and her family. I have a feeling this can’t be exactly like a IndieGogo campaign. But maybe we can find a way to show how much has been raised.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000157045483 Jessica Tinker

    Considering I know other women who have been in similar situations, as soon as I have my paycheck on Monday, I will be making a Donation. Jessica, I applaude you and Theresa for the work you are doing, and I hope that she wins the appeal.

  • Dagwan

    Never before has the tagline, “Save the Cheerleader, save the world” been more appropriate.

  • guest

    I also was raped during my high school years and this brought back so many memories. I really hope and pray she comes out of this with her head held high and KNOW it isnt her fault; Which is the hardest thing to actually accept. 

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