'F— Brock Turner' song raises ruckus
(Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford law school professor Michele Dauber, the leader of of the Recall Persky campaign, speaks at a rally after delivering a notice of intent to recall Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office in San Jose, California, on Monday, June 26, 2017. (Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group)
By Tracey Kaplan | Bay Area News Group
John Lennon composed "Revolution." Neil Young penned "Ohio." And Public Enemy gave us "Fight the Power."
Now, a New Jersey garage band has added its own politically inspired pop piece — "F— Brock Turner," an incongruously catchy ditty given its incendiary title and cruel lyrics: "You're the definition of scum; Get stepped on like old gum; I hope your face gets kicked in."
Yes, it's about the former Stanford University swimmer who spent only three months in jail after being convicted last year of sexually assaulting an unconscious, intoxicated woman. The outrage has spurred a well-financed recall campaign against the Santa Clara County Superior Court judge in the case, Judge Aaron Persky. If supporters gather enough signatures — as expected — and a legal effort to block the recall fails, the judge will face voters in June.
The song surfaced this week after recall leader and Stanford law professor, Michele Dauber urged her Twitter followers to "enjoy" it. That led a leading Persky supporter to raise strong objections, noting the song brands Turner a "monster," and expresses hope he will throw himself off a cliff.
"It's truly deplorable," said retired Santa Clara County judge LaDoris Cordell. "I think that the fact that a Stanford law professor who teaches undergraduates and who blatantly and vigorously endorses violence against a young man who is exercising his constitutional right to appeal his conviction is highly disturbing and totally inappropriate."
A spokeswoman for Stanford said the law school declined to comment.
The tweet, which Dauber has since deleted said, "#BrockTurner appealed his conviction and said it was "all lies" and that he didn't do anything wrong. He isn't remorseful or accountable and learned nothing, which is exactly why the light sentence was wrong. Please enjoy this song. http://bit.ly/2iF5d3w"
In a written statement, Dauber explained why she took down the tweet, which occurred after IA asked her about the concerns.
"Obviously, I do not endorse violence against Brock Turner or anyone else," Dauber said. "I understood the song referenced in the tweet to be clearly satirical and not literal. I have deleted the tweet to avoid any distraction from our focus on holding Judge Persky accountable for his pattern of bias in favor of college athletes who assault women."
Dauber said she had nothing to do with writing, producing or funding the song. It's one of several that have popped up on the web since Turner was sentenced in June 2016, she said.
According to the web, it was written by two brothers Brandon and Christian Cordes, of Howell, New Jersey. The young men, who have a garage band, the Melted Crayons, did not respond to an email from IA.
Judge Aaron Persky
Tracey Kaplan | Reporter
Tracey Kaplan is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group based at The Mercury News. A former courts reporter, she is now reporting primarily on consumer issues, and welcomes any tips/suggestions, especially on how to make ends meet in the Bay Area. Watch for a series this summer on her personal solution to the housing crisis -- spending her nest egg on turning a cargo van into what will eventually be her full-time home. For more info, see @itsavanlife on Instagram and our Facebook group, Full House: Inside the Bay Area housing shortage.
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