Rehtaeh Parsons was limp, bent over a window and vomiting on the ground when a boy raped her from behind while giving a thumbs up to the camera. She later killed herself. The boy who took the photo will walk free.

The fact that this picture exists is unsettling. The fact that it was shared and used to terrorize Parsons to the point where she took her own life is repulsive. The fact it was originally “insufficient evidence” for the police to press charges and that ultimately no jail time will given to the boy who purposefully perpetuated one of the cruelest aspects of rape should be a wake-up call to us all. 

Her name was Rehtaeh Parsons, let’s make sure she didn’t die in vain.