A Democratic congressional candidate’s harrowing account of an attack on the campaign trail drew horrified reactions online from journalists and politicians.
Bernadette Greene-Placentia, who is challenging Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, told the Phoenix New Times in a story published Wednesday that she was struck over the head and raped while repairing campaign signs in August.
Greene-Placentia, a longtime long-haul trucker, said she was attacked shortly after 2 a.m. as she crossed a parking lot to fix a damaged sign, something she had done regularly all summer. She said she blacked out and woke up to find a man on top of her. A second man then approached, she said, and walked away after she kicked at him. She told the New Times she remembers only fragments of the attack and its aftermath.
She reported the assault to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office more than two weeks later, according to the New Times. A sheriff’s office spokesperson declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
“I felt a gut punch reading this article,” wrote former Iowa congresswoman Abby Finkenauer in a post on X. “This is horrific and Bernadette is a warrior for speaking out. I hope someone who knows something comes forward and these monsters are caught. Bernadette deserves justice & every candidate deserves safety.”
“Beyond horrific,” reacted author and activist Charlotte Clymer. “No words.”
“There are no words,” echoed journalist Olivia Messer.
“This is horrifying,” said The Bulwark immigration reporter Adrian Carrasquillo.
“How indescribably horrific,” blasted British member of parliament Adam Jogee. “I hope which ever sick b— did this lose their liberty and freedom for the rest of their lives. The authorities should lock them up and throw the key away.”
“This horrific violence is shocking, appalling, and completely unacceptable,” decried Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. “My heart breaks for Bernadette and I stand with her.”
“This is horrifying and every woman’s worst nightmare,” Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) weighed in. “Women should be safe whether they’re at school, at work, or in their neighborhood. We have a lot of work to do as a country to end rape culture, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.”
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