The internet is fuming with rage, and it is for all the right reasons.
Thousands of women took to Twitter to post pictures of their underwear using the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent. Unfortunately, this isn’t a part of some bizarre challenge or trend on the internet.
According to Irish Examiner, on November 6, the criminal court in the city of Cork proclaimed the defendant, a 27-year-old man ‘not guilty’ of raping a 17-year-old. This trial was headed by eight men and four women who finally came to this unanimous decision.
In the closing statement, defense barrister Elizabeth O’Connell commented on the 17-year old’s choice of underwear to question her consent, or lack thereof. “You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front,” she said in court while holding up the underwear.
WATCH: TD @RuthCoppingerTD held up a thong in the Dáil earlier protesting the use of the same tactics in a courtroom during a rape case in Cork pic.twitter.com/bfGAegWpkO
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) November 13, 2018
Women have reacted to the barrister’s remarks by protesting on the streets of Ireland and by posting pictures of their underwear on social media. They caption the posts with the tag #ThisIsNotConsent to prove, that owning lace underwear does not mean that it is any kind of indicator of sexual consent.
Deeply proud of Cork today, who came out with fury & demands for change to the rallying call of “Whatever you wear, wherever you go, Yes means yes and no means no!” #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/sjKAAC5NVl
— Fiona Ryan (@CllrFionaRyan) November 14, 2018
Crowd is chanting that ‘clothes are not #consent‘: the sense of solidarity, belief and conviction for change is palpable. #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/HFNs1C3c2V
— It Stops Now (@ItStopsNow_EU) November 14, 2018
Hundreds march through #Cork city to the courthouse where a 17-year old’s underwear was used by the defence barrister when addressing the jury in a rape trial #thisisnotconsent pic.twitter.com/4yqGcW6XPG
— Fiona Corcoran (@fiona96fmnews) November 14, 2018
I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dáil. In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it’s within the rules, hence need to display in Dáil. Join protests tomorrow. In Dublin it’s at Spire, 1pm.#dubw #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/DvtaJL61qR
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) November 13, 2018
What type of underwear a woman wears can be used as evidence in a rape trial, really??? #ThisIsNotConsent @ciarakellydoc @NewstalkFM #Thongs pic.twitter.com/D49XBiJs8t
— Niall O’Loughlin (@nialloloughlin) November 13, 2018
We choose which style of underwear is most comfortable for us to wear. It doesn’t matter which style, size or colour they are #ThisIsNotConsent. Silence #ThisIsNotConsent. Consent is only 1 thing & that is the word YES. #NoMeansNo #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/8Eo7JviMJG
— Aliceee. (@inwonderland93) November 15, 2018
Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN
— I Believe Her – Ireland (@ibelieveher_ire) November 10, 2018
Most of my underwear has lace on it. This doesn’t mean I want to be raped. No matter what I wear, no means no!! #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/dUBaA702oS
— Clàudia 🎗️ (@catalanaalcor) November 14, 2018
Lacy but full or thong but not lacy,
need someone to tell me which is less rapey… #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/jiA61qF7gB— maireos (@maireos) November 13, 2018
Just beacuse my panties are cute doesn’t mean i’m saying yes #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/rakf2HXQNv
— Em (@lilthumper408) November 13, 2018
Thongs DO NOT cause rape.
Short skirts DO NOT cause rape.
RAPISTS cause rape! #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/4PbAR2hIDh— Cllr Sharon Tolan (@sharontolan) November 13, 2018
I wear lingerie because it makes me feel good not as an invitation for sex, believe it not, not everything is centred around the enjoyment of men. #ThisIsNotConsent This is rape culture.
— Laura Kilvington 🌻 (@picturepositive) November 14, 2018
