Earlier this week, Rolling Stone printed an article detailing 13 girls who’ve accused Anti-Flag singer Justin Sane of predatory habits, sexual assault and statutory rape. Back in July, when the primary allegation surfaced, the group introduced their cut up and the members instantly deleted all of their social media accounts. Now, with the brand new report surfacing, the opposite members of Anti-Flag have issued their very own assertion addressing the allegations and calling out Sane for his alleged actions within the course of.
Immediately after the primary report surfaced, Sane issued a public denial. At the time (July 26), Sane posted on his Instagram web page, “Recently, there have been claims of sexual assault made against me and I can tell you that these stories are categorically false. I have never engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual, nor have I ever been approached by a woman after a sexual encounter and been told I had in any way acted without her consent or violated her in any way.”
He continued, “Sexual assault is real and has a devastating impact on victims. I have devoted my entire adult life to standing up for these victims as well as those suffering oppression and inequality, who are victimized, demeaned, and abused. I have always been, and will always be, that person. The statements being told about me are the antithesis of what I believe and how I have conducted myself throughout my life.”
The singer added, “In regard to Anti-flag disbanding, as a band, the decision was made that under these circumstances it would be impossible to continue.”
At the identical time, the opposite members issued a press release commenting, “We have been shocked, confused, saddened and absolutely heartbroken from the moment we heard these allegations. While we believe this is extremely serious, in the last 30 years we have never seen Justin be violent or aggressive toward women. This experience has shaken us to our core.”
READ MORE: 12 More Women Accuse Anti-Flag’s Justin Sane of Sexual Assault
What Anti-Flag’s Other Members Are Saying in Light of New Allegations Against Justin Sane?
In Rolling Stone’s detailed expose from Tuesday (Sept. 5), the extra accusers’ allegations purported predatory habits, sexual assault and statutory rape by the hands of Justin Sane — together with accusations of sexual relations with a 12-year-old when the singer was a young person — that stretch again to the Nineties.
While Sane didn’t remark on the story publicly, the opposite members of the band now have. In a press release issued to Rolling Stone, band members Pat Thetic, Chris #2 Barker and Chris Head state that they imagine the singer to be “very sick and in need of professional help,” whereas including, “We want to have compassion and have faith in restorative justice, but fuck you for hurting so many people, not just the ones who have bravely come forward, but anyone still carrying their pain internally.” Their full assertion will be learn under:
In gentle of the current article in Rolling Stone journal, to Kristina, Jenn, Molly, Rebecca, Suzanne, Mat, Susie, Stefanie, Karina, Ella, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Tali, we wish to say thanks on your braveness in sharing the ache you could have skilled. And, to others who could but come ahead, whilst you don’t owe anybody your story, please know that you’re not alone and that we imagine you.
To Justin, we imagine you might be very sick and in want of great skilled assist. We need to have compassion and think about restorative justice, however fuck you for hurting so many individuals, not simply those who’ve bravely come ahead, however anybody nonetheless carrying their ache internally. Fuck you for exploiting the work of the band and the many individuals related to it for therefore lengthy. As many predators do, it seems you used our beliefs as a canopy for egregious actions that you just clearly knew we might by no means condone.
To everybody, we collectively and individually nonetheless have way more questions than solutions on this second. We have been studying of and processing all of this info in real-time. We trusted Justin tremendously and are actually studying that we had been deceived, lied to, and stored at the hours of darkness for the whole thing of our affiliation. For Chris Barker, personally, Justin knew his historical past with trauma: his father has been convicted of sexual abuse of kids and is at present incarcerated, his sister was a sufferer of abuse, and Chris himself was sexually abused by an older youngster of their neighborhood. We share this to show that Justin was aware of the visceral response we must such harmful habits. But additionally as a result of sharing a stage for therefore lengthy with somebody you later be taught is an accused predator has been extremely painful to course of and are available to phrases with. Two issues will be true: an individual will be variety and selfless in a single area and a monster in one other.
Around 10:30PM on July 18th, we had been alerted {that a} podcast can be launched the subsequent morning detailing a sexual assault involving Justin. We forwarded a message to him that previewed the episode and contained a photograph and identify. Justin responded that he didn’t know this individual. The subsequent morning, when the three of us heard Kristina’s story, it turned obvious to us that he was mendacity. To be true to the values we embraced for many years, we give up the band instantly and with out hesitation. The three of us eliminated the band’s web presence in an try and restrict areas for individuals to assault, antagonize, or hurt Kristina as we tried to get a grasp on this surprising info.
As extra particulars have been shared because the launch of the podcast, we’ve got been ready for Justin to do the proper factor. Given his lack of contrition in any significant manner, it is extremely clear that he’s completely not the individual we had been led to imagine him to be.
We are not sure the place our path will lead us. Right now, phrases really feel hole and no assertion can alleviate the struggling that has been brought on. We have a terrific deal to find out about ourselves – with a lot soul-searching and introspection forward. There must be lots of remedy and devotion of time and sources to locations which can be geared up to assist with these sorts of traumas. The three of us are nonetheless in shock and grieving, however principally our hearts are damaged for each sufferer. We are deeply saddened by each one among your painful tales, and can perpetually be pleased about your braveness in sharing them.Love, therapeutic, and justice to all survivors.
Pat, Chris, and Chris
Anti-Flag launched 13 studio albums of the course of their profession. Sane, together with Pat Thetic, had been founding members of the band that began again in 1988. Barker was the band’s latest member have began with the group in 1999.
If you or somebody you already know has skilled sexual assault, assist is out there. Please go to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) on-line or name 1-800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).
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