Birnin Zana
Honorary Wakandan
Exclusive: Nate Parker’s Former Classmates, Penn State Alumni Speak Out in Support
In a statement of support shared exclusively with The Root, four people who were at Penn State University around the time of the rape allegations express sympathy for the accuser while remaining adamant in their belief that Parker is innocent.
By: The Root Staff Posted: August 25, 2016
Nate Parker Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
Four Penn State University alumni have come out in support of embattled actor Nate Parker and writer Jean McGianni Celestin, releasing a statement exclusively to The Root late Wednesday night.
In the letter, Penn State alums LaKeisha Wolf, Assata Richards, Lurie Daniel Favors and Brian Favors all state their belief in the innocence of Parker and Celestin regarding the 17-year-old rape charges, and outline 10 points they say are missing from the dialogue around the allegations.
“We are both dismayed and disappointed at the gross and blatant misinformation campaign regarding the events that took place during that time period,” the statement reads. “We feel compelled to speak truth to this situation as the media has cherry-picked the most salacious elements while ignoring the actual record.”
The foursome, who state they were students, staff and alumni during the trial, later add: “We believed some 17 years ago that Jean Celestin and Nate Parker were innocent of rape and we believe that now.”
Parker has been embroiled in controversy of late since stories by Deadline and Variety began circulating about the sexual assault accusations, coinciding with buzz around his film The Birth of a Nation—a story about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion.
In the statement, the four say they were there for the trial and that many details are being overlooked. They point out the accuser’s race as a factor, as well as the heated racial climate on the campus at the time of the trial. The four also say that allegations of harassment made by the woman who accused Parker and Celestin of rape (and later committed suicide in 2012) are untrue despite the fact that the university eventually settled with the woman for $17,500 over the claims.
“Neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were named in the civil lawsuit, neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were ever interviewed or contacted about that civil suit—nor were they able to defend themselves in that suit and were not aware of its existence until it was settled,” the statement reads.
The four also point out that during the trial it was revealed that the accuser had a history of depression unrelated to the assault charges and that one witness for the prosecution actually changed his testimony, although in the statement, they don’t go into detail over which exact testimony this pertains to.
The four write that they were “deeply disappointed” in Parker and Celestin’s choices back then but that they stand behind the longtime friends and collaborators, saying they are innocent of rape. The four also say “they hope to encourage our community to embrace as vibrant of a discussion about misogyny, misogynoir and toxic masculinity, as we do about racism and white supremacy.”
The four are joined by the Rev. Al Sharpton and actor-activist Harry Belafonte as those who have come out in support of Parker and Celestin in recent days.
In a statement of support shared exclusively with The Root, four people who were at Penn State University around the time of the rape allegations express sympathy for the accuser while remaining adamant in their belief that Parker is innocent.
By: The Root Staff Posted: August 25, 2016
Nate Parker Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
Four Penn State University alumni have come out in support of embattled actor Nate Parker and writer Jean McGianni Celestin, releasing a statement exclusively to The Root late Wednesday night.
In the letter, Penn State alums LaKeisha Wolf, Assata Richards, Lurie Daniel Favors and Brian Favors all state their belief in the innocence of Parker and Celestin regarding the 17-year-old rape charges, and outline 10 points they say are missing from the dialogue around the allegations.
“We are both dismayed and disappointed at the gross and blatant misinformation campaign regarding the events that took place during that time period,” the statement reads. “We feel compelled to speak truth to this situation as the media has cherry-picked the most salacious elements while ignoring the actual record.”
The foursome, who state they were students, staff and alumni during the trial, later add: “We believed some 17 years ago that Jean Celestin and Nate Parker were innocent of rape and we believe that now.”
Parker has been embroiled in controversy of late since stories by Deadline and Variety began circulating about the sexual assault accusations, coinciding with buzz around his film The Birth of a Nation—a story about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion.
In the statement, the four say they were there for the trial and that many details are being overlooked. They point out the accuser’s race as a factor, as well as the heated racial climate on the campus at the time of the trial. The four also say that allegations of harassment made by the woman who accused Parker and Celestin of rape (and later committed suicide in 2012) are untrue despite the fact that the university eventually settled with the woman for $17,500 over the claims.
“Neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were named in the civil lawsuit, neither Mr. Parker nor Mr. Celestin were ever interviewed or contacted about that civil suit—nor were they able to defend themselves in that suit and were not aware of its existence until it was settled,” the statement reads.
The four also point out that during the trial it was revealed that the accuser had a history of depression unrelated to the assault charges and that one witness for the prosecution actually changed his testimony, although in the statement, they don’t go into detail over which exact testimony this pertains to.
The four write that they were “deeply disappointed” in Parker and Celestin’s choices back then but that they stand behind the longtime friends and collaborators, saying they are innocent of rape. The four also say “they hope to encourage our community to embrace as vibrant of a discussion about misogyny, misogynoir and toxic masculinity, as we do about racism and white supremacy.”
The four are joined by the Rev. Al Sharpton and actor-activist Harry Belafonte as those who have come out in support of Parker and Celestin in recent days.