The following is an editorial in which all views, thoughts, or opinions belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Drury Mirror. 

This summer, the disappearance and murder of Mollie Tibbetts made headlines nationwide. Murdered by an illegal immigrant, many politicians were quick to make her the face of border control in the United States. In my opinion, Cristhian Rivera’s legality is irrelevant; he is, above all, a man who refused to respect Mollie’s right to say no.

The facts

On July 18, Tibbetts went on an evening jog in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. According to Rivera, he followed her in his car for some time before getting out and running alongside her. Tibbetts then threatened to call the police.

At this point, Rivera claims he became angry and “blacked out.” He came to at an intersection, realized Tibbetts’ body was in his trunk, and promptly dumped her in a nearby cornfield.

Mollie’s story isn’t unique. Thousands of college women go for a run, only to never be heard from again. Thousands of women are terrified to go out alone for fear of being abducted, harassed or raped. And for good reason.

According to FBI data from 1980 to 2015, over 80 percent of all murders, forcible rapes, violence against families and children, and intimate partner violence are committed by men.

But instead of responding to the alarming counts of violence on women in America, politicians used Mollie’s bright smile to advocate for border control.

An immigration issue?

At a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, President Trump referenced Tibbetts’ death.

“You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in, very sadly, from Mexico,” he said. “And you saw what happened to that incredible beautiful young woman, should have never happened,” President Trump continued. “We’ve had a huge impact, but the laws are so bad, the immigration laws are such a disgrace.”

Even the governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, had something to say.

“As Iowans, we are heartbroken, and we are angry. We are angry that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community, and we will do all we can bring justice to Mollie’s killer,” tweeted Reynolds.

The Trump administration has insisted many times that undocumented immigrants are dangerous, but the statistics prove otherwise. A study conducted by the American Immigration Council even suggested that immigrants were actually less likely to commit crime than native-born Americans.

Simply tired

In truth, I am tired of being afraid. I am tired of placing my keys between my knuckles “just in case.” I am tired of begging someone to walk me home. I am tired of constantly needing an escort to feel safe.

But I am not afraid of illegal immigrants. I am afraid of men, regardless of ethnicity or documentation.

Mollie Tibbetts’ cousin, Sandy Murphy Tibbetts said it best.

“He could have been a citizen, born in this country; he could have been an older, white man from anywhere; he could have been a man from Mollie’s world. He is a man, whose path in life crossed that of Mollie’s life, with tragic results. He is a man who felt entitled to impose himself on Mollie’s life, without consequence. He is a man who, because of his sense of male entitlement, refused to allow Mollie the right to reject his advances – the right to her own autonomy. Mollie was murdered because a man denied her right to say no,” said Tibbetts.

Perhaps not all men are dangerous.
But all women are afraid.

Article by Delilah Gadd