When you hear the name Jameis Winston, what do you think of?
Crab Legs?
Yelling Profanities in public?
Rape?
…….Dare I say number one draft pick in the 2014 NFL Draft or 2013 Heisman Trophy Winner?
The general consensus across the United States is that Jameis Winston is a bad person. Not only have I witnessed the intense criminalization of Winston at home, on talk shows, and in public, but also in classes at Mizzou and around campus by both students and teachers.
Not once in the NFL’s history has a #1 draft pick been more scrutinized for off the field actions than Jameis, who is largely publicized as a rapist, though he was never charged or found guilty of the offense.
If Jameis Winston can rape a girl and play out the rest of the season, Will Grier should be able to at least play LSU #Gators #FreeGrier
— Steven Trent (@sdtrent1) October 12, 2015
Hope Jameis Winston serves 10 years for Rape https://t.co/gaYqzwqweP
— 5-0 Patriots (@NBARondo9) May 12, 2015
In November of 2013, news broke that Jameis Winston was a suspect in a sexual assault reported in December 2012. The accuser, Florida State student Erica Kinsman found her accusations dropped by the prosecutors because of lack of substantial evidence, making Winston innocent.
Amendment V of the United States Constitution states that one is considered ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ However, many Americans, the same ones who generally abide by the US Constitution, claim that Winston is indeed a rapist.
This is simply unfair. First of all, Winston was never even charged of rape, only accused. I could accuse anyone of rape right now, that doesn’t make it official.
Often times with rape, violators are accused of ruining the victim’s life. But if Jameis truly didn’t rape Kinsman, which is entirely possible, she’s harming his life.
“Ms. Kinsman’s false statements have irreparably harmed in his professional and personal life,” said the court filing of Winston’s case. “She has mounted a false and vicious media campaign to vilify Mr. Winston with the objective of getting him to pay her to go away. Ms. Kinsman is motivated by the most insidious objectives — greed.”
Yet, despite all of these statements, many Americans assume that Jameis Winston sexual assaulted Erica Kinsman.
So why does America hate Winston?
Is it because of his criminal record, which includes two very small charges (stealing crab legs and yelling a popular public profanity)?
Patrick Kane under investigation for rape – the girls just trying to get money out of it Jameis Winston – he’s a horrible person and a thug
— Blake Theisen (@AHSHockey24) August 6, 2015
It shouldn’t be. If your neighbor stole crab legs from a local store, would that make him/her much more likely for rape? How about yelling a popular phrase, one in which many teenage boys have repeated? Does it make them favorable for rape? It really shouldn’t.
Could it be because of his large stature and his skin color?
That’s another possibility. Either way, it’s wrong to consider Jameis Winston a rapist, because right now, he isn’t, and the U.S. Constitution backs it up.
America needs to reconsider this situation. Unless you know Elisa Kinsman or have ties with the Tallahassee Police Department, you shouldn’t be allowed to determine if Jameis Winston is a rapist or not.
Charlie Clarke 