Posters Attacking Emma Sulkowicz Emerge in New York City

As Columbia University students graduated this week, it was a time for celebration and praise. However, for one student, negativity and discouragement was thrust her way. Anonymous protestors posted flyers around the campus discrediting Emma Sulkowicz and her fight to raise awareness for sexual assault. Using large block letters to call Sulkowicz a “Pretty Little Liar,” these posters are as vicious as it gets.

After filing a sexual assault complaint to the university in April of 2013 and losing the case, Emma has fought to bring attention to the horrific experience she alleges to have had during her sophomore year. In a senior thesis project, she established the Carry That Weight project, where she carried around a 50-pound mattress wherever she went on campus until her alleged rapist was expelled (he wasn't). Even on her recent graduation day, she crossed the stage proudly grasping her mattress. Since graduation, her project has ended, but Sulkowicz’s message remains.

Her objective has been well received among many, yet it is clear that her stance has rubbed others the wrong way. Such a strong opinion on a typically hush-hush topic can be perceived as brave, yet can also disturb others. And in a way to voice the opinions of those who do not support Sulkowicz’s project, anonymous posters believed that plastering New York City was the perfect platform for their cause.

Not only did these posters attack Sulkowicz, but also discredited actress Lena Dunham. Her posters called her a “Big Fat Liar,” most likely in reference to her recent memoir, which details her experience being raped on her own college campus.

These attacks have been supported by a number of outsiders—namely, the anonymous Twitter account @FakeRape. The account uses the hashtag #RapeHoax to target women like Sulkowicz and Dunham, and even uses a photo of Sulkowicz as its avatar. With the account posting photos of the insulting posters, it encourages followers to help them discredit these vocal women and support the men who have been accused of sexual assault.

While it's important to recognize the damage that a fabricated rape accusation (or a false accusation of any nature) can inflict on both the accused as well as other victims of sexual assault, distributing the message via anonymous posters and Twitter messages isn't an effective way to incite honest discussion. As students across Columbia's campus worked to pull the posters down, protesters called for free speech.

Meanwhile, what's the ultimate message the posters send? Strong, determined woman with a drive to vocalize their assaults can, and will, be shot down. It's imperative to follow in Sulkowicz and Dunhams’ steps and refuse to let these attacks impact the movement to increase sexual assault awareness. Both women remain diligent and proud, and neither will step down from their advocacy platforms—no matter what any poster or Twitter account may say.