She was bought at fourteen by a man who assaulted her for five years and fathered two of her children.
When she finally fought back and he died, Missouri put her on trial — and the court ruled she had no right to defend herself. Celia. 1855.
Missouri law at the time said a woman could use deadly force to defend her honour.
Celia's lawyers argued that law covered her. The judge ruled it did not — because the statute said "any woman," and Celia was not legally a woman. She was property.
That was the finding. Not that she was lying. Not that it had not happened. That the protection did not extend to her, because she was a thing.
She was convicted and sentenced to hang. The state waited until she had given birth — the baby was stillborn — and then executed her in December 1855.
She was nineteen years old.
Her story is the kind of buried history that we must never forget https://t.co/V6OJtazidd
C’est la première fois de ma vie que je vois un fleuve de sang sous mes yeux… Et pourtant, on continue à scroll comme si ce génocide était devenu légitime
Her name is #CelesteRivasHernandez.
Too often, we remember the name of the perpetrator while the victim’s name slowly disappears from the conversation.
#Celeste is more than a case. More than a headline. More than evidence in a courtroom. She was a 14-year-old girl with a life, a family who loved her, and a future that was taken away.
As this case continues, don’t let the spotlight stay only on #d4vd. Remember the person whose life was lost. Remember the family carrying unimaginable grief. Remember that there is a victim whose name deserves to be spoken just as loudly. She was hidden by David in all pictures, because of the illegal sexual relationship, don’t hide her anymore.
Say her name.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez. #JusticeForCelesteRivasHernandez
@Y1lqazz@212mediaTV Do y like even hear yrself what does rape have to corrleate with her rightfully exposing him- i deadass hope you never have kids in the future if you have this type if victimg blaming mentality. You niggas on twitter weird as fuck
@Y1lqazz@212mediaTV The fuck is wrong with you?? Celeste was reacting to his abuse she wasnt fast she was a FUCKING victim. We dont even know if that pedo was eceb with aisha, hes a peeo so he probably wasnt even interested in aisha. She was a child; and youre weird for blaming her for her death