Former USC football player Joshua Fred James Jackson Jr. has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of rape. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Jackson Jr. is accused of raping two women from the University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles.
The District Attorney, George Gascón, condemned sexual assault as a heinous crime and emphasized the importance of seeking justice for survivors. He commended the courage of the two women who reported their assaults and promised to hold Jackson Jr. accountable for his actions.
Jackson Jr. faces one count of forcible sexual penetration and three counts of forcible rape. He was arrested on Wednesday and is currently being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.
The first alleged assault occurred in March 2023 when Jackson Jr. reportedly raped a female classmate at her USC apartment. The second assault allegedly took place between June 1 and September 1, 2020, when Jackson Jr. is accused of raping a UCLA student at his apartment.
The news of Jackson Jr.’s arrest and charges has shocked and saddened many, particularly those in the USC and UCLA communities. Sexual assault is a pervasive issue on college campuses and beyond, with research showing that one in five women and one in 14 men are sexually assaulted during their college years.
Efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault have been ongoing, including increased education and awareness campaigns, bystander intervention programs, and policies and procedures aimed at supporting survivors. However, much work remains to be done to create safe and respectful environments for all.
It is crucial that survivors of sexual assault feel empowered and supported to come forward and report their experiences. Survivors should be met with a compassionate and non-judgmental response, and perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
Jackson Jr.’s case is a reminder of the importance of taking sexual assault seriously and the need for continued efforts to prevent and address it. It is up to all of us to work towards creating a world free from sexual violence.
