A woman advocating for the abolition of prisons and police claims she was gang-raped by six men in 2021 but chose not to report it because she felt it would be “stupid” to imprison anyone for such an act.
Anna Krautmarmer, a doctoral candidate at Columbia University, faced significant backlash after her essay “Why I Didn’t Report My Rape” appeared in a recent edition of the newspaper nation, daily mail. This was reported on Monday.
Krautmarmer alleged that she was raped for several hours in a hotel room in Las Vegas while with friends.
“I didn’t report it. My reasoning for not doing so is linked to my beliefs on police and prison abolition,” Krautmarmer stated.
She elaborated:
The idea of contributing to someone else’s imprisonment feels so foreign to me that I can only grasp it in childlike terms. It’s absurd that a group of people could be imprisoned at my expense, which ultimately doesn’t heal the harm that’s already happened.
Krautmarmer added, “I don’t wish to ruin the lives of my rapists; I don’t know if they have families. My only desire is for them to never repeat their actions. Sending them to prison won’t alter that truth.”
Many on social media quickly voiced their discontent with her comments, suggesting that she was sidestepping the shame and stigma often faced by victims who report rape.
Others pointed out that without consequences, rapists feel emboldened and may seek out additional victims. “These individuals remain free to inflict harm and escalate their aggression,” one user expressed. “Had she reported the crime promptly, they could have been removed from the streets long enough to protect someone else. At the very least, they would have faced some consequences.”
In October, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department disclosed data indicating a rise in sexual crimes, which are expected to continue increasing until 2025.
Statistics indicated that over 1,400 sexual offense reports had been made so far in 2025, compared to approximately 1,200 during the same timeframe last year. The majority involved rape and forcible fondling, with more than 600 instances each. Police leaders suggested the increase reflects a rise in survivors coming forward, and advocates believe the number of assaults could escalate further as many survivors opt not to contact law enforcement.
As per her profile on X, Krautmarmer is focused on researching “sexual violence and modern novels” as part of her doctoral studies.
