Abuse of any sort is profoundly traumatic. Cases involving churches and other faith communities are especially bad, as they involve both the abuse, and the underlying betrayal of trust. Even worse, victims are often attacked, discredited, disbelieved, and if they go to court, come up against high-powered corporate attorneys with almost unlimited funding. Courts and law enforcement don’t want to deal with these issues, and the media is indifferent. 

As a result, the only hope of survivors is to go public with their stories. Doing so allows victims to be heard, to try their case in the court of public opinion, and to process their pain and suffering.

Far too often, Google sides with the abuser. It does this by delisted victims’ blogs, social media accounts, and other content. And it does so without even the courtesy of talking with the victim, often based on vague suggestions that the victim is actually the culprit. I’ve also been very clear that my blog is NOT an official church publication, and it says that on each and every page of my blog.

In short, Google becomes an abuser. It violates the basic human right of free speech and pulls a DARVO — short for “deny, attack, and reverse victim and offender”

Google is doing this to me. It has delisted my blog and social media. And I am betting there are many others in the same boat. Yes, my blog is still online at http://www.gracealexwatch.org, but it doesn’t do much good if no one can find it.

I’ve written to Pichai Sundararajan and other Google executives and am waiting to hear back. But I shouldn’t have to fight to maintain my basic human right to tell others about my pain and hurt, and to hold Grace Episcopal Alexandria and others involved accountable.

Please tell Google to live up to its motto of “don’t be evil,” and stop siding with abusers.

Thank you.