Nate Parker - August 16 at 6:58pm ·

These are my words. Written from my heart and not filtered through a third party gaze.
Please read these separate from any platform I may have, but from me as a fellow human being.
I write to you all devastated…Over the last several days, a part of my past - my arrest, trial and acquittal
on charges of sexual assault - has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation
and industry conversation. I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions.
These issues of a women’s right to be safe and of men and women engaging in healthy relationships are
extremely important to talk about, however difficult. And more personally, as a father, a husband,
a brother and man of deep faith, I understand how much confusion and pain this incident has had on so many,
most importantly the young woman who was involved. I myself just learned that the young woman ended
her own life several years ago and I am filled with profound sorrow…I can’t tell you how hard it is to hear this news.
I can’t help but think of all the implications this has for her family. I cannot- nor do I want to ignore the pain she endured
during and following our trial. While I maintain my innocence that the encounter was unambiguously consensual,
there are things more important than the law. There is morality; no one who calls himself a man of faith should even be in that situation.
As a 36-year-old father of daughters and person of faith, I look back on that time as a teenager and can say without hesitation
that I should have used more wisdom. I look back on that time, my indignant attitude and my heartfelt mission to prove my innocence
with eyes that are more wise with time. I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name.
Empathy for the young woman and empathy for the seriousness of the situation I put myself and others in. I cannot change what has happened.
I cannot bring this young woman who was someone else’s daughter, someone’s sister and someone’s mother back to life…
I have changed so much since nineteen. I’ve grown and matured in so many ways and still have more learning and growth to do.
I have tried to conduct myself in a way that honors my entire community – and will continue to do this to the best of my ability. All of this said,
I also know there are wounds that neither time nor words can heal. I have never run from this period in my life and I never ever will.
Please don’t take this as an attempt to solve this with a statement. I urge you only to take accept this letter as my response to the moment.

Nate