Anti-Flag members share statement to frontman Justin Sane: “Fuck you for hurting so many people”

nme.com:

Anti-Flag bandmates have shared a statement after more women came forward accusing Sane of sexual assault this week.Allegations against Sane had first surfaced in July when a woman claimed on a podcast than she had been raped by a punk singer, who initially wasn’t named.

Anti-Flag subsequently disbanded, but Sane later released a statement in which he called the allegations “categorically false”.His former bandmates released a separate statement regarding the split and allegations that read: “A core tenet of the band Anti-Flag is to listen to and believe all survivors of sexual violence and abuse.

The recent allegations about Justin are in direct contradiction to that tenet. Therefore, we felt the only immediate option was to disband.”Now, after twelve more women came forward in a new report by Rolling Stone this week to allege abuse by Sane, the other band members – Pat Thetic, Chris Barker (aka ‘Chris 2’) and Chris Head – have shared a statement by email, partly directed at their former bandmate.“In light of the recent article in Rolling Stone magazine, to Kristina, Jenn, Molly, Rebecca, Suzanne, Mat, Susie, Stefanie, Karina, Ella, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Tali, we would like to say thank you for your courage in sharing the pain you have experienced,” they wrote. “And, to others who may yet come forward, while you don’t owe anyone your story, please know that you are not alone and that we believe you.”Addressing Sane, they added: “To Justin, we believe you are very sick and in need of serious professional help.

We want to have compassion and have faith in restorative justice, but fuck you for hurting so many people, not just the ones who have bravely come forward, but anyone still carrying their pain internally.“Fuck you.