Columbia Anti-Rape Activist Faces Sex Crime Charges

Joel Davis, a 22-year-old student at Columbia University, led a global campaign against rape and sexual abuse of children, but his shocking hypocrisy has recently been unearthed.

Even for an Ivy League student, Davis had built up an admirable reputation as an activist to end sexual violence, earning him the platform to speak alongside United Nations and State Department officials. He was on the steering committee for the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict, and the founding executive director of the international organization Youth to End Sexual Violence. He was even a listed speaker at a TED Talk on sexual violence at Columbia, and an alleged nominee of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Join me for #TEDxColumbiaUniversity on April 22nd in NYC, where I’ll be talking about sexual violence in conflict.There’s going to be so many amazing speakers — I can’t wait! @Columbia @ColumbiaGS pic.twitter.com/KEKIa2Lf7Q

— Joel A. Davis (@JoelAndrewD) April 6, 2018

All of his honorable work aside, Davis was arrested by authorities Tuesday, June 26th, on charges of attempting to sexually exploit a child, enticing a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing child pornography. The arrest comes after a complaint was filed earlier that day outlining a series of horrific allegations, including an admission by Davis to engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old boy in his New York apartment. The complaint also included text messages sent by David to undercover F.B.I. agents in which he requests sexual images of children as young as 2-years-old.

Honored to lead this human rights dream team. Fearless, relentless, determined. I couldn’t be more excited for what 2018 is going to bring! Not pictured: sister Nobel Peace Laureates Mairead Maguire, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkol Karman, and Wangari Maathai.

A post shared by Joel Davis (@supercoolkid212) on Sep 1, 2017 at 11:30pm PDT

Davis is currently detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan without bond, and his hearing is scheduled for July 10. A Columbia spokesperson has officially stated, “We share the view expressed by the U.S. attorney’s office that the allegations in this matter are unfathomable and deeply disturbing,” but declined to comment on whether the University is pursuing an investigation or disciplinary measures.