National women's rights group UltraViolet joined growing calls for a Montana judge to be removed from the bench today after he sentenced a 49-year-old teacher to only 30 days in jail after he raped a 14-year-old student. The group is one of the first national groups to join the campaign, and gathered more than 20,000 signatures in just the first hour of launching their petition. You can see UltraViolet's petition here:

Billings Judge G. Todd Baugh handed down the 30-day sentence with the explanation that the victim was "much older than her chronological age." UltraViolet co-founder Shaunna Thomas had this to say,

This nauseating decision is rape culture at its worst, and is a threat to women's safety everywhere in America. Judge G. Todd Baugh should be removed from the bench immediately. There has been a turning point, in light of Steubenville, Texas, and even the 2012 elections in which institutions and people who undermine women no longer can get away without notice. Women demand better, and we will continue to escalate to get better in this case.

The group is planning to escalate efforts to have the judge removed over the coming weeks, including turn-out efforts on the ground for local protests and a petition delivery next week with local Montana groups. See UltraViolet's petition.

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