Why Are Perpetrators’ Motives Given More Importance Than the Lives They Take?

By invoking his “sexual addiction,” Robert Aaron Long is getting the last word not just on his murderous rampage in Atlanta, but on framing the victims, their work and his crime as one of passion, not hate. Police, prosecutors and the public should not let him have the last word.

The headlines reshuffle different versions of the same words: “Asian women,” “massage parlors,” “sexual addiction” and ”killed.” Without reading any further, most people already have a picture in their minds of the crime scene, and what produced it. Before the facts of the case are clear, the verdict has already been unofficially decided: This is about sex—and specifically sex work—not race.