Marine Corps Nude Photo Scandal Victims Speak Out: 'We Will Not Be Silenced'

LOS ANGELES, CA — Two U.S. Marines spoke out Wednesday about having their photos posted on a secret military Facebook page that encouraged its members to post nude photos and personal information about hundreds of female soldiers.

Even as the commander of the U.S. Marine Corps promised to investigate after the scandal broke this week, the two women called on the nation to stop blaming victims and excusing men for a culture that degrades and condones sexual violence toward women.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek and Erika Butner, who served in the Marines until 2016, joined attorney Gloria Allred in a press conference at Allred's office to call for accountability.

"Victim-blaming and the excuse some people are giving that boys will be boys needs to stop," Butner, 23, told a roomful of reporters and flashing cameras.

Butner said she found out her picture was posted on the site garnering commenters to call for nude photos of her last summer. She was stunned to see fellow soldiers posting nude photos of women without their permission along with details about how to contact the women.

“I knew some of these women did not give permission to post their photos and some were unaware that their photos were posted. Multiple victims recently began speaking out about those unauthorized posts, but they received threats and backlash in an attempt to quiet them,” she said. “We will not be silenced. As a rape survivor, I can tell you that this exact behavior leads to the normalization of sexual harassment and even sexual violence.”

The "Marines United" Facebook page is currently under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The page was viewed by Marines both active and retired, with many users posting crude or even threatening comments.

The photos have since been taken down.

Allred said victims of the photo scandal could number in the hundreds and that the private page "led to the denigration and victimization of women who serve our country."

Allred wouldn't say if any legal action was planned at this time. She called on Gen. Robert Neller, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, to work with her and the women victimized to enact a series of measures to ensure accountability and tackle the problem of sexual harassment in the military.

“Women who are United States Marines have earned and deserve our respect and trust,” said Allred.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photos: YouTube screengrab