Pro-Lifer Violently Assaulted Outside Abortion Clinic, Police Take Time After Repeat 911 Calls

LifeSiteNews ^ | 8/23/07 | Elizabeth O'Brien

[wagglebee]

ROCKFORD, Illinois, August 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A peaceful pro-life witness was violently assaulted outside an abortion site on Tuesday. Police responded late to his 911 after he was beaten by an unknown visitor to the clinic.

Early on Tuesday morning August 21, three Rockford pro-lifers-Ken Plez, Pat Brady and Kevin Rilott-were praying quietly in front of the Northern Illinois Women's Center (abortuary) for an end to abortion. A large white truck pulled into the clinic parking lot, and without setting foot on the clinic property, Rilott approached and tried to talk to the people inside.

In a detailed account of the event Rilott described how the pro-choice man got out of his truck and approached him, saying, "You shouldn't be here, you're upsetting my wife." He then began to hit Rilott in the chest, ribs, and stomach. Rilott did not strike back at the man, but managed to call 911. As he was being beaten, he begged for immediate police assistance.
 
He told his pro-abortion attacker that the police were on the way, but the man said he didn't care. The assaulter also said that "after he bonded out" he would come back and get him. After breaking Rilott's sign, the man then went into the abortion clinic.

Meanwhile, ten minutes had passed and there was still no sign of the police. Rilott called again and said, "We just had an assault and the guy who did it is still here." Finally, after a conservative estimate of 20 minutes, a squad car arrived. It was driving within the speed limit without any sirens or lights flashing. By this time, Rilott said, the attacker had already entered the building, talked with the owner Wayne Webster and then driven away.

When the police arrived, the pro-life witnesses asked an officer to get footage of the event from the clinic surveillance cameras. The officer chuckled, "you know he'll say he doesn't have one."  The officer inquired inside the clinic, but Webster said he'd forgotten to start his video camera that morning. Webster claimed, however, that he saw Rilott attack the man with his sign. 

Rilott asked the officer if "I attacked the guy why did I call 911 three times asking for help" and "why did the guy go in to the safety of the clinic then decide to run away before the police got there?" The officer didn't say anything (To read the full account of the assault: http://www.prolifecorner.com/).

President of Stephenson County Right to Life Eric Nelson, who has worked with Rilott in the past, told LifeSiteNews.com that Rilott is a peaceful man of integrity and honesty. He said, "Kevin is probably one of the finest people I know. He is a very generous and forgiving man. He's a very peaceful person. I don't know too many people like Kevin-very saintly. He teaches religion at a Catholic school in Rockford, and he also heads up many pro-life activities in Rockford."

Referring to the assault on Tuesday, Nelson continued, "Where you or I might get really angry, Kevin was very cool and collected and just let the guy vent on him. That's why I'm even more angry. You get such a gentle person and this happens."

Rilott also reported that after the incident Wayne Webster, the abortion mill owner, went outside to walk his dogs. He and the assaulter (who returned) mocked the pro-lifers who were still there, saying that the police "won't do anything".

Rilott is not as worried about his assault as he is about the poor response of the Rockford Police. "Their response time was frightening," he told LifeSiteNews.com. He also said that he is definitely going to press charges against his attacker. In addition, "just for the safety of our people," he said, pro-lifers could be forced to take action against the police. He said, "It's really right now depending on their response. If they show that they care that will be enough."

He also said in his report, "The Rockford pro-life community is a peaceful, prayerful group of people who obey the law. If Mr. Webster sees that a pro-lifer is assaulted and nothing is done about it, it could be very dangerous for the good Christian people who legally and peacefully pray and work for the end of abortion."

Patricia Banbridge, Director of the Respect Life office for the diocese of Rockford, who contacted the Deputy Chief of Police and is still waiting to hear back, told LifeSiteNews.com, "If this had happened to a pro-abortion person down there, it would have been taken care of in no time and would have been all over the media. That's the truth."

LifeSiteNews.com contacted the Northern Illinois Women's Center, but they refused to comment. The Rockford Illinois Police Department did not respond with comments by press time.

To contact the Rockford Illinois Police and respectfully voice concerns about the case (Case number *124500*):

Chief of Police
Chet Epperson
Rockford Police Department
420 West State Street
Rockford, IL 61101-1288
Phone: (815) 987-5839 or (815) 987-5800
Fax: (815) 961-3208

To contact
Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey:
425 East State Street
Rockford, IL  61104
(815) 987-5590 phone
(815) 967-6952 fax
(815) 987-5590 TDD

To contact Rockford aldermen see:
http://www.ci.rockford.il.us/government/council/index.cfm?se...

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

At the very least a camera phone.

[Mr. Silverback]

Before I say the following, let me get two provisos out: I usually give the police the benefit of the doubt. (Not this time, as I'll mention in another post)

I am NOT saying this citizen should have been packing...taking a gun anywhere near an abortion clinic is a really bad idea.

Those things said, this story is a good illustration of how 911 is sometimes government funded Dial-A-Prayer. When I was in high school I called the town constable (with a staff of several officers) with a report of someone trying to break into my house and it took 40 minutes for them to show up. This sort of thing doesn't just happen at abortion clinics. It's not like the punk who committed this assault wouldn't dream of assaulting someone outside a grocery store or bar.

[Mr. Silverback]

Eric Nelson is a good friend and frequent protest partner of mine. He has vouched for Rilott’s character 100%, and I know Eric’s character is absolutely solid. You can be certain this report is accurate; in fact, the only way I could be more sure it’s true is if I was there to see it.

[bert]

I don’t doubt the report or your testimony. My point is there some activities like scuba diving, cave exploring and protesting that should always have a buddy.

[Mr. Silverback]

Please ping this one ASAP, there’s contact info for the police, mayor and alders in the article.

[Mr. Silverback]

Illinois Freepers, scramble for intercept!Work those phones, baby!

This message brought to you by FREEPNORAD. If anyone wants on or off this ping list, say so here or by freepmail.

[Mr. Silverback]

I was not posting in response to anybody’s comments about buddies or cameras. I was just saying things definitely went down as they are reported.

[wardaddy]

"You shouldn't be here, you're upsetting my wife." He then began to hit Rilott in the chest, ribs, and stomach.

anguish over doing the devil's work...see most folks know they are doing a vile wrong but they do it anyhow because it is so easy to access.

[Manic_Episode]

Christians don't need to be pansies.

I strongly reserve the right to defend myself and others.

I believe turning the other cheek is figurative.

They had plenty of time to get a plate #.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[EternalVigilance]

ping...

[Mr. Silverback]

Glad to, FRiend.

[metmom]

I understand that and agree with you. That’s why I phrased it the was I did.

I know a Christian who spent some time in the hospital and nearly died from their screw up, who is paying all the medicals bills for the incident that the hospital says she owes. She feels suing is wrong and is way in debt because of this.

My feeling is that if they screwed up like that, THEY should happily absorb the costs and be glad they weren’t getting the pants sued off them because she would have won.

[no dems]

I AGREEq!!

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Ken Plez, Pat Brady and Kevin Rilott-were praying quietly

Isn't this in the DNC handbook - beat and/or kill anyone who prays.

[hocndoc]

One of the best lessons I’ve learned from FReepers is to carry a camera at any FReep or protest. Sometimes merely pulling the camera out will calm the opposition, and it’s handy to have documentation if they persist. One guy became so caught up in being in the pictures (when we protested the Texas Senators leaving the State in 2003) that he quit calling us names and spent his time moving in front of the camera, instead.