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...

[PAR35]

The best option is to have someone not clearly connected with the group some distance away with a video camera. If accosted by the enemy, he can always say that he’s ‘keeping an eye on the group’ and they’ll probably leave him alone. Next best would be the same setup with a still camera.

[MountainFlower]

M, I wasn't offended. I am just not in a position where anyone else feels God calling them to do what I do, is all. Wish there were so I wasn't alone...but, I really am not alone out there! HE is always there, with me.

The advice is wise. I am looking into a way I can have a camera or something with me!

on a PRAISE - note....a baby was SAVED today!!! PTL!!

[MountainFlower]

#46! yeah...back-up!

[firebrand]

I can't believe this pro-lifer didn't take advantage of this opportunity to sock one of these guys silly. A made-to-order make-my-day situation!

I agree, though: Camera needed. Must be video to show sequence of events.

[Coleus]

.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Amen! Thank you for being faithful.

[Lexinom]

on a PRAISE - note....a baby was SAVED today!!! PTL!!

The Lord bless you and your co-laborers a thousand-fold. God be praised!!!

[MountainFlower]

Thank you. We are only being obedient. I only wish there were more!
One day, while praying in the mist, a lady and little girl came up to me. She said God had woke her in the wee hours of the morning and told her to get a glass bowl for me. She gave me a beautiful lead crystal bowl from France. As I tearfully accepted it, she said, "He told me to tell you that He hears all your prayers. They are precious to Him and are in a bowl right beside Him!" She added, "I know it was God because He woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me."

I have that bowl 1/2 filled with dried red rose petals, in my bedroom, to remind me! Today, it was like tag-team work at PP. I called another gal and she came in after me...she called me less than an hour later to tell me about the baby that is SAVED! As I tearfully, joyfully hung up the phone, I walked into my bedroom to rejoice and there, on the floor, in doorway was one rose petal!! ::tearful smile::
He hears! He IS answering! It is NOT futility!

[MHGinTN]

Thanx so much for sharing that with us! Thanks be to god for the little one saved.

[MountainFlower]

AMEN! Thanks be to God!!

[Palladin]

This sounds like a mob hit. The clinic owner must be in with organized crime. A RICO investigation of this clinic would be nice.

(Wishful thinking.)

God bless Mr. Rillot. He’s a brave and peaceful man.

Something stinks real bad in Rockford, Illinois.

[Sun]

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

I wonder if he also beats his wife.

[juliej]

People have to use the cameras in their cell phones.

[juliej]

Interesting how the MSM ignores the violence perpetrated by the pro aborts on pro lifers - plus of course, the ultimate violence is inside the clinic.

[spintreebob]

re: “I’ve seen this behavior before “

Right you are. This is not unique to abortion clinics. Police are slow to respond, or don’t respond at all, to many, many situations. Almost always there is a pattern as to which calls they respond to and which they don’t. How abortion fits into that response pattern is probably so small statistically as to be insignificant.

One aspect of the larger problem is that there are just too many laws on the books for the police to enforce all of them. They have no choice but to pick and choose.

The solution is to repeal/sunset many of the laws they are expected to enforce.

[Neidermeyer]

One aspect of the larger problem is that there are just too many laws on the books for the police to enforce all of them. They have no choice but to pick and choose.
*****************************
I agree 110% ,, we have something like 18,000 gun laws alone,,, hundreds of thousands of regulations that have the force of law, I was in NYC last month and my relatives neighbor was fighting a huge fine from the “garbage police” ,,, someone had placed a metal hubcap in their regular garbage instead of the recycle bin!!! ,,, I own rental property outside the US and an seriously thinking of moving my family there ... I have boys and if they did 1% of what I did growing up I’d be bailing them out every week, I want them to experience true freedom and have them work their butts off in school (unlike here where you can get a 4.0 with no homework or critical thinking in high school)...

BUT.. back to this particular situation I think this is simply a case where they don’t want to respond , it’s too much like being called out to that one house in the neighborhood where theres a fight every week and nothing improves... I think the best way to shut down the clinics is to deprive them of their “doctors” ,, a legal fund to sue the pants off of them with every abortion related ER admission would do wonders...

[Outland]

Some pro-murder moroons are trashing this piece and Freepers as well.
http://www.topix.net/forum/state/il/TPCG4G697OG0QJFB0

[wagglebee]

Typical.

[perseid 67]

The pro lifers need to take photos of these thugs.

Then the photos should be posted them on the web.

Skin walkers do not want to be exposed.

Most of the time the people who violently support the annihilation of the meek and the week try to blend in with civilization. They live in neighborhoods with Christians and they pretend to be Christian. They do not want scrutiny. People would think twice before letting them adopt/foster children ,and teach children if they knew their attitude towards unborn children.

[perseid 67]

week=weak