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...

[darkangel82]

They should’ve been RICOd anyway, long ago.

[EternalVigilance]

Pro-aborts are by definition extremely violent, towards babes in the womb, of course, but also with their use of the English language. No surprise if that violence is extended to their political foes.

I think the following is worth reading for every pro-lifer:

Innocent blood: How lying marketers sold Roe v. Wade to America

[MountainFlower]

I dont have a camera....cant afford one, at the moment. Reading this makes me wonder about the guy who yells at me every day.

[MountainFlower]

he was blessed to have others there....some of us don’t.

[MountainFlower]

do i dare check the site, or will I not sleep well tonight?

[mware]

You ALWAYS have to be in groups of at least two, and have a video camera running.

[PAR35]

My daughter got a plastic, made in China 35mm for a dollar at the dollar store. Disposables are under $5 on sale. And bottom of the line digitals can be had in the $20-25 range.

[Pinkbell]

I think it’s ok to read. It goes into the media hypocrisy regarding reporting crimes of pro-aborts and examples of crimes. I didn’t get the whole thing read.

[AVNevis]

As far as the response time, it is probably nothing malicious on the part of the police. They most likely are overburdened, like most other officers in America. And if they don’t have any video or other proof of the assault, they can’t do anything about it.

This is a great example of why it is a necessity to bring a camera (preferably video) to any protest. It’s sad that one can’t exercise their first amendment right without taking precautions, but it is the sad truth.

[MountainFlower]

sorry, M, but no one else will do what I am doing when I am doing it. I am being obedient to what God has laid on my heart...to be out there M-F mornings by a certain time for at least an hour...and on days they are aborting, I stay until I feel released by Him. So, it is God and me and the people who drive by. I am there on Saturday with BOUND4LIFE. Now school is in session so there are all kinds of teens going to the High School across the street.

The camera...you are right, a cheap throw away, but who will take it if I am the one being assaulted?....what I would prefer is a digital that will get me a good zoom for the late term women that are walking in...so I have proof. I have been praying over that one!!

I know there are people who drive by and care because a few times rather than standing or walking and praying I was sitting down....I had a police officer come and check on me each of those times to see if I was ok because someone concerned had called it in. I can't walk in fear...God has me there for many reasons. There is an impact being made. People stop me in town and tell me, or stop by PP and tell me. The workers at PP and their activity shows me I am impacting their side too. The security guard has tried to intimidate me and found it didn't work.

I can't wait and hope there will be another person who will come along and do what I am doing with me...If I did that 8 months would have been lost.

[mware]

Mountain, I ask your pardon. My post sounded in retro spec as demeaning what you have done.

I did not intend it that way.

You are doing a noble thing.

My comments are basically what Fr Pavone recommend for people who are at abortion sites basically for their own safety both legally and physically.

[oakcon]

I feel extremely ill all of a sudden, and I think I need a shower...

[mbraynard]

And getting the plates.

[no dems]

know a lot of Christians feel very strongly about not suing but there’s a time for action to be taken and this is one.

Let's not get confused over this. The Bible says that one should NOT take their BROTHER to law (sue in court). But, in this case, I'd have to say, The Devil ain't no relative of mine.

[Sir Gawain]

Gotta have hidden cameras to counter the lies of demons.

[Iris7]

At the very least one must have video equipment at the scene and training on how to use it. This Rilott fellow was not beaten meaningfully, but he could have been, and video footage of the assault would require the courts to act.

Labor Unions can no longer function because of camcorders. The basic union tactics that require casual violence worked so well for so long now cannot be denied by the courts because of video evidence.

Pro lifers must collect video evidence.

[BlackElk]

This is our local Rockford abortion mill. Videotapes made by the killers in charge have been used against one pro-life priest in court. Their cameras roll constantly.

Mayor Larry Morrissey is a Catholic attorney from a somewhat liberal Democrat family of attorneys. He was elected as an Independent with Republican help to defeat his ultraleft predecessor Doug Scott. Morrissey is not perfect but he attends and buys tickets to quite Catholic functions and ought to be pressed to intervene in this case.

The police chief is relatively new and is an enthusiastic gun grabber. Does he want to add anti-Catholic and anti-Christian to his resume? Probably not. He does not want to be making excuses for practitioners of assault and battery or for police indifference to same. Bombard him too.

I watch a lot of local telecasts on the local Rockford TV stations but saw nothing on this. They need to hear also that wall of silence on anti-life violence is not what they need to be doing. These stations are not as liberal as the networks by any means.

[snuffy smiff]

I notice none of our more “liberal” Freepers are commenting. Wonder why?

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[bert]

Moral.... don’t protest alone. Have a pardner/wittness