Van Asdlen Hate Charge Dropped
By Rev. Ted Pike
21 Oct 08
The hate crimes charge against 19-year-old Illinoisan Brett Van
Asdlen has been dismissed! This spring, the scholarship athlete pushed
a homosexual, Steven Velazquez, causing him to hit his head without
serious injury. Although the two officers who questioned Brett and
his friend told him his was a legitimate case of self-defense, the
state indicted him for a hate crime -- a Class 4 felony carrying
up to three years' incarceration.
In its October 7 preliminary trial, however, the court accepted
Brett's plea of guilty to the lesser charge of assault. Although
delivered from a possible three years in prison, he is under two
years' court supervision and has had to pay $597 in fines and court
costs (not to mention his lawyer's probable $10,000 retainer). He
also must do 200 hours of community service and take classes under
the county's substance abuse treatment and partner abuse intervention
programs.
Brett's concession to the "assault charge" and other penalties
is onerous. Yet, he is young and strong and can go forward in his
baseball career and life.
What cannot be undone is the widespread bias against him generated
by Champaign, Illinois' WCIA-TV news and the homosexual press which
stated as fact that Brett is a hate criminal. The least Brett deserves
from them is a public apology.
Did protest calling generated by the National Prayer Network and
Peter LaBarbera's Americans for Truth influence the court's decision
to compromise -- perhaps to avoid bad publicity from a case that
is internationally known?
Very likely. Of one thing we are certain: All hate crimes bureaucrats
hate bad publicity. Whether it is public criticism in favor of Brett
or Dr. Frederic Toben, now caught in a hate crimes vice of even greater
consequences, public outrage can sway liberal courts. Certainly,
public outcry only works to freedom's advantage -- and never to its
harm.
Keep fighting! Protest Dr. Toben's probable deportation
to almost certain imprisonment in Germany. Come to www.truthtellers.org
for contacts with top British authorities.
Rev. Ted Pike is director of the National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog organization.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
