Pro-life Warriors Jailed for Speaking
to Abortionist
1/3/08
OMAHA, NE - Pro-life
activists Sharon (Shari) McKee and Melissa Abbink were jailed on
December 28th (Feast of the Holy Innocents) for speaking to Lincoln
abortionist Winston Crabb on two occasions in front of his home 10
years ago.
In February, 1998 both were charged with violating the "focused
picketing" ordinance even though neither had signs and both incidents
lasted only a minute each, just long enough to plead for the lives of
pre-born children as he walked from his car to his house.
They received 60 days for the first case from
Judge Mary Doyle. The second case was in front of Judge Galed Pokorney
who gave 90 days to Melissa and 180 days to Shari to be served
consecutively for a total of 5 months for Melissa and 8 months for
Shari. After losing the federal challenge, and exhausting the appeals
of the criminal cases, they were upheld by the Nebraska Supreme Court
on September 10, 1999. However, for reasons unknown, the mandate
didn’t come down until September 28, 2005 over 6 years later!
The last two years have been spent seeking a commutation. We brought
it before the Board of Pardons who were very sympathetic but refused
saying they don’t take misdemeanors. They recommended we go to the
Mayor of Lincoln who also seemed sympathetic, but refused claiming he
doesn’t have the authority to grant commutations. According to our
attorneys that is clearly not the case as even the members of the
Pardon Board agree that he does indeed have that authority.
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Shari McKee
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We are asking pro-lifers to write to Mayor Beutler and ask him to
commute the sentences of these two women. Be sure to point out that the
Pardon Board says he has the authority to do so. Be polite and remember,
it is a commutation that we’re after, not a pardon.
Like the parable of the widow, we are seeking justice for these two
brave, God-fearing women. Only Mayor Beutler has that ability. He can do
so by merely picking up the phone. Also, keep both Shari and Melissa in
your prayers. Shari is currently in lockdown for refusing to work.
To contact the mayor:
Mayor Chris Beutler
555 South 10th, 2nd Floor, Rm 208
Lincoln, NE 68508
Fax: 402-441-7120
mayor@lincoln.ne.gov
To Contact Shari or Melissa:
Sharon McKee
1125 E. 17th St.
Columbus NE. 68601
Melissa Abbink
4420 NW 41st
Lincoln, NE. 68524
December 19, 2007
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