Pete Townshend Should Not Be Given Kennedy Center Award
Child AbuseWatch.net (CAN), a U.S. child sexual abuse prevention organization, has objected and demanded that Townshend's award be withdrawn in light of his 2003 - 2008 listing on the UK Violent and Sexual Offender Registry (ViSOR) for accessing, paying for and viewing child pornography.
In an article featured in the ButlerReport.com in August 2008 entitled "Pete Townshend of the WHO and his child porn connection," it was brought to America's attention that Townshend had recently been eligible for removal from the UK Sexual Offender database after a five year mandatory registration for being caught - and admitting to - accessing Internet child pornography. Full article here.
Townshend was registered as a sex offender in 2003, following a police investigation, for viewing online child pornography. Cleared of possession of child pornography he was ordered placed on the British Violent and Sexual Offender Register (Visor) for five years.
The Kennedy Center award is completely inappropriate given the circumstances surrounding Townshend's admission to accessing, paying for and viewing child pornography. At the time of his arrest, Townshend offered that he was doing "research," which according to the FBI law enforcement publication "Child Molesters: A behavioral analysis" (P.93) is a frequently used excuse used by individuals when caught.
CAN has sent a letter of protest to the Kennedy Center admonishing them over their insensitivity to child sexual abuse issues. In addition to having Townshend's award rescinded CAN has asked the Kennedy Center to issue an apology for their insensitivity to child sexual offense issues.
"There are few people in the world who would be given an award of any kind with a background like Townshend's. I believe this is a case of 'celebrity oversight' as regular people would find it impossible to secure employment being registered on VISOR let alone allowed a visa to enter the U.S.," Daly said recently.
CAN has an ongoing campaign contacting U.S. governmental departments, the White House and federal law enforcement to draw attention to Townshend's unfettered access to the U.S. According to the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), it specifies numerous grounds on which a consular officer can find an applicant ineligible for a visa and inadmissible to the United States.
Applicants who can be excluded on criminal and related grounds are the following: "Aliens convicted of, and those who admit having committed a crime involving moral turpitude (or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime)." [Emphasis added] Townshend admitted accessing, paying for and viewing child pornography; that constitutes a crime by INA definition and a reason for non-issuance of an entry Visa to the U.S.
Child AbuseWatch.net is a national child sexual abuse prevention organization (www.abusewatch.net) which provides prevention resources to the general public, law enforcement and health care professionals.
References:
ButlerReport ('Pete Townshend of the WHO and his child porn connection' - August 1, 2008; http://www.butlerreport.com/BREditorialChildPornandWHO.html
Guardian Newspaper ('Pete Townshend put on sex offenders register' - May 08, 2003); http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/may/08/arts.ukcrime
FBI Child Molesters: A behavioral analysis (see page 93)
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ResourceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=469
Child AbuseWatch.net
www.abusewatch.net
Published by ButlerReport
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19 Comments
Post a Commenthmmm. not sure how I missed this before....
Being on a registered sex offender list when you have POWER and MONEY to defend yourself is no easy task....me thinks had Mr Townshend not been 'leaked' that his name was on that list (operation avalanche), and had the police conducted a 'surprise raid' on his house- just like every other perv. investigated, (he had days to get rid of evidence and computers)- the real PT would now be known to the world.....kudos Child Abuse Watch....shame on the snivelling crew who ignore abused kids in favor of celebrity- I suppose you lot would stand behind Roman as well.
Fact- Police Protecting Children BBC Panorama- clearly showed he knew well before police came....plenty of time to wring his hands in self anguish and contrived innocence- while disposing of any ounce of material evidence that would have implicated him further.
Evin Daly, you are the "lady who (sic) protests, too much" Stop your protest against Pete Townshend.
I pray that your soul is clean. This cause for children's rights and safety is too important. Perhaps you think this continued "witch hunt" against Pete will bring you some publicity. However, I am afraid you have only damaged your reputation, and any good works you may have been capable of, will now go down the drain. Not good for you, not good for the children!!
It states in your artical "cleared of possession by the authorities". The media are a disgrace today. You are guilty automaticaly by these wanna-be flint-hack Woodward and Bernsteins who need to keep their jobs one more day by simply ignoring facts in favor of filth If Pete is a pedophile,The media is the journalistic equivalent
Two politicians had to resign because of 'No case" against Pete Townshend. Also Pete produced dozens of emails that were going back and forth between him and an organization that helps protect children. The organization refused to comment on the case in public becuase they do not discuss people in public. But yet they did testify that they had an ongoing relationship with Pete Townshend for a long time. Evin....do research before you print....it may help you in the future as a writer
If you had any idea who Pete Townshend is and what he has been through you would know there is no way he is guilty of even thinking of harming a child.
Food for thought, Evin. I do not know if Townsend was or is guilty of any type of sexual impropriety when it comes to children. I, like many, would like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but, when it comes to the lives of children, how much doubt should be allowed? Absolutely none. Keep up the good work. Hopefully, Townsend was telling the truth. But my biggest fear is that, once he dies, they'll find tons of crap that should have landed him in prison. Too many people blinded by money and celebrity, my friend...
I think CAN would be better served if they looked for issues that actually need addressing and stop stirring up old tabloid nonsense. Pete Townshend admitted his mistake and accepted the consequences with a grace and dignity few could have managed in his position. It is now over. Time to let it go.
If you look at the subsequent follow up investigations done by the Guardian you'll see that the charges were bogus and his plea was just that a plea bargain. BTW, the bigger criminal in the audience the other night was the POTUS. Why don't you write something about war crimes!
Fact: The Who were being honored, not Townshend individually - he was there with Roger representing The Who.
Fact: Evin Daly is a douche.
Wow, quite a hornet's nest I stirred up here. A case, methinks of ladies protesting too much ;)