Victims to blast Swiss authorities re Polanski at news conference

Abuse victims angry at Polanski ruling

They harshly criticize Swiss authorities

Group pleads with citizens to boycott all his films

"Let's stop buying from his buddies too," victims say

Self help organization blasts Martin Scorsese & Woody Allen

Prosecutors are praised for their 'persistence' and 'equal treatment'

WHAT:
Holding signs & photos of themselves at the age they were abused, victims of child sex abuse will:
-- praise California prosecutors for pursuing admitted child rapists Roman Polanski, and
-- blast Swiss governmental officials for refusing to extradite him.

They will also
-- urge anyone with information about other crimes by Polanski to call prosecutors immediately, and
-- prod all victims of sex abuse to call police, especially individuals who were assaulted by prominent predators

WHEN:
TODAY, Monday, July 12, 2:30 pm

WHO:
Two to three sexual abuse victims, their families and their supporters who are members of a self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder and long-time president

WHERE
Outside of the Consulate General of Switzerland, 737 N. Michigan Ave. (Entrance on Chicago Avenue), Suite 2301, Chicago, IL (312 915 4500, 312 915 0061)

WHY:
Earlier today, Swiss officials announced that film director Roman Polanski, who pled guilty to raping a child in the 1970s and has been under house arrest since September, will NOT be extradited back to the US.

Roughly 30 years ago, Polanski fled the US before his sentencing, and has been a fugitive ever since.

Just two months ago, another Polanski victim came forward. She is British actress Charlotte Lewis. SNAP believes there are likely others who were also assaulted by Polanski, so the group feels it's possible that he could face more prosecution. SNAP wants anyone else who saw, suspected or suffered Polanski’s misdeeds to contact law enforcement immediately. The group feels that kids are safest when proven child predators are imprisoned.

Since his arrest last September, some entertainment figures have expressed sympathy for Polanski. These public statements of support, SNAP says, make teens who are being victimized right now by other predators feel intimidated and hopeless, thus staying silent and enabling their predators to keep hurting them and others. Rallying around child rapists also rubs salt into the wounds of other rape victims, both adults and kids, SNAP believes.

While sympathetic to Polanski's painful child hood and his wife's murder, SNAP feels that's irrelevant, as is his victim's personal decision to forgive him. What matters most, SNAP feels, is that a child predator is kept away from kids and that criminals learn they can't simply hire smart lawyers, make themselves popular, flee the country, and get off scot-free.

SNAP will renew its plea to consumers to boycott the films of Polanski and his supporters.

CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747