Neighborhood protest against Registered Citizen in Cali creates more problems than they solve

Recently, the LA Times ran an article entitled, "California’s laws test whether sexual predators can ever be rehabilitated," which covers the story of the release of the man who has been given a scary name by the media, the 'Pillowcase Rapist." Now, I remember after my appearance on the Dr. Drew show in April 2014 on this subject, even some within the cause questioned why I would "defend" such a man. I don't defend this man's past; my argument was since this man was deemed worthy of release by the civil commitment system, I want this registrant to have a fair opportunity to become a productive member of society. Whether you like the idea of such a high profile candidate to be free, this is the reality.

Now, almost two years later, the man I had to defend on the Dr. Drew show is making headlines by virtue of his label. He was released into a home in July 2014, and has remained there ever since. Within a month, neighbors established a round-the-clock protest, harassing the man, shouting obscenities, and leaving effigies around the home. This is all petty and nonsensical behavior more suited from FlorIDIOTS rather than folks from the land of the "happy cows."

And so, the vigilante thugs have eld a non-stop harassment campaign for over a year now:

Ever notice the majority of vigilantes are fat, white, middle aged and lower economic status-types?

Here is a disturbing effigy left by one of the vigilante thugs.

Another vigi-scum shouting obscenities. 

There is something deeply disturbing about all this kind of behavior. According to the LA Times piece, vigilantes have--

1. Convinced a water company to stop deliveries to the house
2. Made anonymous death threats
3. Shouted insults like, "No one in this world loves you" and made references to the man's dead mother.
4. Held a protest in front of the house complete with a grill-out and a raffle.
5. Driven by the house at 3:00 am and honk their horns. 
6. Trespassed on the property
7. Placed disturbing signs and effigies around the house.

Of course, while it makes all these self-righteous pricks feel good, it may make their target more likely to reoffend. “To have people outside your house every single day, screaming the most obscene, threatening, violent things at you, would wear on anybody’s soul,” said Christopher Yuen, a deputy public defender in Santa Clara County. If this man is truly "likely to reoffend," then I imagine the constant harassment isn't going to help this guy stay on the straight and narrow. 

To me, this is just another reason why sex offender laws should be largely repealed. Every person, no matter the case that landed him or her in jail, should have a fair chance upon release to be a productive member of society. And yes, this guy is a repeat offender so it is harder to defend. But at the same time, we have a judicial process that determined he was ready to be released, and I want this guy to succeed rather than fail. Do you?