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Emma Thompson Drops Support of Polanski

Web petitioners change actress' mind about case

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:17 PM CST
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(Newser) – Who says a blog can’t change anything? Not the folks at Shakesville, who assembled a petition opposing actress Emma Thompson’s decision to sign a petition of her own opposing Roman Polanksi’s arrest. Somehow, one member of the community finagled a meeting with Thompson, presented the document…and actually changed her mind. “She said, while she supported Polanski as a friend, a crime is a crime.”

The member quotes Thompson: "Know that I will remove my name because of you, and all of the good work that you have been doing. I have read your petition. I have heard you. And I will listen.’” Blogger Melissa McEwan will “reserve my grateful blubbing for when I see her name actually peeled off” the petition. As of now, no dice.

Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski.   (AP Photo)
British actor and writer Emma Thompson.
British actor and writer Emma Thompson.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
kokuaguy
Nov 6, 2009 9:15 AM CST
Yes, the victim's wishes are always considered at the time the judge decides what the appropriate sentence should be. Get on with it.
kokuaguy
Nov 6, 2009 9:10 AM CST
I'm not familiar with the support Thompson originally expressed ... and could not care less. The Hollywood types who jumped out front on this issue and supported Roman Polanski did him no favors. Thompson's turn about may ultimately help Polanski by focusing attention on the legal issues. The Swiss were hypocrites to act at the time and in the way they did. The sooner the perpetrator is brought back and this matter is disposed of the better. The media circus around the story has been disgusting, and we've seen nothing yet, of course. There are far more important issues facing the American people which are not getting the attention they should have. Justice should be blind and Polanski should be treated no better or worse than anyone else who entered a Guilty Plea based on the kind of agreement which he had reached with the LA Prosecutor's Office. Polanski was held without bail until the agreement was reached, and it was in the interests of everyone because it dispensed with the need for a public trial. The fact that he fled the country and exiled himself from America when he believed the agreement had been broken is of very little relevance. He paid compensation to the victim of the crime, and to the mother of the victim (who unfortunately aided and abetted it.) The judges should not play politics, but should abide by the agreement, in the absence of any compelling societal interest in doing otherwise. And for the life of me I cannot see what that societal interest could be.
NxBigmouthery
Nov 6, 2009 8:25 AM CST
Way to go extreme. It just seems a little odd to me that many who have been ripping the guy to shreds these last weeks only do so because of the cycle.

 
Internet • rape • blog • arrest • blogger • Roman Polanski • Emma Thompson • petition

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