By Jean Johnson
The Flint Journal
May 10, 2010
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/05/senator_john_gleason_continues.html
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| Sen. John Gleason, D-Flushing, begins his walk from St. Robert Catholic Church in Flushing to Lansing to raise awareness about a bill extending the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse Sunday afternoon, May 9, 2010. Photo by Hollyn Johnson | The Flint Journal |
State Sen. John Gleason hit the road Sunday afternoon to draw attention to new legislation that would extend the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases involving minor victims.
Gleason, D-Flushing, set out on a 50-mile trek to Lansing from his home parish at St. Robert's Catholic Church in Flushing and plans to present the legislation in the senate Tuesday.
“It’s important that we come together as a state and say this is enough,” said Gleason.
Along the way, Gleason said he had a chance to meet people and talk with them about the bill.
“People are yelling out the window ‘Go get ‘em Gleason,’” he said, speaking from Perry on Monday afternoon.
Introduced Friday, Senate Bill 1321 would extend the statute of limitations 20 years for sexual abuse to minors in cases in the criminal courts. A similar bill was presented to the Michigan House this year.
Both bills aim to create a two-year window where victims of childhood sexual abuse can identify their abusers in court. The window would start immediately after the bill’s adoption.
Gleason only had one complaint about his journey.
“There’s a lot of roadkill out here,” he said.
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