Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Case of Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary)

Case of Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow - Convicted Sex Offender

Peter Yarrow pleaded guilty to taking "immoral and improper liberties" with a 14-year-old girl back on Aug.31, 1969 at the Shoreham Hotel in New York City.  At the time Yarrow was 31-years old.  Since the sexual assault, Peter Yarrow acknowledged the incident as "the most terrible mistake I have ever made." 
As reported at the time, the 14-year-old girl and her 17-year-old sister went to Yarrow's hotel room seeking an autograph. "Yarrow answered the door naked and made sexual advances that stopped short of intercourse". The 14-year-old resisted his advances but according to reports, did not call for help. Yarrow served three months of a one-to three-year prison sentence. In 1981 the singer received a Presidential pardoned fromJimmy Carter.  At the time of his pardon, Peter Yarrow was married to the niece of Democratic Senator Eugene J. McCarthy, which is believed how he received the pardon.

If Yarrow would have sexually assaulted this young teen today and he did not have his political connections, his name would be appearing on the National Sex Offender's Registry.
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Table of Contents:  

1969
  1. Peter Yarrow of Folk Trio Weds Niece of McCarthy (10/19/1969)   

1970
  1. Yarrow, Folk Singer, Pleads Guilty to a Morals Offense (03/27/1970)   
  2. Folk Singer Pleads Guilty in Sex Case  (03/27/1970) 
  3. Singer admits morals offense  (03/28/1970)  
  4. People  (05/02/1970) 
  5. Folk Singer Sentenced To Three Months  (09/15/1970)
  6. Sex With 14-Year-Old Lands Singer In Jail (09/15/1970)

1971
  1. Mary's Traveling Without Peter, Paul  (03/14/1970)

2002
  1. Peter Yarrow:  He Still Has The Dream  (08/2002)
2004 
  1. Kerry selected molester as godfather to daughter Folksinger-friend Peter Yarrow convicted of sex offense 3 years before birth of Alex.  (10/31/2004)
  2. Casting Bright Light on Torture and Genocide: The Menorah Awards Hanukkah 2004/5765  (11/2004)
2006
  1. Peter Yarrow's Idealism Arrive (04/26/2006)
  2.  No Excuses: Vicki Polin's Letter to the Editor - Baltimore Jewish Times  (05/05/2006) 
           ▪ Original Letter submitted

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    April, 2006 -- Peter Yarrow was interviewed by the Baltimore Jewish Times. When asked about his conviction the following was said:
    Peter Yarrow
    But fame can have a price: any misstep is magnified. And in March 1970, unfortunately, Mr. Yarrow took a big one: he was arrested and convicted for what were termed "immoral and improper liberties" with a 14-year-old girl who came to his hotel room after a concert. He served three months in jail; 11 years later he was pardoned by President Carter.

    Mr. Yarrow sounds a little sad, but clearly unsurprised, when the subject comes up. "It was 35 [actually, 36] years ago. You know, you make mistakes," he says. "You feel terrible about it, make your amends. In that time, it was common practice, unfortunately–– the whole groupie thing.
    "Was it reprehensible on my part? Yes. Was it common practice? Yes. Does that imply justification? No."
    Still, he can't resist a little defensiveness. "In Washington, it was considered a felony. In New York, it would have been a class B misdemeanor."
    What he doesn't say but you can't help wondering is, would it have received any of the same attention had it been Mick Jagger, or any one of rock's bad boys, in that hotel room? Did his arrest, and the subsequent outrage, have anything to do with the fact that this was the man who wrote "Puff?"
    At any rate, Mr. Yarrow believes he has paid his dues. "With the mean-spiritedness of our time, it gets hauled out as if it's relevant. You don't get a presidential pardon if you're not doing great work, have paid your debts to society."
    When he campaigned for Sen. Kerry in 2004, the story once again came up — one Texas politician even canceled a fund-raising concert. "The price I pay," Mr. Yarrow says. "What can I do, it's part of my life. [With other people] I'm very sympathetic, understanding, forgiving, because I realize we all have feet of clay. Certainly I do."
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    Peter Yarrow of Folk Trio Weds Niece of McCarthy 
    New York Times - October 19, 1969

     

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    Yarrow, Folk Singer, Pleads Guilty to a Morals Offense
    New York Times - March 27, 1970.  pg. 21
    Washington, March 26 (UPI) - Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, the folk singing group, pleaded guilty today to taking indecent liberties with a minor before a concert appearance here last summer.
    Yarrow, 32 years old, of New York City, was jailed by Federal District Judge Edward M. Curran. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia later released Yarrow on his personal recognizance.
    According to testimony, Yarrow invited a 14-year old Washington girl and her 17-year-old sister to his room at the Shoreham Hotel Aug.31, 1969, where the incident occurred.
    Yarrow is married to Mary Beth McCarthy, niece of Senator Eugene J. McCarthy, Democrat of Minnesota.
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    Folk Singer Pleads Guilty in Sex Case
    Chicago Tribune - March 20, 1970


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    Singer admits morals offense
    Toronto Daily Star - Saturday, March 28, 1970.  page 40
    Washington (UPI) - Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, folksinging group, has pleaded guilty to taking "immoral and indecent liberties" with a 14-year-old girl who came to his hotel room for an autograph.
    Yarrow entered the plea in U.S. District Court Thursday and was jailed for four hours after the judge denied him bail. The U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the no-bail decision and Yarrow, 32, later was released.
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    People
    Toronto Daily Star - Saturday, May 2, 1970.  page 40
    (Mother's name withheld to protect idenity of victims) yesterday filed a $1.25 million damage suit against folk singer Peter Yarrow after claiming he seduced her two teenage daughters and tried to get a third daughter to live with him. Yarrow, leader of the Peter, Paul and Mary singing group, pleaded guilty March 26 to taking indecent liberties with the Washington mother's 14-year-old daughter during a three-year period.
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    Folk Singer Sentenced To Three Months
    Chicago Tribune - September 15, 1970



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    Sex With 14-Year-Old Lands Singer In Jail
    Toronto Daily Star - Tuesday, September 15, 1970. page 28
    Washington (UPI) - Peter Yarrow, a singer in the Peter, Paul and Mary folk trio, was sentenced to three months in jail yesterday for taking "indecent liberties" with a 14-year-old girl in a Washington hotel room.
    "'Im deeply sorry for what I've done," Yarrow said after sentencing in district court. "I've hurt myself deeply, my wife and the people who love me."
    Yarrow's pregnant wife Mary Beth, a niece of Senator Eugene J. McCarthy (D-Minn.), sobbed when U.S, marshals led him away.
    The 37-year-old folk singer pleaded guilty to the charge last March. He admitted making advances to the girl after she and her sister, 18, visited his hotel room in August, 1969.
    Yarrow faced a maximum three-year sentence, but Judge Edward M. Curran suspended all but three months after hearing a 45 minute plea from defense attorney Edward Bennett Williams who said the sisters were "groupies" whom he defined as young women and girls who deliberately provoke sexual relationships with music stars.

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    Mary's Traveling Without Peter, Paul 
    Chicago Tribune - March 14, 1971


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    Peter Yarrow:  He Still Has The Dream  
    By Robert J. Nebel
    Atlanta Jewish Times - August, 2002
    "Expect music, peace and love to come together at our show in Atlanta," said Peter Yarrow, one of the founding members of the folk music trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, who will perform at Chastain Park Amphitheater on Friday. Peter Yarrow, (Noel) Paul Stookey and Mary Travers will perform their classic hits "Puff the Magic Dragon", "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Blowin' in the Wind", in addition to a host of material culled from their recent albums that deal with the issues of the day.

    At Peter, Paul and Mary shows, it is not unusual to see four generations of concertgoers bond together to experience a stripped-down sound inspired by folk legends Woody Guthrie ("This Land is Your Land"), Bob Dylan and The Weavers, a 1950's folk group known for the outspoken activism, politics and music.
    The trio represent a tapestry of Americana rooted in grassroots activism, tinged with an optimistic spirit. It is that very spirit which has kept this group together for the better part of the last forty years who continually move audiences with their own brand of musical social commentary.
    While so many of today's pop concerts sport elaborate light shows, dancers and music videos, Peter, Paul and Mary are two men armed with their voices and guitars, one powerful female voice and a bass player who is the glue that bonds these elements together. Their words and passion speak louder than most of those competing pop concerts. While Friday's Chastain show is sure to please, Yarrow has one minor worry about the performance. "Let's hope it doesn't rain," he quipped.
    The weather is just a blip on Yarrow's radar screen these days. It is the state of the world that consumes this musician/lyricist/activist. Whether it is the proliferation of nuclear weaponry and power, the war on terrorism, or the Middle East conflict, Yarrow offers a deep intellectual discourse, which he infuses into his daily life, music and philanthropic work.

    Peter Yarrow's astute awareness of world events is drawn from his extensive activist resume, which includes his participation in 1963's March on Washington, countless anti-war and nuclear demonstrations, to recent events such as, a fundraiser for Kosovar refugees and an appearance at Matthew Shephard's funeral, the gay Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998.

    Yarrow says that the common thread that runs through all of his activism is fighting for fairness. This tradition continues with his latest crusade - a project dubbed, "Don't Laugh At Me". "It is a curricula that helps schools deal with bullies," Yarrow said. "Every kid who perpetrated the horrific acts at Columbine, Paducah, Springfield and Santee was bullied. Those who were bullied, ultimately become bullies themselves." Yarrow hopes that this project will help prevent future violence in America's schools, camps, playgrounds, and homes. His tireless work in the project can be found on the "Don't Laugh at Me" website (http://www.dontlaugh.org) which describes itself through site literature and a music introduction video produced by Yarrow. The site also includes extensive information on the organization's workshops. "We hope to make all schools a ridicule-free zone," Yarrow said. "Our aim with `Don't Laugh at Me' is to galvanize spirits through music to enhance social, emotional and character education".
    When Peter Yarrow was growing up in the 1940's New York, most kids were into stickball, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Coney Island. The young Peter Yarrow found inspiration in folk hero Woody Guthrie, who impacted his world, more than what went on at Ebbets Field. The influence of folk music led Yarrow to attend the High School of Music and Art, followed by an education at Cornell University where he drew upon his talents as a vocalist and acoustic guitar player.
    Upon graduating from the university, Yarrow found himself in the conservative 1950's, which felt alien to him. Yarrow, alongside many artists, writers and musicians were underground in those post-war years feeling the dawning of a new age of social consciousness. Peter, Paul and Mary were founded on those principles and the rest, as they say is "history".

    Today, Yarrow feels that we may have come full circle. "There has been a diminution in social awareness," Yarrow said. "I can remember in the sixties when temples and synagogues were involved with homelessness, the peace movement and civil rights. Now it seems that they are concentrated on continuity, existence and pride."
    Yarrow's rather liberal feelings on politics and Judaism are based in his involvement in the Tikkun community within the Jewish world. It is a community Yarrow feels is committed to "doing your part" by making social equality a reality. "The idea of Tikkun Olam is the centerpiece of being Jewish to me," Yarrow explained. "One of the reasons we (Peter, Paul and Mary) are still together is because we are the Tikkun Olam trio. Each of us does our part to create harmony in the group." His dedication to this progressive school of thought was recognized by the Miami Jewish Federation, which awarded him the Tikkun Olam award in 1995.
    While Yarrow acknowledges his words may provoke controversy, he remains steadfast in his Tikkun values, which, he says should extend beyond the Jewish world community. "If we do not stay committed to caring beyond our borders, we lose our souls," Yarrow emphatically stated. "Isolating your interests incites resentment and jealousy, which is dangerous to Jews. It invites anti-Semitism that we have endured through the years."
    Yarrow's relationship with Atlanta goes back to the sixties when he was involved in the civil rights struggle. "I was in Atlanta when Sam Massell was mayor," Yarrow recalled. "I have a lot of history there when the city was the eye of the hurricane of social change in the 1960's." Today, Yarrow is impressed with the social progress that Atlanta has achieved. "If there ever was a place demonstrated in the United States for change and growth for tolerance and understanding when it comes to race, it is Atlanta," Yarrow said. In keeping up with his thoughts on politics, Yarrow makes it clear which candidate he supports throughout the country. In Georgia, Yarrow is a huge Max Cleland supporter. "I simply love Senator Cleland and I always look forward to seeing him at our shows," said Yarrow.
    As he remains an optimist in his quest for social equality, Yarrow is disappointed in the lack of civility in today's society. "Look at today's popular culture such as `The Weakest Link', `Survivor', and `Jerry Springer'," said Yarrow. "There is a general lack of respect for one another and that is what I believe has led to this country's political apathy."

    While so many of the performers from Yarrow's era have either quieted down or sold out to major corporations, he remains committed to fighting for equality through music. At Friday's Chastain show, it is that fight we you will hear.
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    Casting Bright Light on Torture and Genocide:
    The Menorah Awards Hanukkah 2004/5765 Sunday December 12 / Kislev 29
    Shalom Center - 10/22/2004
    The Menorah Awards: Honoring Ruth Messinger, Seymour Hersh, Peter Yarrow
    The Shalom Center will be recognizing three extraordinary people on the Sunday night of Hanukkah, December 12: Seymour Hersh brought the light of truth into dark places of shame and crime - in this generation when he revealed the truth about torture at Abu Ghraib, and one generation ago when he broke the story of how US troops had massacred Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai. His book Chain of Command is a crucial expose of "the road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib."

    Ruth Messinger, a former Borough President of Manhattan and president of American Jewish World Service, has brought the light of compassion to dark places of sorrow, sickness, and despair around the globe and in the city.
    Peter Yarrow, who of course is the Peter of Peter, Paul, and Mary, has brought us all the light of his music, including the inimitable "Light One Candle" - a Hanukkah song dedicated to freedom, justice, and peace.
    We will honor these three amazing people and celebrate Hanukkah at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in mid-town Manhattan the early evening of December 12.
    Until December 1, admission is $36 per adult. Those who are 17 and younger must have an adult companion of her/his own: $25 per teen between 13 and 17, $18 for each child under 13. There will be a special children's Hanukkah sing-along, and an opportunity for kids to have a memorable photo taken with Peter Yarrow.
    We expect the space to fill up quickly. Please order your tickets now.
    You can order online! OR Cut out and send . . .
    TO: Shalom Center, 6711 Lincoln Drive, Philadelphia PA 19119

    _____ I will attend the Hanukkah celebration to honor Seymour Hersh, Ruth Messenger, and Peter Yarrow.

    Please send me:
    _____ tickets for adults ($36 each)
    _____ tickets for 13-17-year-old teens ($25 each)
    _____ tickets for children under 12 ($18 each)
    Total Number of Tickets_____
    Name/s:
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    Address:
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    Phone/s:
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    Email:
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    COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY
    Kerry selected molester as godfather to daughter Folksinger-friend Peter Yarrow convicted of sex offense 3 years before birth of Alex
    World Net Daily - October 31, 2004
    When Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary agreed to do a fund-raising concert for a Texas congressional candidate last month, the appearance had to be canceled at the last moment when it was revealed the singer was convicted of child molestation in 1970 and pardoned 11 years later by President Carter.
    Nevertheless, Yarrow has been campaigning for his good friend, presidential candidate John Kerry, throughout the year. And why shouldn't he? He has been friends with Kerry for more than 30 years and is godfather to his daughter Alex.
    Only once during the presidential campaign has Yarrow become an issue.
    At a primary season party for supporters in Ames, Iowa, Yarrow was performing "Puff the Magic Dragon." As reported by the Washington Post's Ceci Connolly, "Kerry lifted his fingers to his mouth for a quick toke on an imaginary joint. You can almost see his thick mane of silver hair returning to the shaggy brown 'do of those days."
    Yarrow has denied the hit song of yesteryear was about puffing marijuana.
    The folksinger pleaded guilty to taking "immoral and improper liberties" with a 14-year-old girl back in 1970.

    As reported at the time, the girl and her 17-year-old sister went to Yarrow's hotel room seeking an autograph. Yarrow answered the door naked and made sexual advances that stopped short of intercourse. The 14-year-old resisted his advances but did not call for help. Yarrow served three months of a one- to three-year prison sentence and was pardoned by Carter in 1981.
    The singer has acknowledged the incident as "the most terrible mistake I have ever made."
    Last month, however, the crime was back in the news when Rep. Martin Frost, Texas Democrat, canceled a fund-raising appearance with the singer after learning of Yarrow's offense.
    Frost, in a tough race against Rep. Pete Sessions, told the Associated Press: "I do not believe it is appropriate for Mr. Yarrow to campaign on my behalf."
    Despite having become an issue in a congressional race, somehow Yarrow's efforts on behalf of Kerry have never been addressed. So close are Kerry and Yarrow that the singer even played at his 1995 wedding to Teresa Heinz.
    "He is in touch with his emotions," Yarrow said of Kerry in an NPR interview recently. "He is in touch with his joy at something beautiful. He has enough of the artist in him to know that there is that side of the human being."

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    Peter Yarrow's Idealism Arrive
    By Judy Oppenheimer - Contributing Editor
    Baltimore Jewish Times - April 26, 2006
    Peter Yarrow is walking his dog on the far-from-mean Upper West Side streets of New York City and reflecting, via cell phone, on his life.
    It's been a long, and for the most part, deeply fulfilling trip. He still sings with the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary — the group that gave him eternal name recognition, popularized Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind," and is today "the only group with international reputation of a major sort who's lasted this long with original members," he says, proudly.
    Peter Yarrow
    An educational program he created, "Operation Respect," aimed at teaching children to treat each other more kindly, is spreading across the globe. He is close to both his former wife and his two grown children, Bethany, a musician, and Christopher, an artist.
    Oh, yes, and he insists he still doesn't mind singing "Puff the Magic Dragon," the song he co-wrote and composed more than 40 years ago, which he has performed at least 500 kazillion times, as of this writing.
    Really.
    And no, the song was not written about pot — though it's hard for aging baby boomers to hear it without remembering its supposed connection. (During a concert in the 2004 campaign, a Washington Post reporter spotted presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, thinking himself unobserved, rather unwisely lifting an imaginary joint to his lips when the song was played.)
    All in all, life is good. Also, his dog, Zackie, a Jack Russell/ Chihuahua mix, a "rescue dog," he points out, is very cute.
    In fact, at 68, Peter Yarrow considers himself "the luckiest person in the world. My work, my friends. I can't imagine finding them more gratifying." He will be performing tomorrow night, April 29, in a benefit concert at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; money will go to Life Long Learning programs.
    Mr. Yarrow's interest both in music and social justice started early. Raised in Manhattan by a socially progressive Jewish mother — an early member of the New York Teachers Union — he was playing guitar by age 8.
    At 17, he was in the audience for The Weavers' famous 1955 concert at Carnegie Hall, which electrified him, a kind of vocal equivalent of tikkun olam, he calls it. (Unknown to him, future partner Mary Travers was also there.)
    As a senior at Cornell University in 1959, he taught a folk singing class and realized that "this kind of music could serve as a trigger, a spark, to ignite another kind of consciousness. I felt folk music was going to play a part in the changing of America and the world, and that I could be a part of helping that happen."
    Cut to Greenwich Village, the following year: a manager, Albert Grossman, spotted him singing at the Cafe Wha, took him under his wing, and announced they needed to find two more singers to form a group. They auditioned several, but when Mary Travers and Noel Stookey showed up, "it was magic — instantaneous." Noel became Paul, for alliterative reasons, and everything fell into place.
    How have they managed to stay together so long? "From the get-go, we had a mutual agreement to be straight with one another," says Mr. Yarrow. "We weren't pretending. We were real. We called forth the best in each other."
    Was it always perfect? Of course not. "We all have feet of clay. It's just like with any relationship, marriage or whatever." But they did try.
    Another strong tie between them was their commitment to social justice. "We had a vision and purpose, we never compromised," he says. They were a constant presence at civil rights and anti-war demonstrations. "When the record company told us, 'You can't go on this march, you'll lose the Southern market,' we didn't give it a thought." (They did lose their popularity in the Deep South, too, as it happened, he added.)
    Peter Yarrow (2006)
    Their fame was worldwide. But fame can have a price: any misstep is magnified. And in March 1970, unfortunately, Mr. Yarrow took a big one: he was arrested and convicted for what were termed "immoral and improper liberties" with a 14-year-old girl who came to his hotel room after a concert. He served three months in jail; 11 years later he was pardoned by President Carter.
    Mr. Yarrow sounds a little sad, but clearly unsurprised, when the subject comes up. "It was 35 [actually, 36] years ago. You know, you make mistakes," he says. "You feel terrible about it, make your amends. In that time, it was common practice, unfortunately–– the whole groupie thing.
    "Was it reprehensible on my part? Yes. Was it common practice? Yes. Does that imply justification? No."
    Still, he can't resist a little defensiveness. "In Washington, it was considered a felony. In New York, it would have been a class B misdemeanor."

    What he doesn't say but you can't help wondering is, would it have received any of the same attention had it been Mick Jagger, or any one of rock's bad boys, in that hotel room? Did his arrest, and the subsequent outrage, have anything to do with the fact that this was the man who wrote "Puff?"
    At any rate, Mr. Yarrow believes he has paid his dues. "With the mean-spiritedness of our time, it gets hauled out as if it's relevant. You don't get a presidential pardon if you're not doing great work, have paid your debts to society."

    When he campaigned for Sen. Kerry in 2004, the story once again came up — one Texas politician even canceled a fund-raising concert. "The price I pay," Mr. Yarrow says. "What can I do, it's part of my life. [With other people] I'm very sympathetic, understanding, forgiving, because I realize we all have feet of clay. Certainly I do."

    His organization, Operation Respect, which grew out of a children's program he developed called "Don't Laugh at Me," takes up much of his time. He recently returned from Croatia, where the government decided to add the program to the school curriculum; it is already being used by schools in Hong Kong and Vietnam, along with 15,000 schools in the United States. Both Argentina and South Africa have expressed interest.
    The program is based on the theory that the cycle of hatred — the wellspring of prejudice, of wars, of much of the evil in the world — can only be confronted, and hopefully squashed, in childhood.
    For Mr. Yarrow, it's all about respect. "In terms of our own Jewish history, it relates to what the Anti-Defamation League calls the pyramid of hate. The beginning of the Holocaust, of any war, starts with teasing and ridicule. Bullying. Ostracism builds to real bias, prejudice, racism, and hate killing."
    To change the cycle, "you have to get to the children," he said. "They don't jump out of the womb saying, 'I don't like Jews, blacks, Poles.' It's up to us to give them the tools to interact compassionately, to resolve conflict non-violently, appreciate differences."
    And that in a nutshell, he says, is what his program is about, "and what I'm going to be talking about and singing about."
    Peter Yarrow's concert will be held on Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave. Students from the day school will join him for part of the concert. Call 410-764-1587 for ticket information, or visit www. bhcong.org.
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    No Excuses:  Letter to the Editor - Baltimore Jewish Times
    The following letter was published in this weeks Baltimore Jewish Times. It's been edited down a great deal, for that reason I wanted to share the original letter that was submitted. (click here for the original article.)
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    1) Letter Published by The Baltimore Jewish Times
    Letter to the Editor
    No Excuse
    Baltimore Jewish Times - May 5, 2006
    Peter Yarrow and Eugene McCarthy
    I thank the Jewish Times for having the courage to write the article "Peter Yarrow's Idealism Arrives," especially for mentioning that Peter Yarrow was arrested, and convicted of a sex crime.
    Peter Yarrow was 32 years old at the time he molested a 14-year-old girl. (See the Sept. 15, 1970 Toronto Daily Star. ) The article has Yarrow stating "I'm deeply sorry for what I've done." "I've hurt myself deeply, my wife and the people who love me." Not once does he mention remorse for what he did.
    Your article mentions that Peter Yarrow received a presidential pardon by President Carter. You failed to mention that Yarrow was also married to the niece of Democratic Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy at the time. I personally feel that Peter Yarrow belongs on the National Sex Offenders Registry. There is no excuse for sexual violence of any kind.
    Vicki Polin
    Executive Director
    The Awareness Center Inc.
    _______________________________________________
    2) Original Letter submitted
    I wanted to thank The Baltimore Jewish Times for having the courage to write the article "Peter Yarrow's Idealism Arrive," especially for mentioning the fact that Peter Yarrow was arrested, and convicted of a sex crime.
    Peter Yarrow was 32-years old at the time he molested a 14-years old girl. Back in 1970 the terms used to describe his crime was "immoral and improper liberties," in today's world his criminal behavior would be described as "child molestation."

    According to the Toronto Daily Star (09/15/1970), "The 14-year old girl and her 17-year-old sister went to Yarrow's hotel room seeking an autograph. Yarrow answered the door naked and made sexual advances that stopped short of intercourse." The article continues with Yarrow stating "I'm deeply sorry for what I've done." "I've hurt myself deeply, my wife and the people who love me." NOT ONCE does he mention remorse for what he did to the 14-year old girl he assaulted.

    Peter Yarrow is still making excuses for his crime. It appears he still has the "blame the victim" mentality, and also still does not show remorse for what the survivor has had to endure (being a survivor of an attempted rape).
    Yarrow is quoted as saying "In that time, it was common practice, unfortunately–– the whole groupie thing."

    I don't believe it was acceptable in the 1970's for an adult to have forced sexual relations with a child, or anyone for that matter.

    Your article mentions that Peter Yarrow received a presidential pardon by President Carter. What you failed to mention is the fact that Yarrow was also married to the niece of Democratic Senator Eugene J. McCarthy at the time.
    I personally feel that Peter Yarrow belongs on the National Sex Offenders Registry, along with all other convicted sex offenders, even those who are related to politicians and receive pardons. There is NO excuse for sexual violence of any kind.
    Vicki Polin, MA, ATR, LCPC - Executive Director
    The Awareness Center, Inc.

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    Last Updated:  04/05/2006

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