LANCASTER – Nearly 60 residents and community leaders gathered Wednesday evening at the Antelope Valley courthouse to empower fellow survivors of sexual assault while preventing further victims in the High Desert community.
The prayer and vigil event was organized in reaction to a Santa Clara County judge’s conditional release of the “Pillowcase Rapist” Christopher Hubbart to an Antelope Valley residence.
Marked by prayers, testimony and a renewed sense of camaraderie, members of the community sought assurance and unity through a shared concern: that the release of a sexual predator into their neighborhood would not leave them helpless.
“I’m not here to talk about this gentleman. He’s gotten enough attention already. I’m here to talk about survivors, not victims, but survivors of sexual assault,” Denise Latanzi, executive director of United Desert Charities, told members of the community who had gathered for the Sunset Prayer & Candlelight Vigil event.
Latanzi said that women in the Antelope Valley “stand a much bigger chance of being a victim of sexual assault” anywhere in Los Angeles County.
“It’s an unfortunate fact; it’s something we have to deal with,” she said. “So this really isn’t about one predator, this is about more than 600 sexual offenders located up here, who unfortunately sometimes create survivors.”
Joanne Granai, who organized the community action for Antelope Valley residents, described Wednesday’s prayer gathering as a final bid for a miracle.
“All we have to go on at this point … is to come together in prayer as an entire community. Miracles can happen,” Granai said in her invitation to the Lancaster City Council at Tuesday’s meeting. “I know that our community leaders are doing everything in their power to not let this happen. We’re all in agreement.”
At Wednesday’s event, Palmdale Mayor Pro Tem Tom Lackey told participants of the vigil what local leadership was doing about the impending release of Christopher Hubbart.
“What we’re trying to do is just do the best we can to communicate with the judicial system,” Lackey said. “And because of the efforts of people like yourself, gathering letters of support … (we’re) trying to show the judge what we believe is an injustice. They have a responsibility to rule in favor of the people, and I think they are missing that opportunity if they place this gentleman out here in our area.”
Lackey assured people at the gathering that both Palmdale and Lancaster were united in the effort to stop Hubbart from being relocated to the Antelope Valley, while adding that “Senator Knight and Assemblyman Fox all agree that this is an injustice in our area.”
Palmdale-resident Vladimir Gomez talked to people at the vigil about his online petition at www.change.org, which has received more than 2,200 signatures.
The online petition includes an extensive background on Hubbart, stating he has “admitted (to) raping approximately 40 women between 1971 and 1982, (and) will tentatively be housed at 20315 E. Ave R Palmdale, Ca 93591. The residence has a Palmdale mailing address, but the house is actually located in the community of Lake Los Angeles.”
Gomez told the Antelope Valley Times that his petition is not only concerned with government officials treating the Antelope Valley as a dumping ground for criminals, but that the immediate safety of residents is at stake.
“The thing is there are many kids who walk in that area, getting to school, waiting for buses to arrive, and we don’t want anyone, not children or women, to become another victim of this man,” Gomez said.
However, addressing legal actions needed to stop Hubbart’s placement in the Antelope Valley was overshadowed by the intended purpose of the event – which was to unite the community through prayer, according to Granai.
Pastor Gary Johnson of the Palmdale-based “Empowered Church Los Angeles” emphasized the need for the community to make sound decisions regarding Hubbart’s release.
“We just ask for sound wisdom and understanding, and we ask that you touch every community leader’s heart, that you touch every city official’s heart, everyone that is involved to come up with the right decision and the right wisdom that we need to handle this in the way that it needs to be handled,” Johnson said, leading participants in prayer at the event.
Pastor Jacob D.R. Johnson of the Growing Valley Baptist Church in Lancaster offered a different spiritual perspective, advocating humility over judgment.
“The only reason I pray to Him is because I have committed some offenses, and I am always reminded of Romans 5:8 that says, ‘But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,'” Johnson told listeners before leading them in prayer.
At the end of the event, Latanzi told participants of the vigil that several community resources are available to assist anyone who has experienced sexual assault, as well as social or domestic violence.
She said that Valley Oasis Sexual Assault Response Services in Lancaster offers services such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, and a rape crisis center.
Sexual Assault Response Services are located at the Antelope Valley Hospital, 1600 West Avenue J in Lancaster. Call 661-723-7273 for more information. Latanzi also said people may contact her United Desert Charities office at 661-224-9365 for additional information on services in the community.
“This is a huge issue up here, and it’s going to take a whole community to stop it and change our circumstances up here,” Latanzi said. “But let’s not be victims of this guy; let’s be survivors, and let’s teach other people to be survivors, too.”
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Magnetlady says
I think we need to leave ”Politics” out of this… The Rally on Saturday was NOT about VOTES… it was about keeping Christopher Hubbart out of our Valley… Who cares if there are letter signings where people go and take their children??? We surely can’t be that ”NAIVE” can we, to think that we shouldn’t educate our children?? So, since every ”Candidate” supports this effort, I suppose one may think that NO ONE should run for our local offices … That’s PHOOEY!! It’s our legislators that can make a difference to the Antelope Valley… and it doesn’t matter whether they have a ”D or an R” behind their names… they were ALL THERE in SUPPORT, NOT grandstanding for votes..
sjgranai says
A more extensive discussion is being had on the article about the rally.
Ishkil Obdi says
I am concerned about the nearly 60 residents and community leaders gathered at the Antelope Valley courthouse. This is government property. The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion and impeding the free exercise of religion. The intentions of these law abiding citizens is something that I definitely agree with. But I am concern with their manifestation of religious symbols at a Unites States court building. In one photograph there is a candle of the “virgin Mary”. In another photograph a lady is holding a sign invoking the name of Jesus. What if both of these entities offend a person of a different religion? Hence, should not religion be kept in their homes with the invoking of their god to assist them in their plight? I am not passing judgment here that one god is better than another. I am just simply stating for example that there are some Christians that are very much offended by the “virgin Mary” and do not believe that she is capable of answering prayer as there are some Catholics who do not believe that prayer can be answered without the help of “Mary.” Is it not more likely that more support for this movement can be gained if we simply kept religion in our homes, hence, allowing other people who may be offended by these religious symbols to join the crusade for a better community? Perhaps, there are agnostics, atheist, Jewish persons, Renaissance men or other Christian denominations who would like to join the movement but because praying to different gods offends them, they will not participate. I’m just saying.
sjgranai says
Had you gone you would have seen there were MANY different faiths in attendance. Invitations were sent to pastors of every faith to come and say a prayer in their ways if they wanted.
EVERY church was invited as well as those who may not believe in God per se… as long as they brought positive energy they were welcome.
May 1st was National Day of Prayer. I was at the evening prayers and it was beautiful. Our community can and does pray together with the utmost respect to the various faiths.
The property is public property. It can be used without a permit for demonstrations, press conferences, gatherings, etc. It can be religious in nature or not.
Nobody was forced to attend nor was it done during business hours. Each person was there by choice. They knew the nature of the event and chose to come. Nobody was held against their will or silenced. The signs were NOT a part of the event and I said as much. However, I did also say I respected their right to free speech and if they wanted to hold the signs and express their thoughts .. they were welcome to.
The event was within the law and respected the rights of all. It was not on a street corner being a spectacle or hate group or infringing on anyone’s right of peaceful enjoyment in the city. We violated no ordinances or codes.
Thank you for your concern.
sjgranai says
“Not here in the AV”
“Let him live in the judge’s neighborhood”
Ok….if not here, where? Common reply “i don’t care just not here.” Given the idea that you think he is going to rape again..what you are saying is you want him to rape in another town…just not In this one. And you don’t care if that happens in another town.
Also, people believing Christopher Hubbart is going to rape again want him to rape the judge’s wife, sisters, children and grandchildren….and his neighbors. That should be the consequence for Judge Brown letting him out of the hospital.
AV people…do you hear yourself? Do you hear how disgusting and sick we sound as a community. You are wishing rape on women!
Magnetlady says
Geesh, … what are you SMOKING? You’re delusional… We are only hearing yourself and how disgusting you are making this entire situation..
sjgranai says
I’m not the one saying those things.
I am simply clarifying exactly what is being said by others.
Truth IS disgusting… isn’t it? Ask the “Laides” where they want him to go if not the AV.. they don’t care.. just not HERE.
They say let him live by or even WITH the judge…
Everyone is so convinced he is going to rape again but so quick to put him in someone else’s back yard. How is that not equating to them desiring for someone else to be raped.. as long as it isn’t them or someone they know?
And that is EXACTLY how the judge will see it unless facts beyond “I don’t want him here” are presented at public hearing. What makes us any better than the next town? Why should we not have him here vs any other place? What makes us so special?
I am not advocating for him to move here.. I am saying for people to stop acting like marching up and down palmdale blvd is going to do a damn thing and start figuring out a solution beyond “not here”.
jkpalmdale says
I have been reading all the back and forth posts here and one thing comes to mind about sjgranai, they are uneducated about the History of Protests in our Great Country.
Protests have been around since the beginning and many of them have changed the course of events in our history.
I was at that rally on Saturday. I saw a group of wonderful Patriots who are willing to step up and make their voices heard to stop an injustice. This is an injustice. The Judge is wrong to release him here. His last victim was in Santa Clara County and that is where he must be released.
We need to change the laws to stop this from happening over and over. However we can stop him from coming here.
I see sjgranai you keep saying that we have no solutions or we say let him live with the judge. That is actually a solution and so is keeping him in prison or putting him in a half way house with 24 hour supervision.
You seem to whine about anger. You are right we are Angry. We are tired of being a dumping ground for the trash the County and State dispose of. The fact you are not angry tells me you seem to be ok with the trash coming here. I saw you say you are not but the lack of passion and fire to stop it says otherwise.
You talk about keeping politics out of it. I saw no politics in the rally. I saw Patriots. It is about Safety and nothing more.
Also a Prayer vigil to pray for the Judge and Rapist is ridiculous in my opinion. It is non inclusive to have a religious event. It leaves people out who might want to voice their opinion who do not believe in God. I for one am an Atheist, so a prayer vigil will not be something I will go to. Yet my voice has a right to be heard.
All your trashing of the other groups and such is childish. We should all be working together and not against each other.
We must keep this trash out of the AV. How about acting like an adult and stop saying your way is the only way and if we do not agree with you, we are political, angry or instilling fear. You know what, people should fear this guy, he is a danger to everyone who lives here. Fear is NOT a bad thing. It makes people AWARE of things at times. Stop trying to be the only game in town. Step up and grow up.
sjgranai says
Only game? Lol..yeah that is exactly what I said.
again…for the less informed hysterical types…
he is NOT in jail.
It is a civil commitment to a state hospital. This great country of ours has double double jeopardy laws. He was sentenced…did his time…and then committed civilly. Civil commitments is NOT punishment. He cannot be punished again.
He has completed his phases of treatment. The next phase of treatment is conditional release.
WE…need to find a legal reason, not emotional, to stop the next phase. However, the DA has taken this all the way to the California supreme court and was denied. The court’s upheld the right for this man to be released.
I’m am all for protesting…..but what is the goal? What is the desired outcome that falls under our constitution?
Is he a national security threat? Tell Obama….he can put him away in some jail and we never see him again…no trial or anything.
jkpalmdale says
I did not have a reply button to use to your reply. So I am replying to my own post
@sjgranai, He should never have been let out of prison in the first place. He was a violent offender and reoffender.
The goal is change the laws to keep these monsters locked up.
You keep saying that we are “activists” Well you know what Martin Luther King was considered to be an activist and I am proud to stand with him and other “activists” who want positive change.
Protests work. We have been peaceful and proudly utilizing our First Amendment Rights. Same ones you have. The fact you keep acting like you are the only one doing anything to make a difference is so pathetic. I read all your posts on the other story as well. Your arrogance is very telling.
I will once again say, stop working against the rest of us and join us. We all must stop this guy from coming to our community..
He needs to be locked down 24/7. Put him in Death Valley, Put him in Beverly Hills, put him next to the Judge, put him next to Gov Brown, AG Kamala Harris. The reason they are not options is because that will not fly.
We cannot continue to lay down and let them dump all the states trash here in the Antelope Valley. Enough is Enough.
Since you seem to be ok with this guy coming to town. Why not open your home to him and you can pray for him with him.
sjgranai says
ps… at least I speak up with my real name. hmm
Susan says
I hate to have to stand behind this one issue in order to raise awareness on the much bigger and more harmful picture. The extent to which rape culture exists in the AV among young people is sooo sad. The fact anyone even in anger would wish for ANY woman to be raped is soooo sickening.
I was recently assaulted by the person I was dating. because of that, I heard numerous times to “get over it” and because I didn’t report it right away, there will be no consequences or justice. The AV is LITTERED with sexual predators and people are just fed up. Theyre taking this incident and inciting a rage which belongs to every other rapist and child molester that walk our streets. This was National Sexual Assault Awareness month…how many people who are so outraged by this one man is out there speaking out against rape culture and the continued denial of what constitutes sexual assault?
Here’s some facts for you guys to take into account.
every 2 minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted.
between 300,000-1.3 million women are raped annually.
you know more than one victim.
a womans chance of being raped in the U.S.? 1 in 5.
2 out of 3 of those assaults are by a friend or relative of the victim.
60% of rape cases are never reported.
97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail.
80% of rape victims are under 30, 44% are under 18.
Percentage of sexual assault and rape victims under the age of 12: 15 %
Percentage of men who have been raped:3%
Percentage of rapes that college students think are false claims: 50 percent
Percentage of rapes that studies find are false claims: 2-6%
Number of rapes reported in the military last year: 16,500
Pentagon’s estimated percentage of military assaults not reported: 80%
military rape victims who were gang raped/raped more than once: 14%/20%
Chances an incarcerated person is raped in the U.S.: 1 in 10
number of REGISTERED sex offenders in Lancaster, CA: 368
number of registered sex offenders in Palmdale, CA:185
sjgranai says
Good for you in speaking up. Denise Latanzi has alot more stats disregards to funding and percentages as well. Yes…addressing the whole issue is way past due.
sjgranai says
*in regards to funding
Philip M. Hofer (Frumph) says
.. this is all over a 62 year old feeble old man .. do these people ever look at the website that shows what is in your neighborhood? Palmdale and Lancaster are home to over 30+ convicted rapists.
sjgranai says
It takes no effort to be angry and gather large crowds when you incite rage in others. Fear mongering and anger are not necessary to bring awareness to the AV.
We have already been assaulted on Holy Saturday by signs of RAPIST!!!!! on our street corners for all to see while they were on their way to Easter Egg hunts and other events celebrating the holiest days of the year.
Now what? Will there be a RAPIST booth at the Poppy Festival? Farmers Markets? Festivals and parades???
This man has already violated our community at every turn and he isn’t even released. And I can’t even blame HIM.. we are allowing it to happen to ourselves!
Let families ENJOY their life without having this shoved down their throats. We get it.. there is a very scared group of women and their Candidate that want to scare everyone too. Those of us that have ANY amount of faith don’t have to live in fear. We want to just as much to help our community, but we also want to live in today…
Stop spreading fear and making people into victims. We are not in agreement with that mentality.
Doing targeted outreach … door to door… phone banking.. etc. Neighborhood watches and civic groups. Using the existing programs in the AV.. collaboratives, coalitions, councils, etc.
But that won’t play into the fear mongers and nobody gets to be in the “limelight” and get to use this issue as a campaign platform. So sad that THIS is the center of so many candidates’ campaigns. THIS issue… which will be solved in the next two months either way .. but it is how we are going to decide who represents us for a few years??
Really? They are scaring you for a vote???
sjgranai says
Side note.. this was put together by and for the community. People came together and pitched in to make it happen. Without them all sharing the vision of the event, it would have never been possible. Thank you to the community for your help and faith.
Eric says
Think about this; If we seceded from Los Angeles County, we would be able to empower our own Sheriff’s Department. With our own Sheriff Department comes our own Sheriff. The Sheriff maintains final say within on our county lines, and would have every right to tell Los Angeles that they would not be housing this guy, or any others like him, within OUR county. Get mad people!
sjgranai says
Unfortunately that is inaccurate. They enforce the law, not create or judge it. They have no power above the rulings of the court.
Eric says
Within the scenario I laid out, no, I’m correct.
Lae says
Lancaster can barely afford itself being PART of Los Angeles County. Where do you suppose Lancaster would get the funds to be self-supporting?
Eric says
I wasn’t saying Lancaster by itself, I was implying the whole of the Antelope Valley. Which could easily support itself with all the money Los Angeles steals from it.
kat says
i agree Eric..