I’m happy to say that a 66-year-old homeless woman’s case on breaking Buena Park (Calif.) campground laws was thrown out of court Thursday, August 9, 2001 when her attorney turned up new evidence. It turns out that the so-called public property she was occupying is owned by Union Pacific Railroad. If convicted, she would have faced six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Buena Park Police arrested Dianne Grue, November 25, 2000 for camping and storing her blankets on public grounds. She was struggling to get by on her monthly social security check of $380 and had to live on the streets two weeks out of each month.

Grue received an outpouring of support from the community. Rev. Wiley Drake of the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, a man of God who is not afraid to speak out, organized a protest march outside of the courthouse and was thrown out of the courtroom when he charged in and started addressing the jury in Grue’s defense. His church operates a homeless shelter. Grue’s attorney, Jon Alexander, should also be recognized for his generosity in defending Grue without a fee and allowing Grue and her companion to stay at his home during her trial.

There is more to Grue’s happy ending. Her former daughter-in-law, Cheryle Johnson read in the Orange County Register what the law was doing to her and said she immediately drove down for her from Hesperia, California. Johnson said, “I came to get her before they sent her up the river. I want her to know she has some place to go.” Johnson said the case against her is “ridiculous” and I agree. Grue accepted her offer.

American’s, I’m worried that our government is so insensitive as to lash out at our own people today just for being poor or homeless. In my opinion, in cases like this our courts should bend the law and judge from the heart. One would think we are taking after the Germans. Are we going to import the ovens from there and throw the homeless in, or maybe we should just march them off into the ocean.

I’m sure many of you have read my articles, Betrayal and Betrayal 2 on how Mayor Tom Daly of Anaheim, California is going after the people that live in motels. Many of these people have low-income jobs and are just trying to keep a roof over their heads. If it wasn’t for these motels, they might also be homeless and face the same problems as Grue.

I wonder if Jesus came back today, he would be arrested for being homeless. We need more caring and generous people like Drake and Alexander who are willing to give of themselves for our needy. Our homeless are depending on it.