Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A battered woman, Holly Ann Collins, fled the United States with her children to protect them from abuse. They were granted Asylum in the Netherlands.

By Beth Walton Published on July 30, 2008 by City Pages News

It was the first week of the New Year when Holly Collins showed her identification card to the clerk at City Hall in a small township in western Holland. "Asylum for an unlimited time," it read on the front. On the back: "American Citizen."

"Have you seen this? An American asylum seeker!" the shocked clerk yelled to a colleague across the lobby. Dozens of people milling about the building stopped to listen. The clerk shook her head, and held the card to the light. She couldn't believe it: an American refugee.

Please read this incredible story of a family outstanding courage in the face of repression Source=>>


MINNESOTA RESIDENTS CLICK HERE!!to send a free, pre-written message to the Minneapolis District Attorney, the Minnesota Attorney General and the Minnesota Governor, and your state legislators, urging them to drop the charges against Holly, so that she and her children can return to the United States and live their lives in peace.

EVERYONE ELSE, Click the button below to send a free, pre-written message to the Minneapolis District Attorney, the Minnesota Attorney General and the Minnesota Governor, urging them to drop the charges against Holly, so that she and her children can return to the United States and live their lives in peace> <>

My brother is 24 and I am 22. We are the “victims!” We want to be heard! We don’t think that our mother should be punished nor silenced any longer.

My mother is a formerly battered woman who is the first American to receive asylum in Europe. My brother and I were abused children who were failed by the American Justice System, but fortunately we received asylum in the Netherlands.

"The court officers literally ripped me out of my mother’s arms as I was kicking and screaming “MOMMY HELP ME! HE HURTS ME AND HE HURTS MY BROTHER! MOMMY…. I WANT MY MOMMY!” The memories of that dreadful day still bring tears to my eyes. I will be haunted by that moment for the rest of my life!"

After trying every legal possibility to secure our safety, on June 30th 1994 this brave woman “kidnapped” us children right out from underneath her abuser. Please note that we voluntarily went with our mother! It was one of the happiest days of our lives! We went “underground” and eventually fled the United States in 1994. (Apparently the Judge reversed custody of Christopher as well, after we left.) After spending 3 years in various refugee camps our shy, petite, young mom won her case under the High Commission for Refugees and was the first American Citizen granted Asylum in the European Union! (My brothers and I also received our own asylum.)

If you would like to get a message of support to Holly Ann Collins or her children, please write to Childrenunderground@hotmail.com

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please review the comments section to this story on City Pages Comments section. This is where the facts of this case are being debated in detail.

Anonymous said...

Beth Imm, the jealous wife of Holly's ex is trying to discredit her, but she hasn't succeeded. Beth Walton did a thorough investigation and should be commended for breaking this story wide open. All federal and state kidnapping charges against Holly have been dropped and she is a free woman! CONGRATULATIONS!

Anonymous said...

Holly Collins' claims about her high-profile custody case are disputed by her own mother, grandmother, sister, brother, former in-laws, her ex-husband and his wife, numerous doctors, Guardians ad Litem, social workers, mental health professionals and all seven judges who have heard this case. Journalist Glenn Sacks has examined the other side of this case and found there are many problems with Holly Collins' version of events. Sacks' analysis of the court record can be found at http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=3265

Anonymous said...

Kathy,

I know this family and both grown children insist that they were abused by their father. When they were young they begged their mother to protect them from their father. I saw the bruises when they returned home from visitation with their father. The father beat the little boy so severely that he broke the child’s bones! The family was granted asylum in Europe. That is nearly impossible for an American. Obviously there was more than enough documentation. If you look at Jennifer's blog, Americanchildrenunderground.bogspot.com you will see that every single medical doctor and all of the treating psychologists tried to protect these children from their father. (The medical reports are supplied by Jennifer, Holly's daughter.)

As for Holly's family not supporting her... that is because when she was 17 years old she finally admitted that her step father was raping her and her sister.

The high powered attorney/step father and the family did not want to be exposed!

Who figures???