Wilfred Wong's Public Statement To John Bird.

WILFRED WONG'S OPEN STATEMENT

TO JOHN BIRD OF THE BIG ISSUE.
Photos & Graphic By Alex Albion.

Photo of John Bird & Monty

By Nigel Kershaw, O.B.E.

...
Mr. Bird, Sir:
I am a long time buyer of the Big Issue and I usually

purchase several copies of the Big Issue from different

vendors each week. One of the Big Issue vendors

whom I have been buying the magazine from for about

5 years now, is Monty, whose pitch is located in Covent

Garden at Long Acre outside of Caffé Nero.
...
I was appalled to discover that the management of the

Big Issue had recently deprived Monty of his pitch simply

because of some free, open criticisms of the Big Issue

which he had aired on his internet blog -

thebiggerissue.org.
...
This is a gross over-reaction to Monty's expression of his

(personal) views. Monty is (quite) elderly and in poor health

and it is unconscionable that being in a vulnerable situation he

should be dealt with so ruthlessly by the Big Issue. Such action

causes grave damage to the Big Issue's image of caring

concern for the homeless and the vulnerably housed.
...
Monty has lost his pitch and the Big Issue is losing its reputation

over this matter - this is a Lose-Lose situation. If Monty's health

deteriorates sharply because he has lost his pitch it will become

even more widely known how the Big Issue has mistreated him.

I have observed over the years how popular Monty is with all

his customers and his many friends and I know I'm just one of

many people who want to see Monty restored to

his pitch as soon as possible.
...
I'm also aware of a number of Big Issue vendors who have

broken the rules - for example, selling outdated magazines,

working at pitches which are not theirs, pretending to need the

use of crutches in order to win sympathy and sell more magazines

or selling the magazine without a Big Issue badge - I knew of one

vendor who did this for months (he was a badged vendor but

kept claiming his badge had been lost). Yet none of these

vendors whom I came across were ever penalised by the Big

Issue's staff but they have instead chosen to punish Monty

despite the fact that he did not break any of the rules at his

well-known pitch or badly treat his customers. This is just

gross double standards by the Big Issue's management.
...
Monty's behaviour at his pitch has always been exemplary

and I certainly do not agree with the unsubstantiated claim

that he has brought the Big Issue into disrepute. It is by

depriving Monty of his pitch that the Big Issue is

being brought into disrepute. To many bystanders

like me it appears that the Big Issue is vindictively

penalising an elderly man in poor health simply

because he voiced some open critcisms on the

internet about his personal and business

situation with the Big Issue.
...
But there need not be a long standoff where both sides

lose. I'm aware that Monty is willing to be flexible and

open with you and is willing to try and reach an under-

standing with the Big Issue's management in order to

urgently get his pitch back.
...
I strongly urge the Big Issue's management to either restore

Monty to his pitch with immediate effect or to at least sit down

and talk to him in an attempt to reach a mutual understanding

which enables him to resume selling the Big Issue once again.

Surely a compromise can be reached by both sides which benefits

all the parties and I urge that the good Big Issue's management

deal with this matter in a fair and flexible way rather than in the

vindictive, narrow-minded manner which they have

so far demonstrated.
...
Thank you for your attention and consideration, I look forward

to a positive outcome between Monty and the Big Issue.
...
Yours sincerely, Wilfred Wong.
Barrister at Law (Non-Practising)

& Parliamentary Lobbyist.
.
(END OF STATEMENT)
...

A QUESTION OF SIMPLE FAIRNESS.

By John Lenhart.
...
Hi John & Peter,
Before leaving England to live in the US and since his

return back home, Monty has committed no crimes

at home, is not wanted here by the British police,

and has no criminal record in the UK.
...
While it is now alleged that he committed some re-

prehensible misconduct in the US, it has no bearing,

I believe, on the excellent conduct of Monty in his

native England or his overwhelming popularity as

a top-notch Big Issue sellor for the past 5 years.

...
His only problem has been with some Big Issue

people in his all too many critical web stories re-

garding them. At my request, Monty has now

removed the majority of those offending stories.

I am glad he did. If restored, he will not write any-

thing further about such people, except perhaps

for their good deeds.
...
I checked with the United States Embassy in London

to find out if the Colorado man, who is whacking Monty

over the head, represents the U.S. Government or

any American law enforcement agencies. I was in-

formed he was not a US official. A private US citizen

is all he is. I understand he is also probably barred

from entering the United Kingdom for reasons

not fully-explained to me.
...
You see, this Colorado man has been “divving up”

all the dirt he can find out against Monty. It appears

the Coloradian has had an ongoing and long standing

personal and family vendetta against Monty for 15

years for reasons best known to him. It seems he

has been out to lynch our Monty at every opportune

moment he can find. He sued Monty and finally won

a case against him for compensatory damages after

he had sued Monty previously on 4 or 5 different

occasions without any success in the civil division

of the US Federal Courts. The Colorado man has

filed numerous US lawsuits against those who

have upset him for whatever reasons. There

seems to be something almost "satanic" about

the man who misleads the public by his

self-styled rank of "clergymanship".

...
Known in some internet and Church circles as a

"fake bishop" and a "notorious and vicious troll",

the man against Monty is alleged to be the 60-year

old adult son of a once disbarred Denver solicitor.

He is also known as a lone online stalker, who under

UK and US anti-stalking laws could find himsef

jailed for his long record of criminal stalking from

his home. He spends an average of 10 hours per

day doing what he does. And, Monty's civil and

human rights has been consistently violated

and abused by this fake bishop in Colorado

over many years.

...

The point of mentioning this American "fake bishop"

is that whatever he truly says Monty did back in the

US, should not be allowed to destroy whatever Monty

has achieved from scratch at his Big Issue pitch or his

relationship with his many customers and friends that

has proved good for him and Big Issue. He hasn't

committed murder, has he? Obviously, not!

...
I have read all the fake bishop says about Monty,

but my own personal opinion is that he is a chum of

mine and my American partner. We will and do stand

up for our Monty despite the horrors given by the re-

vengeful Colorado man. We don’t know him. We only

know Monty and what we know about Monty is

nothing but good. He has done no harm to his

community or his pitch. Many people swear

by him like we do.
...
John and Peter, we ask that you give a second

thought to quickly restoring Monty and to heal

whatever wounds have come from his untoward

suspension.

...

We strongly support all that Big Issue has done for the

homeless and even for what it has done for Monty and

aside from his recent suspension that brings no good

to anybody, except perhaps for the crazy man in the

US state of Colorado. My partner is from there. We

buy Big Issue without failure to help the homeless

person who sells at his or her pitch. We think by this

way we also help the work of Big Issue to improve

the lives of those not so lucky like my partner and I.

...

The good that Big Issue brings must also now been
seen in forgiving Monty and his ungrateful reactions in
the past. He is strong willed, we all agree. But he now
agrees to put behind him any criticism and malice he
has shown on his blog with almost 1,000 daily hits.
...
In all, it boils down to a simple question of fairness.
The American fake bishop is blinded by his apparent

vendetta against Monty. Big Issue should then stand

up for Monty, if not publicly, at least by tacit actions

to continue to help him. Remember please the elderly

man that Monty is has committed no crimes whatso-

ever here at home and has no criminal record in the

UK. That’s what is more important we think than

whatever happened with Monty in the US. Give

him another try, please John and Peter.
...
Courteously, John Lenhart.

UN-Certified Interpreter, Retired.

New York, New York & London, WC2.
johnlenhart@email2me.net
15 June 10.
...
If you support the blog statements by Wilfred Wong,

John Lenhart and/or Anne Hodges, and in their support

for Monty's Big Issue reinstatement, please simply

send in only your name written in the subject line to:
onlinepetitionformonty@gmx.co.uk

THANK YOU! Your e-mail address will not be disclosed.

Those persons who sign the online petition will be added

to the list of names in my next story about my unjust

Big Issue suspension called: "500+ Good Names:

How Many More Names Do I Need, John?"

...
Who Do You Know At This 2oo7 Big

Issue Fund Raising Event? I Count 7.

...

WHICH MONTY? By Anne Hodges.

.

Monty, dear ...

There is a great deal of consternation about you.

I have read that your identical twin brother called

Montmorency has been confused with you called

Montgomery. I'm at a loss to know who is who

and what is what. Which Monty did what? Most

people who know you at my office don't know

what is behind the reason(s) for your sudden

suspension from your Cafe Nero spot. They know

you've gone missing above anything else. I'm so

confused by it all like them. You are so

missed and even loved.

.

Reading what I have of the bad things that

took place in America, I figure your twin could

have used your Christian name to blame you

for his own problems or you could blame him

for your's. Two "Montys" with identical back-

grounds adds enough confusion to wonder who

or what to believe or disbelieve. Myself, I really

don't care what happened to either of you in the

states. As long as you behave like you have for

years in Covent Garden, then one bad Monty

or the other is of no concern to me. My law

office colleagues mostly agree with me.

.

The Big Issue and you must resolve this

matter between you so that you can continue

to serve your buyers and the many friends you

have made around here. You are the talk of the

town, mostly good with some bad. Many miss

you badly. I certainly do.

.

My colleagues may like to sign a group letter or

a collective petition to The Big Issue Foundation,

if you think that might help to bring you back to

Cafe Nero? Let me know Monty, dear.

.

This matter is so sad. It should never have hap-

pened. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope to

see you sitting out there again to greet one and all

with your wonderful manner and Full-Monty

personality. Come back soon, really soon ...

LOL, Anne Hodges, Legal Services

Secretary. Chancery Lane, London WC2.

...

:::::::: u.p.d.a.te ::::::::

Durban, South Africa. ELIZABETH MIDDLETON. said...
MONTY DEAREST. I MUST SAY THE MORE I READ

ABOUT WHAT HAS COME ABOUT IN LONDON FOR

THEM TO TAKE AWAY YOUR BIG ISSUE PLACE IS MOST

DISTRESSING TO ME. IT MUST BE EVEN MORE DISTRESS-

ING TO YOU I AM SURE. DEAREST ONE PACK YOUR BAGS

AND COME TO LIVE WITH ME IN DURBAN. I AM READY TO

TAKE YOU IN. SO COME AND LIVE WITH ME. YOU COULD

STILL SELL YOUR BIG ISSUES HERE LIKE YOU DO IN ENGLAND

IF YOU WISH. IT'S THE SAME ONLY BEING SOUTH AFRICAN.

***

MONTY DEAREST YOU DON'T NEED ANY MORE GRIEF IN

LONDON. THE CAD IN AMERICA IS EVIL BEING A SHAM

BISHOP THAT HE IS. PLEASE, PLEASE COME TO ME. YOU WILL

BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR THE REMAINING YEARS OF YOUR

LIFE WITH ME. IT GRIEVES ME TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED

TO YOU IN LONDON. I ONLY WISH I COULD DO MORE THERE

FOR YOU, MONTY DEAREST ONE. I REALLY DO. FORGET THE

BIG ISSUE AND THAT SHAM BISHOP AND COME BACK TO

SOUTH AFRICA LIKE YOU'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE. STAY

WITH ME LIKE FAMILY THAT YOU ARE TO ME.

***

SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU AS A BLESSING AND

NOT AS AN OMEN. I MUST SAY, MONTY, THAT YOU OBV-

IOUSLY HAVE MANY NICE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT

YOU THAT I SEE JUST FROM READING THE SUPPORTIVE

STATEMENTS BY WILFRED, JOHN, ANNE AND MANY

OTHERS I HAVE READ.

***

BUT I'M AFRAID THAT WILL NOT DO YOU MUCH GOOD.

THE BIG ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY BACK YOU

SINCE IT WAS THE ONE WHO FIRST SUSPENDED YOU FOR

WHATEVER REASON IT DECIDED TO DO THAT TO YOU.

DEAREST MONTY, LET ME KNOW IF YOU DECIDE TO LIVE

IN DURBAN WITH ME. I WILL ARRANGE YOUR FLIGHT AND

WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU BY SPONSORING YOU TO STAY.

THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. ONCE THE

WORLD CUP IS FINISHED, I AM SURE EVERYTHING HERE

WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL. SO COME THEN! LET ME SAY

HOW SORRY I AM OF HOW ROTTEN YOU HAVE BEEN TREAT-

ED IN LONDON. JUST PUT THAT BEHIND YOU. MONTY

DEAREST I AM WAITING SO MUCH FOR YOUR ARRIVAL.

ALL MY LOVING, ELIZABETH MIDDLETON, D.B.E.

- 2010 - June 18 -

...

We are not criminals, homeless New Yorkers tell

cops in protest outside NYPD headquarters.
By Sandra Ifraimova.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/06/15/2010-06-15_we_are_not_criminals_homeless_new_yorkers_tell_cops_in_protest_outside_nypd_head.html#ixzz0r23TRJ6x ...

World Cup, Mates!

...

.

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