Reports made at the time of the events are sent to the the blog at www.f4jstreet.blogspot.com

Download the Second Annual National Fatherless Day Rally flier today!

2nd_Annual_NFDR_Flyer.pdf

Father’s 4 Justice Public Demonstration Interrupted by New Jersey Police and Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department Woodbury New Jersey police and the Gloucester County Sheriff Department confiscated a video camera from Fathers 4 Justice Members, Jim O’Brien and Mark Margugalio today.   The confiscation of the video camera occurred while O’Brien and Margugalio participated in a public demonstration in front of the Gloucester courthouse. During an interview, O’Brien said, “The Sheriff descended from a fire escape at the back of a nearby building and had police backup. Sheriff Tyre, took the video camera and said we couldn’t video tape the demonstration in front of the Gloucester County Courthouse because it is a threat to National Security." O’Brien, who has not seen his daughter in 9 months, has spent the last three weeks demonstrating in front of the court house, for what appears to be a violation of due process in the family court. O’Brien, concerned about the escalating abusive nature of police officers during his weekly demonstrations, began taping the incidents with his personal video camera. According to O’Brien, his bullhorn was confiscated two weeks ago, and today Sherriff Tyre told demonstrators to stay away from the street because they might get hurt.” It is reported that Sgt. Ridinger of the Gloucester County Sheriff's department authorized the seizure of the video camera and harassment of demonstrators.   O’Brien said, he intends to be back in front of the court house tomorrow morning, April 8th at 9:30 am.   The phone number for the Gloucester County Sheriff Department is (856) 384-4600

Two members of F4J made sure they were heard at the OSU Campus. click on the picture for the full story.

Donald Tenn of Sacramento, California is taking creative measures to ensure his Christmas gifts are delivered to his daughter in Moultrie County, Illinois.

He is asking Illinois Judge Flannell, who refuses to enforce his California visitation orders, to make the delivery for him.

Donald's partner, Shannon Phillips took their daughter 2,089 miles away to visit family in Illinois. She never returned.

Using his daughter as collateral, Phillips asked Tenn to move their small family to Illinois. His insistence that the family home was in Sacramento, where the pair has agreed to conceive and raise their child, was met with allegations of domestic violence, and the resulting restraining order.

Despite Tenn's unrelenting efforts, and new legal orders from California that demand he have visitation with his daughter, Phillips has only permitted one visitation in nearly three years.

Illinois states attorney, Marvin Hanson, refuses to intervene on Tenn's behalf even going so far as to order the Moultrie county sheriff's office cease providing guardianship exchange assistance to Tenn. Meanwhile, Phillips actions are endorsed by her patron, Dove Inc., a religious organization that generates revenue from the Violence Against Women Act.

Federal taxpayer dollars have funded the alienation of Madison from her father based on nothing but arbitrary emotions and opinions. The judiciary of Illinois has done nothing to protect Tenn's rights as a parent.

Dove, Inc. - Mission Statement:

Dove is a coalition of religious organizations, volunteers, and advocates that seeks to coordinate efforts to address unmet human needs and social injustices. Dove works for justice, equality and understanding among all people.

- "Dove, Inc. changes the lives of approximately 5,000 people a year."

Fathers-4-Justice members from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia rallied in front of Heinz Stadium this past Sunday, October 26. Members felt a football stadium on a Sunday afternoon would be the perfect place to find dads and increase public awareness. The rally was a tremendous success. Members, armed with flyers, signs and flags, walked through the public parking lots and along the sidewalks talking to people about equal parenting. “People were running after us to get our information, one guy chased me, when he caught up to me, he said he has been fighting the family court system for almost 24 years. He thanked me for being there and spreading our message. He asked for some information to give to all of his friends in the same situation, I gave him a stack of flyers, and off he went to distribute them. That was a great moment.” Brian Holladay, a National Boardmember for Fathers-4-Justice, said.

Fathers-4-Justice fights for the civil rights of parents and grandparents, so it is odd that authorities, in what appears to be a violation of civil rights, interrupted this rally.

Jesse Storm, President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Fathers-4-Justice, was detained and threatened arrest by a Pittsburgh Police. Storm explains, “This stemmed from a Rally that was taking place by a few states. We where stopped by the Security at the Heinz Field. They told us that we where not allowed on the public sidewalks and the public property surrounding the Heinz field complex. We had the “Daddy Justice Film" camera with us to record our rally and continued to film security asking us to leave public property. When Sgt. John Fisher of the Pittsburgh Police, showed up his issue was with my camera. The Sgt. asked me to turn off the audio recording device. I showed him that camera was turned off, he attacked me pulled the camera out of my hand and handcuffed me. He stated that recording, audio, was against the wiretap laws of Pennsylvania. I tried to explain to him that we where on a public side walk and there was no assumption of privacy. Nevertheless, he handcuffed me. Sgt. John Fisher, a Landmark security office and another police officer took me inside Heinz field. They took the “Daddy Justice Films” from my camera even after I informed that that I work for "Daddy Justice Films", a media source.

After a phone call, he district attorney instructed them to release me immediately. The DA said we are allowed to demonstrate on the sidewalks and to continue our rally. We attempted to moved forward with our rally, Landmark security stopped us again insisting that we where not allowed on the public sidewalks or egresses around the field.”

Fathers-4-Justice planned a peaceful rally and demonstration to increase public awareness. Security officers and police interrupted the F4J rally for an hour. Storm says, “By the time I was released and given permission to continue the rally, and stopped again by Landmark security, most of the people where inside the field. Thousands of dollars where wasted on printing flyers, rental cars, fuel and tolls to get these folks to the rally.”

Fathers-4-Justice is grateful for what was accomplished but feels they could have interacted with twice as many people had they not been illegally stopped. When asked if anyone plans to press charges, Holladay said, “Our board of directors will discuss the issue this week.”

Congratulations on another successful DC festival! Please click on the link below for pictures, videos and stories from those in attendance in Washington DC.

http://www.dcfestival2008.blogspot.com

View the Slideshow

F4J in Washintong DC

F4J enjoyed another successful rally in Washington DC this year. With that, a few training videos were created to assist others in organizing a rally and getting people interested and motivated to come out and support us in "fighting for truth, justice and equality in family law".

Part 1 Brian Holladay

Part 2 Keith Owen

Part 3 Keyatte Hays

Part 4 Larry Holland

Fatherless_day_rally_2008.pdf

Event organizers shut us down early by not allowing us to walk the street from the parade side to hand out stickers! However, I think we handed a thousand stickers despite of what happened. Take a look at the kids who participated proudly wearing the F4J message riding on the float!!

There were a number of people missing from these pictures who participated and F4J wants to Thank everyone who stepped up to participate today - especially the Kids! Question: "How do you eat an Elephant?" Answer: "One Bite at a time!"

9-12-07: F4J Welcomes Equal Parenting Bike Trek in PA

Washington, DC —

Two British activists from Fathers 4 Justice UK have just landed on the Lincoln Memorial. Jolly Stanesby (aka Batman) and Mike Downes (aka Captain America) have climbed The Lincoln Memorial because of Abraham Lincoln’s connection with the abolition of slavery.

This humanitarian mission is designed to save children and parents from the ravages of the for-profit divorce industry that terminates the parental rights of thousands of Americans daily. Many believe these courts and actions are unconstitutional, and much is being done to seek federal intervention. About every two seconds a child’s bond with one good and fit parent is terminated because of a family law system and divorce industry that is in need of serious reform. States receive billions of federal dollars annually as incentives to drive up child support that is paid by American taxpayers.

Jolly Stanesby has been involved in more than fifteen different civil disobedience actions to help children in the UK, and has a dream that someday all American and British parents will be treated equally. He hopes that the family court systems will acknowledge what science has known for decades, that children grow up far better when they have near equal time with both parents.

Fathers 4 Justice has been a nonviolent direct action organization since 2002 and has had a major impact on the treatment of fathers and children in family courts.

Click here for photos of F4J™ activites across the US

A different view of Celinas "Hall of Injustice"

The Parade in Celina Ohio was so well represented by many caring parents in support of all Fathers and Mothers, they all worked hard to make this happen. Special Thanks to Paul Fisher, Captain of the West Central Ohio Region, for bringing this all together. The response from the people watching the parade at times was breathless. Paul's case in the Ohio Supreme Courts and constantly in the local news papers has made this issue so important and personal to many locals. The overwhelming cheers and thumbs up from so many, you almost forget how much the Courts hate you for demanding to be treated as an equal parent. I actually heard claims that folks there believed he should run for Mayor, I don't think thats Paul's goal, he just wants to be treated as an equally, caring, loving Parent.

Another Special Thanks goes out to Brian Heaton, for so much abuse this man has taken from the courts and yet he finds time to be a father, when the courts allow him and not throwing him in jail, also makes a 2 1/2 hour ride with his children to join the parade. I hope you join us next time. What could you have added to make this a better float? Where would you fit yourself in this Picture? When is the next parade in your Town? Call Keith Owen ASAP, 419-435-5166

F4J® at Columus, OH Gahanna Creekside Blues Festival 6/16/2007

For over 100 years, the Blues have expressed heartbreak and social injustice – and who knows heartbreak and social injustice like a non-custodial parent who pays child support, yet has little or no access to their children? Over the father’s day weekend at the Gahanna Creekside Blues Festival (Columbus, OH), F4J members took to the streets of the festival with business cards and informational flyers in hand - with the objective of educating the public and recruiting new members. The purple crusaders fighting for “truth, justice and equality in family law” were well received by the festival crowd.



The day was hot and steamy and the music was too. Colin John and Michael pictured below, at the Gahanna Creekside Blues Festival.

By Lauren Pack

Saturday, March 31, 2007

HAMILTON — Pictures of fathers wanted for child support attached to pizza boxes prompted a protest at a Hamilton pizzeria Friday.

Members of Fathers-4-Justice, a nonprofit volunteer group fighting for "truth, justice and equality in family law," stood outside Karen's Pizzeria on Eaton Avenue for hours dressed in camouflage pants and bright shirts, waving posters and banners stating "Kids need both parents. Families now. Reform now."

The business began placing posters from the Butler County Child Support Enforcement Agency depicting "deadbeat dads" on their delivery boxes in August. According to CSEA, the effort let to the arrest of at least one man who owed $21,200 in child support.

Karen Willis, owner of the business, said she doesn't plan to discontinue the effort.

"I think the children need the support," Willis said.

John Fowler, a member of Fathers-4-Justice, said he asked Willis to remove the posters featuring the delinquent dads from her boxes before the protest began. She declined and about a half dozen people started waving signs about 11 a.m. and urging passersby, with the assistance of a bull horn, to eat elsewhere..

"I said no, absolutely not," Willis said, when asked what she told the protesters who urged the removal of the posters. "They don't scare me."

Fowler of Columbus said the group is protesting the way fathers are portrayed in the posters as well as in the court system, where he believes fathers are rarely granted equal custody.

"We need a change in the legal system that insures 50/50 parenting," Willis said, adding that when fathers are active and involved in their children's lives they are more likely to meet support obligations in full and on time.

Fowler said the children are often the ones hurt the most by tactics, such as faces on pizza boxes.

"Can you imagine how the children feel seeing their father's picture and how they are treated at school when their friends see it?" he said.

Carol Wintz, a single mother from Delaware, Ohio, was one of the few women protestors Friday.

"Fathers are more than just an ATM machine," she said. "And as long as the legal system continues to treat them as just a source of money and not an equal parent, there will be problems."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2841 or lpack@coxohio.com.

www.middletownjournal.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/30/hjn033107dads.html

Fathers-4-Justice® growing presence in northwest Ohio was evident this past Monday as they decended on Lucas County Family Courts for the thrid time in as many months.

A group of about 25 F4Jers marched outside the main courthouse doors for several hours in their distinctive black and purple F4J shirts and purple camos and an array of signs calling attention to the injustices taking place just inside the glass doors.

At one point a female Toledo Police officer was sent outside by courthouse security to break up the demonstration, claiming that the group was loitering. Upon approaching Keith Owen, the F4J™ NW Ohio Coordinator and demo organizer, Keith did an excellent job and stood his ground on our First Amendment Right to assemble and protest. When local TV Crews heard that the police had been dispatched over their Police Scanners three TV stations promptly arrived to film the incident. Once a Toledo Police public relations officer took the female officer aside they both hopped in their cruiser and departed, never to be seen again.

It is obvious that courthouse officials are now feeling the impact of the efforts of our brothers and sisters in NW Ohio now that they realize they are not going to stop demanding justice. Another demostration is planned for April. (see details below) Be sure to make plans to attend and make his the biggest, loudest and most successful demonstration yet!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 NOON

Juvienile Courthouse

1801 Spielbusch Avenue

Toledo, OH 43604

(419) 213-6722

ABC News, Mercer County Rally for Parental Equality

Photo by Mark Pummell

Dave Hipley takes a look at a pamphlet handed to him by Keith Owen, left, and Paul Fisher of Celina, who were protesting for Fathers4Justice in front of the Mercer County Courthouse on Wednesday morning. The peaceful rally was held in support of a Supreme Court case that originated in Mercer County and questions the laws judges use to modify shared parenting orders.

www.dailystandard.com/archive/pict_single.php

Fathers-4-Justice in Mercer County Ohio 2-28-07

	Fathers4Justice, a group concerned with child custody in divorce cases, demonstrated in front of the Knox County Court House on Wednesdy morning. From left, Wonder Woman, aka Carol Wintz, Delaware, who is fighting for justice; and Elmo, a Knox County father who declined to be identified for fear of court reprisals. (Photo by Virgil Shipley )

By Virgil Shipley, News Photographer

Thursday, March 01, 2007

MOUNT VERNON — “There is a very serious issue in Knox County, and we want people to know about it,” said John Fowler, U.S. coordinator for Fathers4Justice. The issue, Fowler said, is equality for dads in domestic relations courts. He added there are issues with Common Pleas Judge Otho Eyster and Juvenile Probate Judge Jim Ronk.

Fathers4Justice staged a protest in front of the Knox County Courthouse for two hours Wednesday morning to let the judges know the group is watching. Group members displayed signs and banners, and used a bullhorn to be seen and heard by drivers passing by. The group came to Knox County because, Fowler said, “we have received several complaints from people on issues affecting fathers and child custody in divorce cases.”

In the coming weeks, Fowler said, Fathers4Justice will be reviewing Knox County court divorce records to monitor the courts rulings in divorce custody. The group does go into courtrooms when judges rule on custody cases. Fowler said three domestic relations courts in Columbus refused them admission, but the group filed grievances with the Ohio Supreme Court to get permission to attend. Recently, in Morrow County, Fowler said the mayor and police chief refused to let them demonstrate and distribute fliers. According to Fowler, a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union changed their minds and the group was able to demonstrate. Fathers4Justice is registered as a nonprofit organization; as a nonprofit, the group is allowed to demonstrate and pass out literature.

There are two major issues with custodial rulings, according to a pamphlet published by the group. In 37.9 percent of rulings, the father is denied any visitation. In 40 percent of cases, the mothers reported they had interfered with the father’s visitation rights to punish their ex-spouse.

The nonprofit group now has coordinators in 20 states. It raises money for the program by selling T-shirts and other items, and also receives money from contributions. Two of the demonstrators were dressed as Wonder Woman and Elmo, because, they said in support of their cause, they believe all parents are superheroes to their children.

If the residents of Toledo want to know why their city is a national hotbed for teen prostitution they need only look to their local family courts for the answer. Family court judges are ignoring the rights of children and placing them in high-risk situations. These judges routinely award mothers sole custody of their children following separation or divorce, essentially cutting these kids off from their fathers.

Fathers-4-Justice™ U.S. (F4J) staged a protest on Friday, January 12, 2007 at the Lucas County Domestic courthouse to call public attention to the crimes against children at the hands of Lucas County family court judges.

Click here to read the Toledo Blade story on the event.

11/12 2006: Fathers-4-Justice ROCKS Boston Hundreds gathered at Faneuil Hall Square in Boston on Sunday, December 10, 2006 as Fathers-4-Justice™ U.S. (F4J) protested the Massachusetts family court system which routinely strips fit mothers and fathers of their fundamental right to parent their children. [See the Boston Videos!]

Boston Custo-TEA Party Click image for more photos

Four Generations of the WOMEN of F4J!

Fathers-4-Justice protests the bureaucratic blow hards that refuse to stop a father's child support even after the children's mother had died! (more)

 The Newark Advocate - Online Version

  Front Page - Print Version

 Pictures of the Demonstration

F4J Board Member Judi Smith-Phelps explains to the media that false allegations of abuse ARE abuse.

...Where "ALL kids count!" More kids in the system, means more money to fuel the machine.

Last year alone, Franklin County Children's Services (FCCS)  "serviced" Franklin County families by stripping them of 2,924 kids and placing them in foster care. (view photos).

The Buckeye Ranch is one of the agencies contracted by FCCS  to "manage" their heavy caseload. Read The Columbus Dispatch article.

Read the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform Report on OH.

Red, White and Boom Parade Columbus, Ohio July 2006 [click for video]

Red, White and Boom Parade Columbus Ohio June 2006 Click image for video