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Possible Jail soon - Working for a meeting with Senator Clinton
From: John Murtari (jmurtari@kids-right.org)
This is a message from a mailing list, members@kids-right.org Unsubscribe instructions at bottom of message. ====================================================================== Good People & People of Faith, I had plans on sending a message this week summarizing activity at the Syracuse Federal Building and "our" efforts to engage a Member of Congress (Senator Hillary R. Clinton) in a serious dialog about Family Law Reform. http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionc_syr But recent events have changed some of those plans. Yesterday I was told by a City Court Judge that I would be immediately jailed for "contempt" if he saw me in another arraignment (see details in the letter below). This could mean up to a six month jail sentence -- no fun at all there! It made me think of a recent message I received from a good friend of mine, Jerry: "I read all your stuff... and I sympathize with the goal. Just can't help but think there must be a better way to accomplish the end w/o beating your head on the wall. Ultimately you'll have to amass raw numbers to make the political process work - that hasn't happened so far. What event is going to change that?" I think we are very close to that "event." One person is just a "crank", but two or three are a "movement." If these actions will get those two or three people involved, then they will have served their purpose well -- but unfortunately, you have to follow through and that could mean jail. We have had a little news coverage, but obviously more people would help. Let me tell you, I swallowed hard when the Judge threatened me with Jail (even though I knew I would be going back on Thursday, 8 Aug). The sentence could be a week, 30 days, or 6 months -- and like you, I've got a lot of places I would rather be. What motivates me at this point. I can tell you it sure isn't a desire to get even, or anger at the system, or the judges and the lawyers... When you are mad at someone, it doesn't seem right that you should be the one to go to jail! I think it affirms the power of NonViolent Action, someone acting from anger wouldn't go back. I'm motivated by a tremendous love for my "Sun." Domenic (my 9 year old son) and I had a tremendous time together this summer -- but all too short. While I am not angry at the people involved, the "system" treated us with indignity and not even the slightest respect for our basic Civil rights (many of you know that treatment). That a member of the US Congress would simply refuse to respond to us on the issue is just not acceptable. But I also know that before we can expect Members of Congress to take a risk on a sensitive political topic, we as parents have to "step up" and show our willingness to sacrifice for our kids. If I'm not willing to take personal risk for my son Domenic, who else would? Please, if you can, check the link below and give a call to some of the contacts for Senator Clinton and even the Judge's office. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Let them all know how much we love our children and that change is VERY important. http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionc_syr for copy and complete contact details: ------------------------------------------- August 6, 2002 Judge Kevin Young RE: People v. Murtari Syracuse City Court 511 S. State Street Syracuse, NY 13202 Dear Judge Young and the District Attorney's Office: I was arraigned by you on Tuesday, August 6th, as a consequence of my actions in the Syracuse Federal Building the day before. There seemed to be a lot of confusion about what was going on and the history of my actions. I was especially concerned when told by you to stay away from the building and that I could expect a jail sentence for contempt if I am arraigned in front of you again on similar charges. Judge Young, I certainly do not want that to happen. I have an 86 year old mother and I am her only child. While I understand and accept that my conduct has "risk," I would like to avoid a harsh judgment based on incomplete information. I have great respect for the Court and am not trying to prove that Judge's orders can be disregarded. I wish to take a brief moment to make you aware of what is going on and why. I am at the building in what I can attempt to describe as an exercise in free speech and also to petition my government representative, Senator Hillary R. Clinton, for action on Family Law reform. Without going into details, the attached letter shows one of numerous attempts by members of our Group (AKidsRight.Org) to simply engage our elected representative in a dialog regarding the need for reform -- so far she has refused to make any type of meaningful reply. This is unfortunate and is the immediate reason for me "walking" outside her office in a public area. We are trying to encourage other parents to do the same, but it is a difficult sacrifice to make. At the beginning of 2000 I had over a dozen charges pending for this conduct at both the State and Federal Level. All the State charges were dismissed by Judge Higgins, all the Federal Tickets were dismissed by a US Magistrate. City Judge Merrill had found that such conduct was protected in the County Courthouse. Orders to "stay away" from the Federal building were found invalid. I spoke personally with the assistant US Attorney in charge of the case, Mr. Michael Olmstead, and he also appreciated the unique nature of my actions and told me I had a right to petition my government. Since then, on many occasions I have been allowed to proceed with no arrest. Earlier this year some similar arrests occurred and were dismissed by Judge Rosenthal in City Court and others at the Federal level. It seems clear from the decisions that a charge of "trespass" in a public building is not supported, but I myself find some frustration at being constantly arrested and charged again with trespass for identical conduct. It also seems such a waste of resources when everyone seems to know the charges will be dismissed based on past decisions. I am a member of a small group of parents and we certainly cannot afford a Civil Right's lawyer to argue our case, but I hope the Syracuse Police can be told that in this specific case, trespass is not supported. In the last two arrests Federal Officials have not written any "tickets" at all, just relying on the Syracuse Police to remove me from the building. We are a group of Mothers and Fathers who believe positive change can happen without the need for anger or name calling. That significant social change can be made by people willing to use NonViolent Action, as most recently demonstrated by King and Gandhi. To show by the power of their actions and their willingness to accept personal sacrifice -- that they deeply believe in both a loving God and the "rightness" of their goals. When I am in the Federal Building I do not disturb any type of building operation or access. I do not chant or even make gestures. I do not speak unless spoken to. I just walk quietly in the hall outside Senator Clinton's offices carrying some picture of parents and children unjustly separated. Sometimes people will approach me and ask me what is going on - then I will stop and explain. Our hope is that our actions, along with public attention and publicity will eventually show the Senator that we are sincere and that this is a very serious public issue. We know the Senator is a good person and concerned about family issues. Please understand that no one more than I would like to stop these attempts to get a dialog started with Senator Clinton. I would like to wait until the 29th and the preliminary hearing to get a ruling from you on this matter, but so many clear decisions have already been made and a parent being unjustly separated from their child is such an important issue of Civil Rights. Respectfully yours, John Murtari Attach: Letter to Senator Clinton (http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionc_syr/clinton7.htm --------------------- ================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list at anytime, send email to Majordomo@kids-right.org with the following 1 line in the BODY of the message (Subject is ignored). unsubscribe members
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