John Murtari Is Jailed
John Murtari and his son Dom
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An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Jail for its breach is more so.
An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.
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Parents should support their children, but "child support" legally is "mother welfare" and has little to do with supporting children. There is no requirement that the money be used for the child nor is the amount based on the childs needs. So called "child support" is also illegal in cases like this when John has been deprived of his parental right to be a parent, not a visitor:
There must be a reciprocal and corresponding right and duty. You cannot have one without the other. A "child's right to support and the parent's right to custody and services are reciprocal". RUBINO V. MORGAN, 638 N.Y.S.2d 524, 525, 224 A.D.2d 903 (3rd Dept. 1996). And BOWEN V. GILLIARD, 483 U.S. 587, 107 S. Ct. 3008, 97 L.Ed.2d 485 (1987).
Welfare Mother, Adrianne Phillipson, has had John put in jail because he is unable to afford the large welfare payments she is demanding. Holding John in Jail does nothing to help his son, Domenic, quite the opposite. Domenic must miss spending time with his father, and on top of that must be worried about how his father is doing in jail, especially given the hunger strike.
This clearly is a case where the welfare mother, Adrianne Phillipson, has put her greed ahead of the interests of her son. I'd suggest people write her and tell her to support her son, by dropping the charges and letting John out of jail:
Adrianne Phillipson - Welfare Mother
1300 30TH ST APT D2-11
BOULDER CO 80303-1750
Phone: 303-786-0691
- 10/11/2006 Criminal Or Loving Father?
- 8/28/2006 A Day In The Life: Hunger Striking Civil Rights Activist Inmate John Murtari
- 8/25/2006 Murtari’s Health Deteriorating Again
- 8/24/2006 Syracuse inmate on hunger strike - includes video of interview
- 8/23/2006 A Question of Mack or Murtari
- 8/23/2006 Passive Resister Murtari: “I’m Back On [Hunger] Strike,” TV Coverage
- 8/22/2006 Activist father Murtari, thankful for press, lucky to be alive
- 8/22/2006 Readers defend John Murtari's fight for parental rights
- 8/17/2006 Murtari Update, McManus Column, 101UsesForBabyWipes
- 8/16/2006 The Need for Shared Parenting by Mike McManus
- 8/16/2006 John Murtari: Man, Son, Father…Peace-loving Activist
- 8/15/2006 Many Thanks - Message from John in Jail
- 8/15/2006 Inmate from Lyons gets feeding tube - Finger Lake Times
- 8/14/2006 Murtari Rally Photos
- 8/12/2006 Protesting child custody laws, John Murtari stopped eating 10 days ago
- 8/11/2006 John Murtari Update - victimsoflaw.net
- 8/10/2006 Devoted and loving father received a feeding tube today... - mensnewsdaily
- 8/10/2006 Lyons man refuses food, water - Finger Lake Times
- 8/10/2006 Jailed activist refusing food - The Post-Standard
- 8/09/2006 Demonstration & Purple Ribbon Campaign - mensnewsdaily
- 8/09/2006 This is about Civil Rights. It’s about not losing your right to parent your child without a jury trial. It’s about Equal Custody.
- 8/07/2006 Loving Father Risking Life in Nonviolent Action to Highlight Need for Family Rights- U.S. newswire
- 8/04/2006 John Murtari in hospital (child support protester) - ANCPR NEWS
- 8/03/2006 Refuses Food And Water, Moved To Jail With Medical Facilities - mensnewsdaily
- 8/01/2006 Dead Broke Dad Starts Non-violent Protest - mensactivism.org
- 7/30/2006 Parent Chooses Jail Over Losing Loving Relationship With Son
July 31, 2006
This message contains info on:
1. John Murtari is jailed.
2. News Release for distribution.
3. How to contact John.
4. How you can help - contact the media and public officials.
1. John Murtari is jailed.
--------------------------
John Murtari had been sentenced to a (six month) jail sentence today by Onondaga County Family Court
Judge Bryan R. Hedges. This was for being in contempt by 'willful violation' of a support order.
John reported to the Jamesville Correctional Facilty (south of Syracuse, NY) at 4 PM, and as planned, refused to cooperate with staff once he identifed himself. He took a seat in the lobby. He refused to answer processing questions and politely explained that he was not going to cooperate. He stayed sitting in a chair until two officers placed him into custody and dragged him out of the room.
He plans on continuing this 'noncooperation with imprisonment' by not voluntarily eating or drinking, but demanding he be fully cared for and hydrated by medical staff.
For complete details and background, including a photo of John and his son, Domenic, see:
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/support_jm.htm
Public attention to what has happened is crucial as part of this effort. The web site link above includes contact info below for various officials and if anyone can offer help with legal fees, they are welcome.
Your letters to John are also very welcome, his contact info is below:
2. News Release
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Loving Parent volunteers for Jail to focus attention on need for reform.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 31st, 2006
Syracuse, NY (Onondaga County Courthouse) -- John Murtari, a resident of Lyons, NY, was sentenced to a six month jail sentence by Family Court
Judge Bryan R. Hedges at the Jamesville Correctional Facility. Murtari turned down an offer of probation in accepting the jail sentence. He will be starting his sentence on July 31st. Hedges found him in willful violation of a support order involving his son. Murtari, a coordinator for an Internet based Parent's group, AKidsRight.Org, strongly disagrees with the finding and in a prior statement (below) sought to explain how much he loves his child. He was forced to choose between emotional support for his child, or just paying money and having limited contact.
He has begun his campaign of 'non-cooperation' with an unjust jail sentence by lying down and not voluntarily eating or drinking while in captivity. He is demanding that jail officials keep him hydrated via IV and fed via feeding tube if necessary. Members of the group are contacting Federal legislators Sen. Hillary Clinton and Congressman James Walsh regarding the matter along with other local officials.
The Group's web site highlights the NonViolent philosophy and practice Martin Luther King used to break the grip of segregation. It hopes a similar attitude will help bring reform and also healing to parents who are often involved in bitter child custody disputes with each other or social services. If the nation can observe loving mothers and fathers making personal sacrifice to call attention to their unjust separation from their children -- positive reform can happen.
Mr. Murtari, a native of Lyons, New York and a former Air Force pilot and Academy graduate is a local coordinator for the group. He is the President of a small Internet company located in Baldwinsville, NY. In contrast to the bitterness and anger which is normally associated with protest efforts and family issues -- Murtari plans a positive attitude. The Group is hoping for Congressional Hearings into Family Law reform so that group members affected by the present patchwork of laws across the nation will have a chance to tell their stories.
They want passage of a Federal Family Rights Act to recognize and protect the parent/child bond. It would presume Fit & Equal parents and require a criminal conviction proving demonstrated harm to the child, with jury protection, before that bond can be broken by any official.
$60,000 dollars behind - what about that!?
"Well, it's easier than you think. Just imagine an initial support level based on twice your income. Imagine your five year old child then being relocated to the other coast and being given 'visitation.' Now, add a former spouse that blocks phone contact. Between airline tickets, accommodations, rental car & expenses -- each 'visit' is almost $1000.
Include three times a year when your child is home with you, but you fly with them back & forth -- three sets of tickets, about another $1000. Pretty soon you are talking real money! But what about your needy child? Aren't shoes & food more important than plane tickets? Suppose your former spouse's family are almost millionaires -- your kid doesn't want for material things, just you.
Lastly, repeatedly file for support modifications, but have them thrown out of Court because the local 'officials' know you and don't want to change anything. Be assigned a public defender (Mr. William Bartholomae) who tells you, "John, just pay the money -- you'll see your son when he's 18."
I've actually spent about $60,000 in support of my child on much less actual income -- but it doesn't count at all? For complete details and legal documents see below. I only know one thing of 'empirical' evidence to support my decision. My son is 13 now, living on the other side of the Country with a former spouse who sought to alienate us. We just completed an enjoyable six week summer vacation and he wishes he could be with me more.
In the last 7 years I have flown out there 4 times a year for visits, and 2 times a year to pick him up for vacations here. How many of those could I have traded away -- and not lost our relationship? I did not want to find out. You?"
-------------- For more information:
Teri Stoddard, Group PR Person: 925-628-1206 (teri@sharedparentingworks.org )
Mr. Charles Keller, Defense Lawyer: 315-450-3846
Background information at the web site:
www.AKidsRight.Org/support_jm.htm
For video of Mr. Murtari in prior TV interviews:
www.AKidsRight.Org/video.html
## End of Release
3. How to contact John.
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Your letters are certainly welcome and if able, John always replies to everyone who writes. His address is:
John Murtari
POD 5A-9
555 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Please check
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/john_jail_address.htm
for any changes to this address.
The website for the Onondaga County Justice Center is:
http://www.ongov.net/Sheriff/jc.html
Visits to the Jail
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If you live in the Syracuse area you are welcome you to visit John at the
Onondaga County Justice Center. Because of his planned noncooperation, his ability to communicate with the outside will be very limited. Having people visit and talk to him is the best way to get the word out and also let jail officials know people are interested.
An inmate is allowed two visits/week, with a maximum of two people/visit. The hours are posted at their web site. To make sure no limits are exceeded, please contact Kelly Button (kbutton@thebook.com, 877-635-1968,x-215) to let him know your plans. He can let you know what visit times are available.
4. How you can help - contact the media and public officials.
--------------------------------------------------------------
We have contact information for various public officials below.
Please write them and let them know you care about this. John can also
use financial help with his Legal Defense, that info also follows.
The MESSAGE should not be one of anger, but merely to say to them, We
love our children. We have been denied our rights. We need
Congressional hearings into reform.
Please ask the Federal and County Prosecutors to examine what is
happening here.
If you have ideas for publicity or other actions in support, please
contact both:
Terri Stoddard (PR Person):
teri@AKidsRight.Org
Kevin Purdy (Webmaster):
webmaster@AKidsRight.Org
To ask
Judge Bryan R. Hedges to reduce Murtari's sentence, call or write:
Judge Bryan R. Hedges
Onondaga County Family Court
401 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 671-2040
To make monetary donations to Murtari's legal fund:
Mr. Charles Keller Esq.
Att: Murtari Legal Defense
9416 Carousel Center Drive
Syracuse, New York 13290
Donations of $100 for press releases:
Call Teri Stoddard at 877-635-1968 ex. 212.
Other donations:
Kids-Right Support c/o Software Workshop Inc.
Att: Media Fund
55 E. Genesee Street
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
To contact public officials on Murtari's behalf:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (up for election this year)
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7378
Syracuse, NY 13261-7378
Phone: 315-448-0470, Fax: 315-448-0476
Congressman James Walsh (up for election this year)
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7306
Syracuse, NY 13261-7306
Phone: 315-423-5657, Fax: 315-423-5669
US Attorney Glenn Suddaby
P.O. Box 7198 100 South Clinton Street Syracuse, NY 13261-7198
Phone: 315-448-0672, Fax: 315-448-0689
Onondaga County DA Bill Fitzpatrick
(John already sent Mr. Fitzpatrick a sworn complaint about
attorney misconduct and perjury -- check
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/support_jm.htm, for details on April 26, 2006.)
505 S. Salina Street Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-435-2470
To contact the media:
WHEC TV (NBC) -
Main Number: 585-546-5670
News Hot Line: 585-232-1010,
http://www.10nbc.com/contactus.asp
WHAM TV (ABC) -
Newsroom: 585-222-1313
Newsroom Hotline: 585-334-8743
News Fax: 585-334-8719
yourstories@13wham.com
http://www.13wham.com/contactus
WROC TV (CBS) - News Tip Line: 585-224-8888,
http://www.wroctv.com/ Newsroom@wroctv.com
WUHF (FOX) - News Hotline: (585) 262-FOX1
News Fax: (585) 232-3005
http://www.foxrochester.com
WIXT/WSYR (ABC 9) - Your stories:
yourstories@9wsyr.com
assignmentdesk@9wsyr.com
315-446-9900
WSTM (NBC 3/UPN 6) -
Newsroom: 315-477-9446
News Tips Line: 315-426-TIPS
news@wstm.com
WTVH (CBS 5) -
http://www.wtvh.com/contactus/default.aspx
Main number: 315-425-5555
NEWS 10 NOW (24 Hour Local News) -
http://www.news10now.com/content/contact_us
News Tips Line 1-866-4NEWS10
News Fax Line 1-866-634-4270
WCNY (PBS 24) -
http://www.wcny.org/contact
Main number: 315-453-2424
Post Standard - City Paper 315-470-0011
Local News:
citynews@syracuse.com ,
Court news: Jim O'Hara, 315-470-2260,
johara@syracuse.com
Times of Wayne County - Local Paper (weekly)
waynetimes@aol.com
http://www.waynetimes.com/
Finger Lakes Times - Local Paper (daily)
Lyons Reporter: Jim Miller
jmiller@fltimes.com
http://www.fltimes.com/
NY Law Journal (Newspaper) 212-779-9200
Newsletter mailing list
Newsletter@kids-right.org subscribe/unsubscribe here:
newsletter
____________________________________________________________________
Coordinator AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
Toll Free (877) 635-1968(x-211)
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/