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FLDS Petition Results

Posted by Connor on April 20th, 2008

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Note: updates are at the end of the post.

Today has been an interesting day, full of interviews with various media outlets. Having reached 1,000 signatures in the petition I organized, I issued a press release to various journalists and media outlets.

The text of the press release was as follows:

Petition for Texas authorities contains 1,000 signatures
Concerned Citizens Unite Their Voices in Support of FLDS Members’ Constitutional Liberties

LEHI, Utah (April 20, 2008)—Uniting their voices in opposition to Texas authorities’ removal of 416 children from the Yearning for Zion community in El Dorado, Texas, over 1,000 individuals have signed an online petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/free-the-innocent-flds).

The petition demands the release of the detained persons, as well as an apology for the so-called “acts of aggression” conducted by Texas officials.

Connor Boyack, a Lehi, Utah resident, started the online petition on April 15 in order to help call attention to the abuse of civil liberties he believes is taking place. “As I talked with others about the situation, I was surprised to see how many people opposed the actions of the Texas government,” Boyack said. “While most people disagree with the FLDS religion and its practices, myself included, people are frustrated to see the ways their civil liberties have been ignored and to see the government’s aggression.”

Having first collected the signatures online, Boyack will soon be sending a copy of the petition to Texas Governor Rick Perry, Senator Hutchinson, Senator Cornyn, and Commissioner Cockerell of the Department of Family Services.

Boyack hopes the petition will have an effect on the recent decision by Judge Barbara Walther to keep all 416 children in state custody.

He cites a 2006 report (http://www.window.state.tx.us/news/60623statement.html) by the Texas Comptroller that reveals startling information about the Texas foster care system into which these children are likely to be placed. According to the report, children in the Texas foster care system are four times more likely to die than children in the general Texas population. It also reports that in 2004, 100 foster children received treatment for poisoning from medications, 63 received medical treatment for rape that occurred while in the foster care system, and 142 children gave birth while in the system.

“The Texas CPS officials have stated that the children are being removed because of the potential for abuse in the future,” Boyack said. “But how can this be a reasonable action, when this report clearly shows that the system into which they would be placed is itself riddled with abuse?”

The report also explains how Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to act to help remedy the foster care situation and prevented the release of important statistical data in 2005 to assist in a complete report by the Comptroller. In light of this history, Boyack says he doubts that Governor Perry will respond to the petition, let alone heed its request to act in support of the Constitutional rights of the FLDS women and children.

“The odds are against appropriate action, but we have to try,” he said. “Regardless of the outcome, we’re going to make our voices heard to show there is opposition to what Texas officials have done and may do. We hope that somebody with authority will speak out in defense of their Constitutional rights.”

The first reporter I spoke to was Brooke Adams from the Salt Lake Tribune, who wrote an article early this afternoon, lumping me in with the ACLU’s recent public statement. I’ll include here the portion that mentions the petition specifically:

A Utah man also has gathered 1,000 signatures through an online petition site from people who oppose the blanket removal of the children from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado. That petition is on its way to Texas, said Connor Boyack, a political blogger. The petition is online at www.thepetitionsite.com/2/free-the-innocent-flds
…
Connor Boyack of Lehi, who owns a Web design company and writes a political blog, said the petition drive he organized asks that the chiildren be released and officials apologize for the “acts of aggression” against the FLDS.

“I’ve been quite frustrated with the situation as it developed,” said Boyack. “I felt like there was a lack of focus on the constitutional rights of the people.”

He posted the petition online April 15 and within five days had reached his goal of 1,000 names. About 75 percent of those signing identified themselves by name and many posted comments opposing the action.

He is sending the petition to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Senator Hutchinson, Senator Cornyn, and Commissioner Cockerell of the Department of Family Services.

“I don’t expect too much to come of it,” he said.

He said Texas’ child custody system has a documented history of problems, which may place the FLDS children at greater risk than their own community.

“We hope that somebody with authority will speak out in defense of their constitutional rights,” Boyack said.

KSL then stopped by my home to do a video interview. They aired one segment in the 5:30pm hour, and the other just after 10pm. I’ve uploaded them to Youtube for your viewing pleasure:

Jennifer Dobner of the Associated Press then called to do an interview, and wrote up this article:

LEHI, Utah (AP) - An online petition is calling for Texas authorities to release the children and women who were taken from a polygamist sect in a raid this month.

Petition organizers say they have more than 1,000 online signatures.

The Utah man who organized the petition says he doesn’t agree with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its practices. But he says the church members still have civil rights, which he believes were violated by Texas authorities.

Some 416 children from the FLDS-owned Yearning for Zion ranch were placed in state custody after during a weeklong raid that began April 3.

Authorities have also confiscated the cell phones of the FLDS women staying with the kids, preventing them any contact with family or legal representation.

On Friday, a judge ordered the kids to remain in custody and said parents and children will under go genetic testing in order to identify familial relationships.

Connor Boyack, of Lehi, drafted his “Free the Innocent FLDS” petition April 15, circulating it among friends and family. Interest quickly mushroomed because so many people shared concern over the violation of civil rights, Boyack said.

“If there’s any cases of abuse, specific cases, those should be investigated and handled,” Boyack said Sunday. “What troubles me and the main reasons that I started the petition was because based on one anonymous phone call 416 children were essentially legally kidnapped.”

Child welfare officials have said all the children were removed because investigators determined there was a pattern of abuse on the ranch that left all minors at risk.

Boyack said he also bristled at court testimony from a state expert that said children at the ranch were living in an environment that would cause them to commit future abuses.

“That really troubled me,” said Boyack. “The kids haven’t done anything yet.”

Having first collected the signatures online, Boyack will soon be sending a copy of the petition to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Hutchinson, Sen. Cornyn, and Commissioner Cockerell of the Department of Family Services.

Boyack hopes the petition will have an effect on the recent decision by Judge Barbara Walther to keep all 416 children in state custody.

The petition has been signed by people from California, New York and nearly every state in between. There are also signatures from Alaska, Canada and Brazil.

Fox 13, though they didn’t interview me, threw up this little blurb about the petition.

Sadly, none of the Texas papers I sent the press release to have responded. I’m grateful to the various Utah news agencies for picking up the story. I’ll post more here if there are any new developments.

Meanwhile, I plan to collect the contact information for the various Texas officials to whom I will be sending the petition. As I’m quoted as saying in one of the articles above, I don’t expect this to do much, but I can and will certainly try.

Updates:

Catholic.org picked up the story and wrote the following as part of a larger article:

Connor Boyack, of Lehi, Utah has also used technology to take this cause to the people, establishing a website where people could sign an online petition opposing the removal of the children. The petition, which is to be delivered to state authorities in Texas, asks that the children be released and officials apologize for the “acts of aggression” against the FLDS.

The petition reads, “We, the undersigned, urge Texan authorities to free the innocent women, children, and other members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church who are currently being detained. We demand that the Constitutional rights of the innocent be preserved, and that due process be served.

“As individuals are innocent until proven guilty, we call upon the Texas Governor to intervene in this matter and allow the women and children to return to their homes peacefully. We also demand an apology, most especially from the Texas CPS, for the heinous acts of aggression displayed in these recent events.”

Boyack is a blogger who describes himself as a 20-something thinker broadcasting his thoughts on life, politics, and religion to the masses. He posted his petition on April 15 and in five days reached his goal of 1,000 names, 75 percent of whom identified themselves by name. Boyack says he plans on submitting the petition to Texas Governor Rick Perry, Senator Hutchinson, Senator Cornyn, and Commissioner Cockerell of the Department of Family Services.

On his blog Boyack stated, “I don’t expect this to do much, but I can and will certainly try.”

In addition to the online article, the Salt Lake Tribune published this article in the paper.

The Idaho State Journal wrote an editorial and used some of the AP article to quote me on the issue. Commenters seem to be oblivious to the nature of the issue.

I came across this counter petition in support of the Texas CPS, which at the time of posting this, has 31 signatures after six days.

Possibly related posts:

21 comments so far. Care to chime in?

i live in utah and got my two youngest kids kidnapped my the state, i have spent 20,000 on trying to get them back i never did nothing wrong to begin with i have almost died in the last two years 4 times because of the devastation i,ve been through i was a single mother who worked construction i have never even spanked my kids , i have had almost every constitional right taken away from me they never intend on giving kids back anyway they make to much money, i jumped through all their hoops , went to jail for ninety days, with out being charged for 2 weeks tell the juvenile judge came up with a charge of contempt of court, they tried to get my kids to sign thier own adoption papers while incarcerated they denied family members my kids, i got out of jail meet a old neighbor got married hired a good attorney that got my kids placed with my brother now they wont let me see them or they will lose them me and my husband went to jail for buying them school clothes and having a friend drop them off they still have a protective order from a foster family with their names not my brothers
the state pays them money to have my kids as long as i cant see them i have two older kids that cant see them one they tried taking but she went to live with a uncle in wy. after everyone talked me into sighing a paper for their services so they would quit terrorizing my family my two youngest i sent to their dad in nev. because i found out every single mother they mess with loses thier kids, the worker threatened their dad to bring them back to utah or he would be arrested so he complied, a judge wrote a order they where in danger that i never even was informed but they put they had a emergency hearing at which i was notified i found out three days later and had to be hospitalized . they put my kids in a shelter with no schooling 5 different foster homes, they were abused, filthy, and my little girl was drugged my son refused they werent allowed to testifie at my parental right hearing but it pretty much proved they werent abused at just wanted to come home. theirs is so much more to this story,
but i just am proud of you and believe me innocent people are targeted most abused kids dont get removed . they want good beautiful children that foster parents will adopt i have been so emotional for these kids i know what those familys are going through. no one will ever know the devastation until your one of their victims and they lie and dont have to prove anything they have more power than god and the president i think cps should be held accountable for kidnapping are nations kids and believe me its all about money social workers , councilers, lawyers, judges and even general attorneys are on the governments money tree i just found out hillary clinton started all this in the first place.

#1 Brenda Campeau on April 20th, 2008

Connor,
Great work on bringing the importance of this to light for many of us. Hopefully more liberty-loving individuals will step up and defend the rights of others - whether they agree with the life-style they’ve choosen to live or not.
Jeremy

#2 Jeremy Ashton on April 21st, 2008

The AP is always a good sign because every media organization I ever worked in had an AP feed.

#3 Russell Page on April 21st, 2008

Connor, I call upon you to set up FreeTheChildren.org. See
http://miraclesdaily.blogspot.com/

#4 Christian Prophet on April 21st, 2008

Connor, if you do decide to set up FreeTheChildren.org I can possible help with articles and/or advice. I am a Christian minister who is deeply concerned about the civil rights abuses by Children’s Protective Services in various states. I happen to live in Utah, Cottonwood Heights.

#5 Christian Prophet on April 21st, 2008

I can’t believe more people can’t come forward and help protect are civil rights, this is legalized kidnapping, i,ve been jailed for standing up for my rigths against cps even though i never did jail time before, but i won’t stop, unless it kills me which the devastation almost has but i would die to protect these children from the states abuse, no mother or child should be subject to this trauma, unless their is physical abuse proven.

#6 Brenda Campeau on April 21st, 2008

[…] the Prophet at Fayette, New York, January 2, 1831. Related articles: NBC News Story About Petition Petition Organizer Free the Children.org __________________ Love One Another. They will know you are my disciples […]

#7 Free Innocent FLDS Children Now! - Page 7 - LDS Mormon Forums on April 21st, 2008

I always thought the reason my kids got targeted because i worked construction was a single parent worked harder than most men and didn,t take my kids to the mormon church now I have discovered I testiefied against a sheriff in court who once I ran against 14 yrs. ago and pretty much was told I scored higher than any one but didnt get the job because of my gender he targeted me with cps thats what higher up people have told me, I was raised with L.D.S grandparents who were the best people you have ever meant I do go to church now and its this faith in god that has gave me hope I Have tryed most religions but find it is the only one that I feel a greater present around me.

#8 Brenda Campeau on April 21st, 2008

Just wanted to thank you for the admirable effort you are putting forth in regards to this tragic situation. I agree that we must all make our voices heard in defense of the innocents involved in this case.

#9 Melora on April 21st, 2008

Good luck with this. I frequently read your comments on Frank’s blog and I hope you find success.

#10 Ron on April 21st, 2008

This is the most sickening Orwellian abuse on a mass scale. Child “Protective” services worldwide need to be exposed - they are all incredibly destructive and have power beyond belief. I wish someone would write a book on all the horrible things they do to families and children. The chances of your kidnapped child being abused and having a horrible life go through the roof once they are placed “in care” in a foster home. All it takes is one anonymous phone call, and your lovely child can be ripped from your arms, and you will never see them again.

The government knows that there are many, many false accusations of abuse, but they don’t care - they never prosecute false allegations of child abuse. It’s as if there is some kind of profit in kidnapping a child. It is so evil, and most people don’t have a clue it happens - they automatically assume that if there is an allegation of abuse, then the person is guilty.

Please everyone do all they can to stop this. My heart goes out to those poor children and their parents who are the victim of the worst crime by the State. Please sign the petition, write to the ACLU and anyone and everyone demanding that action be taken. This is going to start in Canada soon, the kidnapping may come next there too. CPS is the same there as everywhere - all powerful, and never contradicted by judges. Meanwhile, in Canada there are home invasions, murders, robberies, and all kinds of criminal activity that deserves attention. Something is seriously wrong with society when they let governments get away with this horrible abuse of power.

Speak out! Talk with your friends, neighbours, politicians - let them know that you will not tolerate this crime committed by the State.

#11 Bartleby on April 21st, 2008

Connor,
I thought your interviews were very good. One suggestion I would make is to believe that God will vindicate our efforts. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain then the faith of a thousand can tear down the iniquity of this persecution. Expecting no results can be a self fulfilling prophesy. Have faith! God is greater than the Texas governmental system.

#12 Robert on April 22nd, 2008

Connor,

Good job taking action on this and getting it into the news. Along with Christian Prophet I would be happy to lend any effort I can to set up and/or maintain freethechildren.org. In fact, I’ll make an invitation to you and CP to meet and hash out some ideas to get the site started if either or both of you are interested you can contact my via IM or email - mr.david.miller at gmail

#13 David on April 23rd, 2008

This is the most sickening Orwellian abuse on a mass scale.

Then I realised that Bartleby wasn’t talking about the sexual abuse, and my irony meter broke.

Connor, you’re not a hard guy to figure out — just take the opposite of what a normal person would think, and add a dose of anti-government paranoia — but even I didn’t think you would take the argument this far off the cliff.

If the FLDS weren’t a religion, the evil old men in charge of this sex slavery scam would have been in jail years ago.

And your “I’m anti-abuse” disclaimer is a furphy. No one’s arguing that the girls should be removed if there’s no abuse. But the police got a credible tip that abuse was happening, and moved to stop it. Good on them. You, on the other hand, would be content to see those girls back with their godly and righteous abusers. Laissez faire, right?

It’s a complex issue, but I think you’re on the wrong side of it.

#14 Daniel on April 23rd, 2008

But the police got a credible tip that abuse was happening, and moved to stop it.

Credible? Right. The caller claimed to have broken ribs and have been to the hospital. Yet nobody investigated local hospitals to inquire about an FLDS girl being treated for that case.

The bulk of the force came when investigators went into the “compound” to inquire about “Sarah”, and instead happened to observe some girls who they thought looked underage, who were pregnant and carrying children.

So in they came with the SWAT team, tanks, and a barrage of weapons. And what did they do? They removed the alleged victims—not the perpetrators. They rounded up every child they could find, and did everything in their power to separate them from their mothers. And you say “good on them”. Please.

You, on the other hand, would be content to see those girls back with their godly and righteous abusers. Laissez faire, right?

Ah yes, spot on, Daniel. What an absurd statement to make! I have absolutely no problem with the government investigating and prosecuting specific cases of abuse. That’s why government exists—to protect life and liberty.

The problem occurs when the government grabs every other child they can find in the process, thus punishing innocent civilians for crimes allegedly committed by other individuals. The fact that citizens are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty seems to escape many people these days.

It’s a complex issue, but I think you’re on the wrong side of it.

Right back atcha, bud.

#15 Connor on April 23rd, 2008

police got a credible tip that abuse was happening

It’s looking more and more like the “credible tip” from 16 year old Sarah, pregnant with her second child and abused to the point of broken ribs in Texas came instead from 33 year old Rozita Swinton in Colorado.

It’s amazing what passes for credible these days.

#16 David on April 23rd, 2008

This petition was a great idea, Connor, and you deserve thanks from everyone who cares about freedom in this country. If you decide to do anything more with this, feel free to ask me for help.

#17 Kevin S. Van Horn on April 23rd, 2008

Thank you for giving me a way to make my voice heard. It’s so hard to watch this insanity and feel so helpless. I have to do something about it. It’s just wrong, wrong, wrong!!!

#18 Kathy on April 24th, 2008

I cannot deny how pleased I am to see the significant
response from concerned citizens by way of signing this
petition. It is about time that the cps abuses that have been
plaguing this great country of ours are brought to light
before the masses. What poetic justice. Nevertheless, I am
saddened that it must be at the expense of the
aforementioned victims. This very well could have been
prevented had the mindset of the American public were not
as such, so as to give way to the inclinations of this corrupt
system. As a mother, I can certainly imagine the heart
pains inflicted upon the women, but I cannot wrap my mind
around the injuries borne by the little ones. This has got to
be the most despicable display of unrestrained abuse, and
I have no doubt that this is only the tip of the iceberg. This
is why I implore all, who have been compelled to sign this
petition, to please take a moment and sign another within
this site addressing similar concerns as it pertains to cps
corruption, but on a grandeur scale - Request For All US Cases To Be Revisited, sponsored by Dr Shirley Moore.
Together, we can bring an end to this “gestapo” reign of
terror. Thank you Connor for all you are doing.

#19 Sheila on April 25th, 2008

Those children in Texas must be returned to their mothers! CPS is nothing more than a child-for-profit government agency. They are a business out to remove children from loving families, for the sake of bonuses for the caseworkers. These agents do not care about children and assume ALL parents are guilty. My children were removed 2 years ago on the basis of hearsay and false allegations. CPS actively pursues non-abuse cases such as my own. Now my kids are living in a lesbian household instead of with their heartbroken parents who have been married since 1992. This rampant abuse from CPS needs to be investigated at once!

#20 Susan on April 25th, 2008

I AM SO GLAD TEXAS WENT IN AND SAVED THE CHILDREN FROM THE FLDS CREEPS, HOW SAD THE YOUNG GIRLS ARE GIVEN TO THE OLD MEN, THAT IS JUST SICK. I CONGRADULATE TEXAS, THEY DID A GOOD THING. TOO BAD UTAH DOESN’T HAVE THE GUTS TO DO IT!!!!!!

#21 DIANA SEWELL on May 2nd, 2008