Once they leave foster care, these most troubled youths often have no reliable adults to advise them or provide emotional support, said Gary Stangler, director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.

Set Our Children Free

Nationwide Protest December 1, 2004

On December 1st, 1955, a young African-American woman, Rosa Parks, took a stand against injustice by refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Her courage, fortitude and determination sparked the fires of protest that gave birth to the civil rights movement.

Forty nine years later, it is necessary to follow the example set by this brave woman. Parents are coming together to declare their refusal to accept the exploitation of their children who are being taken unjustly from them and thrust into foster care and adoption. This unnecessary removal of children by our government is estimated at 3,000 per day in America.

Kidnapped children languish for years, locked away in strange foster homes, group homes or therapeutic "facilities," growing despondent, and heartbroken while yearning for family and freedom. Children become state property, and as foster children, are subject to be truly abused, starved, beaten, raped, drugged, and all too often killed in these government sanctioned "homes" and facilities.

Parents are coerced to participate in government approved, court ordered "programs" often at the expense of their jobs, homes, marriage, and sometimes even their very lives under the threat of never seeing their children again. These hapless parents are then placed on government "abuse registries" virtually guaranteeing that many of them will never be able to find suitable employment again.

After being compelled to participate in and endure all the government mandated classes, evaluations, treatments and therapies, tragically, most parents still do not regain their children. Our government has become so good at taking children from their families, the rules and policies they use are constantly streamlined and unfortunate, parents are relieved of their children in no time.

The government agency responsible is known by various names throughout the nation, but whatever name is used, they are present in virtually every county in every state. These agencies are commonly known as "Child Protective Services" or "CPS" is the largest and most out-of- control bureaucracy in the entire United States; each day conducting thousands of kangaroo courts, in which every parent is guilty, until proven innocent. Abuses and errors in judgment are common. Instead of receiving comfort and encouragement, innocent parents are often drawn into a system that has a pathetic record of protecting the children entrusted to it and a grizzly history of family annihilation.

Numerous studies have uncovered the festering corruption within CPS; corruption that is deeply embedded which is causing this "invisible family holocaust" in our nation. The Child Abuse and Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is to blame for creating federal financial incentives for the county run CPS agencies to take children from their birth families and maintain them in foster care.

If you think it isn't happening here in America, think again.

Time after time, special commissions have also uncovered scandals and corruption within the Family and Juvenile courts and the associated Bars that support them. These investigations have shown, over and over, that families are being systematically and recklessly destroyed through unlawful adversarial practices yet the child abuse industry grows and flourishes.

Foster children are the most under-represented group in our human society, enduring involuntary removal from their families and often being used as income by government funded foster homes, group homes and therapeutic facilities. In these settings, they are often sexually and physically abused, starved and frequently forced into slavery. They live in these make-believe families until they turn 18 and then are discarded [when the money runs out] to live on the streets and fend for themselves.

If you are a parent or foster child, or someone who wants to voice your opinion on these disturbing issues, or if you have been unjustly denied custody of your children by the family and juvenile courts, its time to join us in this protest to bring CPS into compliance with the law.

On December 1st, 2004, in commemoration of the courage and example set by Rosa Parks, the American Family Rights Association in cooperation with it's membership, member organizations and family advocates, will be gathering nationwide at the following locations and peacefully protesting at court-houses, social service agencies, and capital buildings to protest this war on families.

Please contact your state coordinators, found below:

Alabama

1. Save Father Christmas!
   11:00 am until 1:00 pm
   Jefferson County Domestic Relations Court
   2124 7th Ave. North
   Birmingham, Alabama
   (205)663-9984

Alaska

1. Office of Children's Services
   751 Old Richardson Hwy. Suite 300,
   Fairbanks, AK
   E-mail Susan Ashley
2. Office of Children's Services
   550 West 8th Avenue
   Anchorage, AK
   E-mail Nicole Garcia

Arkansas

1. Russellville, Arkansas Department of Human Services
   312 East Main Place
   Arkansas Blvd. (behind Wendy's)
   8:00 am till 12:00 noon
   E-mail Pebbles

Arizona

1. Arizona Capital
   1700 W. Washington
   Phoenix, AZ
   10 am to 6 pm
   E-mail Arizona AFRA

California

1. CPS and Family Court building
   3341 Power Inn Road,
   Sacramento, CA
   8:15 am
   E-mail Sacramento Area Contact
2. Department of Children's Protective Services
   15880 Ramona Avenue
   Victorville, CA 92392
   (760) 388-4922
   E-mail Victorville Area Contact
3. Department of Children's Services
   56311 Pima Trail,
   Yucca Valley, CA 92284
   11:00 am
   (760) 363-6568
   E-mail Crimes Against Humanity

Colorado

1. Jefferson County Division of Human Services
   900 Jefferson County Parkway
   Golden, CO 80401-6010
   8:00 am until 12:00 noon
   E-mail Jefferson County Contact
2. Fremont County Department of Human Services
   172 Justice Center Road
   Canon City, CO 81212
   8:00 am until 12:00 noon
   E-mail Fremont County Contact
3. Alamosa Department of Human Services
   610 State Street
   Alamosa, CO 81101
   8:00 am - 5:00 pm
4. El Paso County Department of Human Services
   105 North Spruce
   Colorado Springs, CO 80905
   8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Florida

1. Hernando County Courthouse
   20 N Main Street
   Brooksville, Florida 34601
   10:00 am
   E-mail Brenda Swallow-AFRA (Certified Florida Family Advocate)
   Phone: (352) 684-1991
   Cell: (352) 363-3475
2. Kids Central, Inc. Office
   11331 Ponce de Leon Blvd
   (Next to Florida Hwy Patrol)
   Brooksville, Florida
   10:00 am
   E-mail Brenda Swallow-AFRA (Certified Florida Family Advocate)
   Phone: (352) 684-1991
   Cell: (352) 363-3475
3. Hernando Visitation Center
   275 Oak Street,
   (off Highway 41)
   Brooksville, Florida 34601
   10:00 am
   E-mail Brenda Swallow-AFRA (Certified Florida Family Advocate)
   Phone: (352) 684-1991
   Cell: (352) 363-3475

Georgia

1. Pike County DFACS office
   606 US Highway 19
   Zebulon, Georgia
   10:30am
   We will be gathering at the Joel Edwards Library next door at 618 on Hwy. 19
   Telephone: (770) 567-0000
   E-mail Pike County Contact

Hawaii

1. East Hawaii Child Welfare Services
   State Building
   75 Aupuni Street
   Hilo, Hawaii 96720
   Will also be gathering in the park behind the State Bldg. close to the King Kamehameha Statue.
   Time: 12:00 pm
   Contact: E-mail Kim De Morales

Iowa

1. Linn County, Iowa Courthouse
   May's Island
   3rd Avenue Bridge
   Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
2. Wapello County, Iowa Courthouse
   101 W. 4th Street
   Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
   Members will be in front of the courthouse from 10:00 am until noon
3. Keokuk County, Iowa Courthouse
   101 S. Main Street
   Sigourney, Iowa 52591
   Members will be in front of the courthouse from 1:00 am to 3:00 pm

Illinois

1. Winnebago County Courthouse
   400 West State Street,
   Rockford, Illinois
   Meeting at 12 noon
   E-mail G. Kelly
2. River Valley Justice Center
   3200 W McDonough Street
   Joliet IL 60431
   E-mail Joliet Contact

Indiana

1. Department of Family and Children's Services
   152 Indiana Avenue
   Valparaiso, Indiana
   E-mail Patti Pupp
2. Statehouse
   200 West Washington Street
   East side of the building on Capitol Ave. between Washington St. and Ohio St.
   Indianapolis, Indiana
   10:00 am to 4:00 pm
   E-mail Bif

Kentucky

1. Family Court
   Jefferson County Child Support Division,
   315 W. Mohammed Ali Blvd,
   Louisville, Kentucky
   Downtown Louisville
   E-mail Jefferson County Contact

Maine

1. Department of Health and Human Services
   17 Eastward Lane
   Ellsworth, Maine
   9:00 am until 2:00 pm
   E-mail Penny Penguin

Michigan

1. Oakland County Courthouse, South Entrance
   1200 N. Telegraph Road
   Pontiac, Michigan 48341-1032
   E-mail Rev. Randy Blair
2. Allegan County Courthouse
   Allegan, Michigan
3. Clinton County Courthouse
   St Johns, Michigan
4. Montcalm County Courthouse
   Stanton, Michigan

Missouri

1. Dade County Division of Family Services
   105 Grand Street
   Greenfield, Missouri 65661
   E-mail Dade County Contact

New Jersey

1. The Asbury Park
   630 Bangs Avenue
   Asbury Park, New Jersey
   Monmouth County
2. Newark DYFS officeDYFS
   153 Halsey Street
   Newark, New Jersey
   Essex County
3. Hackensack DYFS office
   60 State Street Hackensack, New Jersey
   Bergan County
4. Trenton DYFS office
   50 East State Street
   Trenton, New Jersey
   Mercer County
5. Newton DYFS office
   20 East Clinton Street, Newton, New Jersey
   Sussex County
6. Toms River DYFS office
   1510 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey
   Ocean County
7. Mt. Laurel DYFS office
   1000 Howard Blvd.
   Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
   Burlington County
8. Camden DYFS office
   101 Haddon Ave.
   Camden, New Jersey
   Camden County

Oregon

1. Midtown Department of Human Services
   Meet at 10:00 am
   NE 1425 NE Irving, Bldg 400
   (Behind the parking lot between freeway on ramp and Benson High School.)
   E-mail Susan Detlefsen or call Leshia Hart (503) 474-9763
2. Beaverton Department of Human Services
   Meet at 10:00 am
   12901 SW Jenkins Road
   Beaverton, Oregon
   Contact: Valerie Barbeau (503) 642-0265
3. Clackamas Department of Human Services Location - TBA
4. Salem Juvenile Court Building
   Meet at 10:00 am
   3030 Center Street
   Salem, Oregon
   E-mail Pamela and Will Gaston
5. Eugene Department of Human Services
   Meet at 10:00 am
   Chad Drive
   Eugene, Oregon
   Contact: Shirley Kinter (541) 988-98115
6. McMinnville Department of Human Services
   Meet at 10:00 am
   368 NE Norton Lane
   McMinnville, Oregon
   E-mail Julie Dodge
7. Grants Pass Department of Human Services
   727 NE 7th
   Grants Pass, Oregon
   Contact: Tina Reorowitz (541) 474-97637
   Pioneer Square Meet at 12:30 pm
   Downtown Portland (Broadway and Morrison, behind Starbucks, across from Nordstrom's)
   E-mail Susan Detlefsen
   *Smaller groups will meet up in downtown Portland for a "Set the Children Free" rally

Pennsylvania

1. CPS Building
   300 North Center Avenue
   Somerset, Pennsylvania 15501
   E-mail Somerset Contact

South Dakota

1. DSS Administration Building
   (located behind the Capitol Bldg.)
   Pierre, South Dakota
   1:00 pm Central Time
   From there we will march down to the Capitol and present a petition to the Governor.
   Staging area to meet is at the Coffee Cup Fuel Stop at the Vivian Exit #212 Highway 83 North at Noon CT. We will have a caravan from there into Pierre.
   

Texas

1. 2525 Murworth,
   Houston, TEXAS 77054
   (near the Astrodome)
   10:00 am
   Contact: Dr. Herschel Smith, (281) 330-0627
   President, Harris County Leadership Council

Vermont

1. Windsor County Court House
   82 Railroad Row
   White River Junction, Vermont
   11:00 am until 2:00 pm
   E-mail Lynn Blake or E-mail Vermont Contact

Virginia

1. Department of Social Services
   1510 Williamson Road NE
   10:00 am until 12:00 noon
   We will go straight to Juvenile Court
   315 Church Avenue SW
   Roanoke Virginia 24014
   until 2:00 pm
   E-mail Virginia Contact

Washington

1. Meet across from KOMO Television
   In the court yard by the Space Needle
   140 Fourth Avenue North
   Seattle, Washington, 98109
   10:00 am
   E-mail Suzy Nickel or E-mail Kelly Vick

Suzy Nickel, Director
Kelly Vick, Co-Director

American Family Rights Association
Washington Chapter
1063 S. Capitol Way, Suite 212
Olympia, Wa 98501

(360) 864-2709 Toledo
(509) 217-7710 Spokane

Washington AFRA
American Family Rights Association
National Protest Details

©2004 Kelly Vick

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