[AKidsRight.Org] Syracuse Update: Mom volunteers to write with chalk / Federal charges dismissed!

jmurtari@AKidsRight.org

Good People and People of Faith:

I have two significant events that happened today that I want
to pass on regarding our attempts to get a meeting between Senator
Clinton and parents. http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionc_syr
This is a QUICK message just to get the word out, check the link
above for developing details tomorrow.

1) Mother volunteers for 'chalk writing' tomorrow (25 Jan, 2PM).
2) US Attorney moves to dismiss charges for 'chalk writing'.

There was a great response to the "Field of Dreams" message
(http://www.kids-right.org/archive/archive2005/0007.html) and I
still have not had a chance to reply to those of you who wrote in.

This morning Cathy Hughes <courageouscat22@yahoo.com>, who is from the
New York City area, called me and said she would join me tomorrow at
the Syracuse Federal Building.  She would be willing to write "I LOVE
YOU" to her kids with chalk and face arrest.  This is not a step to be
taken lightly, it was something she had thought about, and she had
reviewed the NonViolent Action checklist we have at the site,
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/checklist.htm

We plan on meeting tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at about 10 AM in my
Company offices in Baldwinsville (north of Syracuse).  This will
give us a chance to review events and she will also be preparing a
personal package to present to Senator Clinton's staff before we
write on the Federal Plaza ground, our "Field of Dreams".  We will
then take a local bus to the Federal Building (since we may not need
return transportation if arrested and held).  Events should begin at
the Federal Building at 2PM.

Needless to say, this could be a VERY significant moment in our
effort. I certainly encourage you to email Cathy and thank her for
her efforts.  Cathy and I would certainly welcome anyone who wants
to come and just watch what happens and lend moral support!  If any
other mother or father feels they may be ready to write "I LOVE YOU"
with chalk, please review the material above.  Please call me BEFORE
10 PM EST on my cell phone at 315-430-2702, or after 8 AM EST at my
office number 877-635-1968, x-211

We are preparing some News Releases and contacting local media (they
will now have something 'new' to report on).  You are certainly
welcome to spread news to any other media outlets. The more people
who can be there at 2PM, the better.  If you have time, you are
welcome to join us in the morning at my office.  There is a
clickable map at the Company website (the bottom of the page),
http://www.thebook.com/

Again, certainly a prayer of Thanks is in order.  Hopefully everyone
will conduct themselves in a manner which will make us and our
children proud!

US Attorney moves to dismiss charges for 'chalk writing'.
--------------------------------------------------------
This afternoon I returned for an appearance at the Federal
Courthouse (also located in the Syracuse Federal Building).  Asst.
US Attorney Richard Southwick made a motion for dismissal of the
pending charges against me which was granted by US Magistrate Judge
Lowe.

Last Thursday the US Attorney's office was asking for a speedy trial
on the matter.  Mr. Southwick explained that the government had
decided not to pursue the matter since the 'damage' was minor and
cleaned up quickly.  It would have been a large expense to pursue a
Court case with only limited jail time or the ability to recover
monetary damages.  He did make it clear that the government still
held they would have prevailed in Court if this had gone to
trial. He was also unclear on what the government's response would
be to future events, although they reserved the right to prosecute.

We can only guess at motivation and I think your calls and contacts
to Senator Clinton are having an impact.  There does appear to be
some coordination between the Senator's staff and the US Attorneys
office.

It is difficult to say what will happen tomorrow when Kathy and
I start our effort.

So you can get to know her, here are excerpts from some messages:

> This is Cathy Hughes. I live about 2 hours south of you, in Orange
> County New York.  I am so torn about this issue as many parents I
> am sure are ...  I was not aware of the web site until Monday
> evening, and yesterday (Tuesday) I had to go to a hearing for
> support (I am the non-custodial parent, waste of time, he never
> showed up, judge dismissed it) ... I am definitly interested in
> doing what I can to help.  My main problem is that I lost
> everything in December when my husband had me thrown out of the
> house.  I have a borrowed car, no job, and to say the least, no
> bail money.  Will I drive to Syracuse anyway?  Sure will.  And I
> am willing to drive others that may be in the area! .  I love road
> trips!!!  Especially when they are for a good cause.  Please write
> back this evening with what I can do ...  I just wanted to send a
> greating of prayer and Hope for the weekend. This is my visitation
> weekend, and though it is already almost 3 PM EST, and we are
> supposed to meet for the exchange at 5:30 PM, I am still waiting
> to see whether I will be seeing both my children or not...

Again, many thanks to those of you who have sent words of support
or called/faxed the Senator.  We may be on the verge of some real
progress!

-- 
                                        John Murtari
____________________________________________________________________
Coordinator                            AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org                "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
Toll Free (877) 635-1968(x-211)        http://www.AKidsRight.Org/

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