previous post on Murtari

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The Christmas newsletters John Murtari sent to  close family and friends the last several years bear witness to a warm and loving family life.   Murtari cared for his ailing elderly mother (now passed) with the devotion of a good Catholic  son, and dreamed of guiding his son with the same attention and time.  In those newsletters, posted to his website AKidsRight.org, John writes about his marriage, his son, and the divorce he tried to avoid but couldn't.
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Early on he wrote the minimal court-ordered visitation time with his son should be short-lived.  By the next Christmas he said things weren't going so well.  Each year he wrote with growing concern for the lack of justice in family court and mentioned his increasing involvement in the family law reform movement.  By 2005 he joked it was the first year in a long time he hadn't spent a night in jail.   Through it all Murtari maintained a positive outlook.
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As he sits in the Onondaga County Justice Center now, he continues to speak in terms of peace and forgiveness.  With a feeding tube going down his throat to keep him alive he thinks of others first, asking his supporters to be kind when they write or act on his behalf.
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Murtari stopped eating and drinking in an act of passive resistance when he reported to jail to serve a 6-month sentence for failure to pay child support.  "Support is not just financial," he said, "it's emotional, physical, mental...parenting encompasses more than just paying money."  "I want to parent my child.  I have a right to parent my child.  He's been moved states away and it costs a lot to maintain our relationship."
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Murtari's travel expenses have not been calculated into his child support order, which was wrongly set to begin with by using a former salary, a practice called imputing income.  Many parents get thrown into child support arrears when their income is imputed, and they simply can't ever catch up.  The system we have in place now has no room for parents who get ill or disabled, or lose a job unexpectantly.
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From jail John writes:
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My sincere appreciation for what so many have done on my behalf.  I am very, very grateful!  It's no  exaggeration to say you made a huge difference in my future quality of life.  Now that I feel a bit  better let me share some thoughts.  (Full history at http://www.AKidsRight.Org/support_jm.htm)
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Our Goal
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We are mothers and fathers that want our human right to raise and nurture our own kids to be recognized and protected.  We decide what is in our "child's best interest."  We are good, average, and poor parents -- but always growing with our kids.  We are FIT & EQUAL until a criminal court finds us guility of being a demonstrated threat to our kids.  A unanimous verdict from a jury of our peers -- parents.
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Don't try this at home
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Let's consider this a unique event in response to gross and repeated injustice.  Some have called it a foolish act.  There can be a fine line between bravery and stupidity.  I get very close to that border and hope to avoid future visits!
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I went into this a very healthy person, 5'8" and 155 pounds.  Last
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Where things are now
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They started feeding me with a Nasal/Gastric tube on the 10th day (last Thursday).  Today is Sunday (Aug. 13th) and I'm on a regular feeding routine.  Three times a day with 2 cans of Carnation Instant  Breakfast (250 ml/each).
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You can still eat with a NG tube and the Doc recommended I take some juice/milk via mouth also.  They still bring me a full tray of regular food, but I do not eat any of that.  The tube is annoying, sleeping is difficult, and it hurts with every swallow.
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NonViolent Action
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For a while it seemed to be a game of 'chicken' with jail staff. Doctors told me there would be no intervention unless there was a medical emergency.  All I could think of was kidney failure, heart failure, or loss of consciousness.  I was scared, but how could I back down? .
NonViolent Action (http://www.AKidsRight.Org/civil.htm), Faith, Love, and Personal Sacrifice.  I was confronted by everything I had said to many of you, to myself, my friends, and most of all to my son, Domenic.
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All I could do was pray and hope for good things and place more trust in the loving God I say I believe in.  .
Your actions turned the tide.  The rally on Wednesday, the newspaper stories on Thursday morning and a schedulled in-jail press interview -- made good things happen.  Again, I am so grateful!
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Out of Sync
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Most people were so great and positive in their messages.  They talked about "Our Goal" and the great love they have for their kids.
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But some people still preferred to send a nasty message and gripe about the Judge, or show their disgust for lawyers, or the anger they have towards women or men.  .

Can we leave that behind?  It is not needed and only hurts us more. .

What's Next
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There may be a court date next week.  A chance for freedom or more of the same.  Again, please accept my thanks!
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Our long range goal is still to arrange a meeting with Senator Clinton and with mothers and fathers hurt by the Nation's different Family Law systems.  See http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionc_syr/.

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New articles:
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Inmate from Lyons gets feeding tube
By JIM MILLER, Finger Lakes Times, 8/15/06
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 Inmate: I don't recommend...this.
Protesting child custody laws, John Murtari stopped eating 10 days ago
By Sue Weibezahl, Post Standard, 8/12/06
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The Need for Shared Parenting   
by Mike McManus   

John Murtari, 49, is sitting in a Syracuse jail for two weeks as I write, and has refused to eat or drink to protest gross and repeated injustice by the court system in a custody battle over access to his son, Domenic, 13.    .   

From the states perspective, he is a deadbeat dad, who owes $60,000 in child support.  However, the initial support level was not based on his income, but the $70,000 he once earned as a software engineer for a defense firm. When the company filed false reports, he says he blew the whistle and was fired the next day.    .   

Though president of his own software firm, his earnings are half of what he used to make. The first injustice is that his child support level was set far too high. Second, the court allowed his wife to move to Colorado, in spite of his protest. Shes studying for a third college degree, which she could have pursued in New York State. Why should any court allow a divorced parent to move so far away that child visitation by the parent left behind is almost impossible?    .   

If Domenic visited him, John had to fly to Colorado, pick him up, bring him back, and then return with him to Colorado. Three round trip tickets cost $1,000 per visit. But the court would not allow him to deduct that from his  child support payments. Thats a third injustice.    .   

Fourth, he repeatedly filed for modifications of his child support level, and was denied. He was assigned a public defender who told him, John, just pay the money. Youll see your son when he is 18.    .   

John has been paying $50 a month, which is skimpy. However, he estimates he has spent $60,000 in support of his son, but none of it counts in the courts eyes. In the last seven years, he flew out four times a year for visits, and picked him up for vacations in New York twice a year.  How many of those could I have traded away - and not lost our relationship? he asks.    .   

So he sits today in debtors prison, to call attention to the plight of divorced parents denied regular access to their children. John told me before going to jail that he would not eat or drink and would force the prison to keep him alive with a feeding tube. For ten days the jail refused to do so. His weight dropped from 155 pounds to 127. His blood pressure fell to a dangerous level.    .   

Stories appeared in local newspapers, and a feeding tube was inserted. He asserts, This is not suicide wish or hunger strike. My goal is not to hurt myself but to make them expend an uncomfortable amount of effort to keep me in custody.    .    There has to be a better answer and there is. It is called shared parenting, or joint custody, which is granted in only 16 percent of cases. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, A major advantage of joint custody may be its ability to address the high rate of current father absence subsequent to divorce. Joint custody has been correlated with increased father involvement.    .    Second, Joint custody versus sole maternal custody was associated with adolescents positive adjustment. Several studies found that increased and reliable visitation by the noncustodial parent (usually the father) predicted positive adjustment of children.    .   

Feminists oppose joint custody on grounds that child support will be reduced. However, the consensus of studies found that child support is either increased or not significantly different. A fourth benefit is that there is decreased re-litigation with shared parenting, and less conflict between spouses in general.    .   

Thus, research proves what common sense would suggest. Shared parenting results in greater father involvement, more financial support, less litigation and happier children.    .    David Levy, an attorney who is President of the Childrens Rights Council, reports another great impact of joint custody. States with the greatest amount of joint custody enjoyed a big drop in divorce rates. The six states with the most joint custody are, in order, Montana, Kansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Rhode Island, and Alaska. The states with the highest decline indivorce in the 1990s were Alaska, Kansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Montana and Idaho.    .   

Why?    .   

If a parent knows that he or she will have to interact with the childs other parent while the child is growing up, there is less incentive to divorce, says Levy.    .   

Heres a political issue for this political season.    .   

Candidates for governor or state legislatures: why not fight for more joint custody to support kids and lower divorce rates? 

  .   
END TXT Copyright (c) 2006 Michael J. McManus

Purple Ribbon Campaign For Equal Parenting - Upload your photo to Flickr with the tag "purple ribbon campaign" or send it to teri@akidsright.org.  Join our Frappr map!

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Past posts on John Murtari
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John on video previously:

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*SUBSCRIBE TO TERI'S FEMINIST4FATHERS BLOG*

Activist Parent, Veteran, Refuses Food And Water, Moved To Jail With Medical Facilities

John Murtari, divorced father to 13-year-old Domenic and founder of AKidsRight.org is on his fourth day of noncooperation while incarcerated for failure to pay child support. (Click here for background information.) Murtari is refusing food and water to protest what he says is unjust treatment of noncustodial parents.

Our civil rights arent respected. Family rights need to be established and protected, he said, Ive been trying to get Hillary Clinton to meet with us and to take a look at our proposed Family Rights Act, but she doesnt seem interested. Instead of agreeing to a meeting with local parents, Clinton asked that he be arrested for stalking. Murtari had been peacefully protesting in front of Clintons Syracuse office by writing in chalk on the sidewalk.

Video coverage:

Murtari, in a call this morning from his new location, the Onondaga County Justice Center, says he understands why some people who go on hunger strikes change their minds. This is scary stuff, he said, youre alone in your cell feeling your body break down and nobody gives a hoot. You wonder if its really worth it, he continued, but Im a philosophical guy and I have resolve. This reporter can confirm that the dehydration is taking effect, his memory isnt as sharp as usual.

He was moved to the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse when officials at the Jamesville Correctional Facility realized he wasnt backing down and might need medical care. Jamesville had one nurse and examining room, Syracuse has an entire floor with medical staff. Dehydration can lead to swelling of the brain, seizures, kidney failure, coma or death. Murtaris blood sugar and blood pressure are being monitored. His blood sugar was 43 and his blood pressure was 90 over 60. I dont look forward to the feeding tube, he stated, Im going to ask for one in my abdomen instead of down my throat.

Its often assumed that Murtari quit his high-paying job after being ordered to pay child support. In fact, his leaving that job came before the divorce. Murtari, a veteran and ex-Air Force pilot, had been a highly-paid consultant for a division of Lockheed. His duties included making sure the patrol system software for submarines was adequate. He learned that not only did tests show it wasnt working, but the company was sending false reports to the Navy. He went through normal channels within the company, but no one was willing to correct this. Murtari knew if this wasnt corrected people would die. He felt he had no choice; he blew the whistle on them. Murtari was fired the very next day. After researching the situation, the government agreed with Murtari. Unfortunately his actions made getting a job in the same industry difficult. (The judge in his case put that fact aside and imputed his income at the highest level.) This was the second time hed had to blow the whistle on unethical companies. At that point he decided to focus on his existing small internet company.

Murtari is not an angry radical activist, the image opponents of equal child custody laws portray of the family law reform movement. Hes a quiet, thoughtful, peaceful man. Murtari was at one time planning on being a priest. He was in pre-seminary training when he realized he just couldnt give up the experience of having a family.

A peaceful protest to draw attention to Johns situation and the plight of all noncustodial parents is being organized for the Onondaga County Justice Center (MAP) (time and date TBA). Interested parties should email Arte Miastkowski at arte_miastkowski@yahoo.com with a copy to Teri Stoddard at teri@akidsright.org.

You can write to John at:

John Murtari
POD 2A-5
555 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202.

To write to public officials find contact info HERE.

Background:

Devoted Parent Risking It All To Highlight Family Rights Violations

John Murtari is already showing signs of dehydration just one day after turning himself in to the Jamesville Correctional Facility to serve a 6-month sentence for failure to pay court-ordered child support and starting his peaceful protest of noncooperation. When Murtari reported to New Yorks Jamesville he identified himself and explained to the officers he would not be cooperating. I wont walk, eat or drink anything, he has said, but I will tell them how much I love my son.Murtari says his civil rights have been violated, along with the rights of millions of other noncustodial parents. People need to be aware of what is happening to families all across the nation, he said, we need a Family Rights Act.

The Family Rights Act would:

recognize and protect the right of our children to have two parents equally involved in their lives and the right of parents to raise and nurture their own children requiring parents be found guilty in a criminal court, with jury protection, of being a demonstrated serious threat to their children - before government can interfere in family life.

Murtari has been trying to arrange a meeting between Hillary Clinton and local parents for years, but has been turned away and called a stalker. On August 18, 2005 he climbed the structure outside her office in the Syracuse Federal Building and hung a 6-foot banner that read, Senator Clinton - Please Help Us!

More of Murtaris story is on his website A Kids Right.

After a calm 10-minute exchange in the lobby Murtari was put to the floor, handcuffed and dragged into an adjoining room. He was stripped, dressed, and put into an isolated one-inmate cell across from an office.

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Murtari has a bed but no towels or sheets. There is no air conditioning and his cell is about 90 degrees. According to a visitor his color was off and he seemed a bit dazed. Inmates are checked on once an hour.

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Want to call the local newspapers to ask when theyre going to do a story on John?

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Albany - WTEN (Ch 10) ABC - 518-436-4822

John McLoughlin, Managing Editor/Reporter
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Syracuse - WTVH (Channel 5) - (315)453-2424

Syracuse - WCNY (Channel 24) - 315-453-2424

Syracuse - WIXT/WXYR (Channel 9) - 315-446-9900

Syracuse - WSTM (Channel 3) - 315-477-9446

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Parent Chooses Jail Over Losing Loving Relationship With Son, Plans Non-cooperation Protest

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John Murtari, father to Domenic, and founder of A Kids Right plans on reporting to the Jamesville Correctional Facility Monday afternoon to serve a 6-month sentence for failure to pay child support. Murtari says it has cost him more than the amount owed ($60,000) just to remain a part of his sons life after his ex was allowed to move Domenic across the country.

Take a look at these photos of their 6-week summer visitation time and ask yourselves,

Arent some things parents contribute to their childrens lives worth more than cash?

and

Shouldnt parents have the right to decide how to support their children as long as they support them?

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And while youre at it, ask yourselves,

Is it right for a judge to allow one parent to move a child away from the other parent when that parent is loving, fit, and actively involved in the childs life?

and

If they do allow move-aways, shouldnt travel expences be taken into account when determining child support?

Here are some video clips of John Murtari being interviewed on televsion:

January 25, 2005 / Syracuse, NY - The following clips were taken from a WSTM Chan 3 (NBC) News Broadcast which aired on Jan. 25, 2005.

March 1999 / Syracuse, NY - The following clips were taken from a News Magazine show that originally aired in Syracuse, New York in March of 1999. They document an effort that used NonViolent Action.

John Murtari is already showing signs of dehydration just one day after turning himself in to the Jamesville Correctional Facility to serve a 6-month sentence for failure to pay court-ordered child support and starting his peaceful protest of noncooperation.  When Murtari reported to New York's Jamesville he identified himself and explained to the officers he would not be cooperating.  "I won't walk, eat or drink anything," he has said, "but I will tell them how much I love my son."

Murtari says his civil rights have been violated, along with the rights of millions of other noncustodial parents.  "People need to be aware of what is happening to families all across the nation," he said, "we need a Family Rights Act."

The Family Rights Act would:

"recognize and protect the right of our children to have two parents equally involved in their lives and the right of parents to raise and nurture their own children requiring parents be found guilty in a criminal court, with jury protection, of being a demonstrated serious threat to their children - before government can interfere in family life."

Murtari has been trying to arrange a meeting between Hillary Clinton and local parents for years, but has been turned away and called a stalker.  On August 18, 2005 he climbed the structure outside her office in the Syracuse Federal Building and hung a 6-foot banner that read, "Senator Clinton - Please Help Us!"

More of Murtari's story is on his website A Kids Right.

After a calm 10-minute exchange in the lobby Murtari was put to the floor, handcuffed and dragged into an adjoining room.  He was stripped, dressed, and put into an isolated one-inmate cell across from an office.

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Murtari has a bed but no towels or sheets.  There is no air conditioning and his cell is about 90 degrees.  According to a visitor his color was off and he seemed a bit dazed.   Inmates are checked on once an hour.

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Want to write to John?
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John Murtari
P.O. Box 143
Jamesville, NY  13078

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Want to call the jail to ask about John's condition?

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315-422-0496

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Want to call the local newspapers to ask when they're going to do a story on John?

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Albany - WTEN (Ch 10) ABC -  518-436-4822

John McLoughlin, Managing Editor/Reporter
                 

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Syracuse - WTVH (Channel 5) - (315)453-2424

Syracuse - WCNY (Channel 24) - 315-453-2424

Syracuse - WIXT/WXYR (Channel 9) - 315-446-9900

Syracuse - WSTM (Channel 3) - 315-477-9446

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John Murtari, father to Domenic, and founder of A Kid's Right plans on reporting to the Jamesville Correctional Facility Monday afternoon to serve a 6-month sentence for failure to pay child support.  Murtari says it has cost him more than the amount owed ($60,000) just to remain a part of his son's life after his ex was allowed to move Domenic across the country.

Take a look at these photos of their 6-week summer visitation time and ask yourselves,

"Aren't some things parents contribute to their children's lives worth more than cash?"

and

"Shouldn't parents have the right to decide how to support their children as long as they support them?"

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And while you're at it, ask yourselves,

"Is it right for a judge to allow one parent to move a child away from the other parent when that parent is loving, fit, and actively involved in the child's life?"

and

"If they do allow move-aways, shouldn't travel expences be taken into account when determining child support?"

Here are some video clips of John Murtari being interviewed on televsion:

January 25, 2005 / Syracuse, NY -  The following clips were taken from a WSTM Chan 3 (NBC) News Broadcast which aired  on Jan. 25, 2005.

March 1999 / Syracuse, NY - The following clips were taken from a New's Magazine show that originally aired in Syracuse, New York in March of 1999. They document an effort that used NonViolent Action.

I still remember Laura Bush proclaiming the importance of fathers to their children last year.  I wonder if she has any clue how many loving parents are forced out of their children's lives by the current state of family law.

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Breaking News!

Murtari Plans Non-Cooperation as Non-Violent Peaceful Protest

From  Murtari:

Tomorrow I'll tell the system:

"No, I won't answer any processing questions."

"No, I won't walk with you or go where you say -- you'll have to drag me."

"No, I won't eat your food or drink your water -- you'll have to keep me hydrated via IV, and feed me via tube."

"No, I'm not doing this to protest jail conditions or the treatment of prisoners. I'm doing this because I do not belong here and an unjust system sent me here."

"No, nothing you can do will change this until I am released from jail and have my freedom again."

"No, I don't want to hurt myself."

"Yes, I will talk with you and treat you with courtesy and respect."

"Yes, I will tell you how very, very much I love my son."

"Yes, I'm doing this because I should not be a prisoner. I should not be in jail.  My most basic rights are being  violated."

"Yes, I wish to make myself a burden if I'm kept a prisoner."

"Yes, I know this will make your job a burden. I'm sorry. But I'm not the reason this is happening.  The system isn't working....basic family rights are not protected"

This American holiday, the 4th of July, is always bittersweet for me.  I adore the beauty of the fireworks and the feeling of unity with other people at the marina.  My town provides a parade, street fair, and an impressive show off a barge in the river each year.  But I'm reminded that my brother died on July 5th, a brother I wish I'd had more time with.  He fell asleep at the wheel while driving to the Los Angeles area after an annual visit to Santa Cruz to watch fireworks over the ocean.  He was 19 and I was 17.

Patriotic holidays also remind me how our government has let down many of it's citizens by disregarding due process in family courts.  Time and time again I'm shown cases where evidence was ignored and children were put in questionable care.  What I find ironic is that the powers that fight the fathers' and equal custody movements agree with this point.   Of course they do, since this is the root of the problem.

Unfortunately our opposition still promotes the "all women are good and all men are bad" concept.  They continue to declare that "95% of all domestic violence victims are female" and that all fathers who fight for equal or sole custody do it as a tool of abuse.

Not only do ..>..> fathers abuse children less often than mothers, but by far most fathers who fight for sole custody do it because they fear for their children's safety, and those who fight for equal custody do it because studies show it benefits their children.  Many of those fathers have children asking them for equal custody.

I hope you enjoy your day today, on a boat, at a park or at home.  I hope you can catch a fireworks show in person, because there's nothing like the "oh"s, "aw"s and "ooo"s from the crowd to make a person smile.

I remember when I first announced Fathers4Justice in South Africa.  As seen in this
photo, Spiderman and Batman arrived in September 2005.  It's now a mere nine months later and it seems most of their work, and the work of other family law reform groups is done.   President Thabo Mbeki signed the Children's Bill June 8th and it was announced the day after Fathers' Day.  I can't think of a better gift to give South Africa's fathers!

In today's press release F4J-ZA states:

This Bill inter alia deals with  crucial divorce issues, and translates into presumptive joint custody as a  starting point in all divorces.  Of particular importance to note is the  absence of the term "custody" from the Bill.  Yes, our children are  not possessions to be awarded to either parent.  Instead, every parent  will be the Co-Holder of Parental Rights and Responsibilities, unless a  competent court strips a deviant parent of those privileges.

and

It will take some time for  the institutions to start applying these principles, and some of them may take a  little longer, mostly due to unquantified costs to the state.  We are  however advised, that as it now is the law in our land, it must be  applied. 

We therefore urge all parents to familiarize  themselves with this important Bill, especially unwed parents, and ensure  that it is applied for the benefit of all our children.

Fathers-4-Justice  South Africa will not now rest on its laurels.  Although we have achieved  the first and most vital part of our mission, we will relentlessly pursue the  implementation of every single provision of the Bill, and ensure that every  parent blossoms in the exercise of his/her parental rights and  responsibilities.  Now more than ever, we should unite and show that we are  loving, able parents and live up to the promise of the Children's Bill.   Let our children never again be awarded to anyone, except to both  loving parents.  The best parent is both parents.

Way to go, South African advocates and activists!

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For more information on Fathers4Justice and Superhero Activists:

my SUPER heroes

superhero activism videos

Wisconsin Dad Walks For Children

Peter Kerr of Australia is walking 800 miles across Wisconsin to highlight the need for equal rights for all fit parents.

Stepping out for dads and their children

(monroe times)

www.walkforchildren.org

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Fathers4Justice Launches In Ohio

Scott Phelps, Judi Smith-Phelps, Quentin Durrstein and his daughter Justice, and Paul Fisher dressed as superheroes to champion equal rights for all fit parents, and the launch of Fathers4Justice in Ohio.

Protesters seek justice for dads in custody battles

(columbus dispatch)

F4J-USA

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Berlin's Crucifixion Of Mathieu Carriere

more photos

and more photos

German news articles:

www.bild.t-online.de  www.rbb-online.de

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Fathers Are Missed Worldwide

I don't need to speak the language to know what this teen music video is about.  Download it HERE. But I would like to know the name of the song and singer.  An English translation would be even better!

~!~

Stay Strong!