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Teri S.
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 Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: A child support case to watch for... |
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For video of Mr. Murtari in prior TV interviews: www.AKidsRight.Org/video.html
Public Relations, teri@AKidsRight.Org
925-628-1206
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/
"A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
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 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(cell)
teri@sharedparentingworks.org
Mr. Charles Keller, Defense Lawyer: 315-450-3846
Background information at the web site: www.AKidsRight.Org/support_jm.htm
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MiserableMan
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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I was trying to figure out why he turned down probation - until I got to the part about the "fast." Wonder what news coverage he's gotten so far??  |
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Lavish game ace
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Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Hmm.. this may be worth researching. I've heard the name. Wonder how long this "fast" thing will last? |
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DeliDilly
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Viking Kitty
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Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:47 am Post subject: |
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Extreme attention seeker? Maybe the media is tired of his drama. Funny that there has been no media coverage of the recent case though. You'd think Google would have found one 2006 link (independant of his website). Sad that he had to get so far in debt to see his kid.
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TerryGale
On the "Bleep" Button
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 752
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| Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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An update received by e-mail...
| Quote: | International Day of Protest for John Murtari, Equal Parenting and Family Law Reform - August 9
Members of A Kids Right, Fathers4Justice-USA and Fathers4Justice-Canada, along with local parents will be demonstrating in Syracuse, New York on Wednesday, August 9, in support of passive resister John Murtari. Murtari is founder of A Kids Right and proponent of Equal Child Custody and a Family Rights Act. Inspired by Gandhi, John refuses to cooperate with his captors while he is incarcerated for failure to pay all of his child support.
Murtari has not had any water or food since Monday, July 31. His health started to decline quickly and he was moved to a jail with better medical facilities. By Friday he was in a local emergency room with a rapid and irregular heartbeat. The demonstration will either be at the Syracuse City Jail, or the hospital. Most likely it will be the hospital. Let's pray it's not the morgue.
John says:
"We love our children. We have been denied our rights. We need Congressional hearings into reform.
Please understand, this is NOT A HUNGER STRIKE. I have no desire to hurt myself. I want the 'system' to expend an enormous amount of effort to keep me captive as they ignore my most basic right to be considered a fit & equal parent to my son.
My son is now 13 and even though he was moved to the other side of the country at age 6 -- we keep and grow the warmth and love a parent and child should have. Six weeks together this summer - imagine that! In jail I will certainly remember these moments. Moments we should all be able to take for granted and never lose."
As Coordinator I get a lot of your email and phone calls. Not being able to see your kids for years! Having children that are now alienated and all you can do is hope & pray for something better in the future. To those of you who had written/called me, I will also remember the indignity and tragedy you have been through. It certainly gives me the motivation to see this through and have hope for a positive outcome."
Please join the international family law reform community in supporting John Murtari.
If you can, please attend the demonstration in Syracuse. If you can't make it to New York you can demonstrate in front of your state or county child support agencies, other government buildings like state capitals, or television and radio stations.
If you are not in America, please demonstrate in front of the U.S. Embassy in your country on Wednesday, August 9, 2006.
Please send me photos of all demonstrations and I will make a collage, photo album, or flickr show and distribute it back to everyone. Include names of demonstrators, if possible, and locations.
Purple Ribbon Campaign in support of John Murtari
Please tie purple ribbons around trees in support of John. This can be done in front of child support agencies, politician's offices, television stations, or other high traffic areas. Cover your town in purple. You can also put purple armbands or headbands on statues, especially patriotic statues. If you can, leave posters of the photo attached with a link to A Kids Right or your local family law reform group. Once you do this, please send me photos, with location, and I will make a slideshow of these also. Be sure to call your local radio and television stations too; see if they'll check it out. Get a few people to call and ask, "What's up with all of those purple ribbons?" You can also wear purple armbands and if anyone asks why, hand them a poster.
God bless you all. John says, "Thank you."
Teri Stoddard
teri@akidsright.org
Call tollfree: 877-635-1968 ex 212
(ignore the messages, it's John's business phone)
More info: http://mensnewsdaily.com/category/blogettes/teri-stoddard/ and http://www.akidsright.org/support_jm.htm
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ExFem4Fathers
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 16
Location: ExFem4Dads
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| Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: |
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Another update... | Quote: | John Murtari Receives Feeding Tube, Continues Passive Resistance For Civil Rights And Equal Parenting
August 10, 2006, by Teri Stoddard
Devoted and loving father John Murtari received a feeding tube today, and says he's relieved. Murtari, founder of A Kids Right, is carrying through with his passive resistence of not eating or drinking to highlight the need for family law reform, the civil rights of noncustodial parents and equal parenting.
more... |
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ExFem4Fathers
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| Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:40 am Post subject: Update: John 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. more....
News articles:
Inmate from Lyons gets feeding tube
By JIM MILLER, Finger Lakes Times, 8/15/06
| Quote: | 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
John Murtari dreams of roasted chicken and a frosty mug of dark beer.
But he's determined not to eat or drink for at least another five months.
Murtari, 49, has been on a hunger strike at the Onondaga County Justice Center jail for the past 10 days.
Already, he said, he has lost more than 25 pounds, dropping from 155 to 127 pounds, his blood pressure is low, and he has experienced tremors and dry heaves.
On Thursday, medical staff at the jail inserted a feeding tube into his right nostril.
On Friday morning, he had his first meal - a can of Ensure, which will be his breakfast, lunch and dinner from now until he either decides to eat or gets released, he said in an interview Friday at the jail.
Although he has had sips of water to prevent dehydration and keep his kidneys functioning, he has refused all other food.
Murtari was sentenced last week to six months in jail for not paying child support.
He owes more than $60,000 and believes divorced parents don't get a fair shake from the justice system.
"This is not a suicide mission," Murtari said. "I'm just not going to cooperate with an unjust system and I will continue this until I am a free person."
Murtari, looking pale and gaunt and occasionally fighting back tears, called himself a "prisoner of conscience" who has made it his mission to bring attention to the plight of non- custodial parents.
"Believe me, it's very, very scary," he said. "I have to take it one day at a time. I don't want to make this sound easy and I don't recommend people do this. There've been a few times when I was ready to break down."
He was sentenced July 31 by Onondaga County Family Court Judge Bryan Hedges, who was prepared to give Murtari probation, but Murtari chose jail instead.
Murtari, formerly of Lysander, who now lives in Wayne County, is being held in the jail's infirmary so medical staff can check on him regularly, said Sgt. Joe Powlina.
"Food is always available and we do evaluations three or four times a day," he said, "but we won't force-feed."
Sue Weibezahl can be reached at sweibezahl@syracuse.com or 470-3039.
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ExFem4Fathers
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| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Awesome work Mike did! This is wonderful! Published in 20 papers. - Teri
| Quote: | August 16, 2006
Column #1,304
Advance for August 19, 2006
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 state's 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. She's 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. That's 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. You'll 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 court's 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 debtor's 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 adolescent's 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 Children's 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 in divorce 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 child's other parent while the child is growing up, there is less incentive to divorce," says Levy.
Here's 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 © 2006 Michael J. McManus
.
Michael J. McManus
syndicated columnist
"Ethics & Religion"
President & Co-Chair
Marriage Savers
9311 Harrington Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
www.marriagesavers.org
301 469-5873 |
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IrReverend
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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I can't decide what to think about this case. I did "google" the man's history for this kind of activity. I'll give him persistance.  |
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ExFem4Fathers
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ExFem4Fathers
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