Member Submission: Activists Unite!
One of the most discouraging aspects of the fight against registries is the lack of allies. Civil rights movements do not succeed without the broad support of citizens and organizations. Few injustices have been made right through the sole efforts of victims.
The need to recruit powerful and committed allies against registries is a matter of urgency.
Nobody needs to be reminded of how difficult that is. It shouldn’t be. No group of Americans today suffers more legal discrimination, hardship, stigma, and marginalization than registrants. But who stands up regularly for convicted sex offenders? With the exception of a few federal defenders and other lawyers, and the small handful of groups like FAC, there is nobody.
No major civil or human rights organization has taken a firm stand against sex offender registries, residency restrictions, civil commitment, and the other injustices inflicted on registrants. No major faith-based organization; no society of scholars or jurists. No prominent group that condemns injustice on a daily basis has spoken up for the one million of their fellow citizens whose names, addresses, and photographs proliferate on electronic stockades across the internet; whose drivers licenses and passports are branded with scarlet letters; who are banned from neighborhoods, schools, businesses, churches, military bases, parks, beaches, social media, cruise ships, and airplanes. All of that and more, in many cases, for life.
Nobody has spoken up loudly against what has been called no crueler tyranny because nobody wants to be associated with the last great pariah class in America. That is obvious. What is not obvious is why the silent majority of decent, fair, and honest Americans don’t see what is staring them straight in the face. It is this: The longer you stay silent, the more likely it is that you too will be the victim of injustice.
Injustice grows like a cancer in society. Therefore registrants must do all they can to persuade civil rights activists that it is in their interest to stop this cancer from spreading.
If you think that is unrealistic, have a look at the amicus briefs in the major legal cases brought by registrants (for example, Gundy, Packingham, etc.). Look at the number of people who signed FAC’s petition to the UN. You’ll find people and organizations that took a stand on behalf of a principle even if they don’t directly speak up for registrants as human beings. It doesn’t appear that their reputations or donor bases have suffered much as a result. These rare relationships must grow.
Think about it. Are you sick and tired of hearing, “if it saves one child”? Then say instead, if I change one mind, the effort is worth it.
Are you also afraid of hearing, “how dare you compare my favorite oppressed minority with rapists and pedophiles! Those people are being punished for what they did, not for who they are”?
Then say: No. There is a criminal justice system for punishing people for what they did. Registrants are retroactively punished by a “civil” regulation for who they are. And with the same false rationale that minorities have been persecuted throughout history: to protect the vulnerable public against a mythical threat often with sexual overtones. African-Americans were lynched because they were said to “threaten the virtue” of white women. Jews were made to suffer pogroms, and were forced to live in ghettos and wear yellow stars because of the blood libel. LGBTQ people were fired from jobs because they were said to “corrupt the youth.” The list goes on. None of these historic examples are fundamentally different from what registrants experience today. It’s called collective punishment and it is as old as humanity.
Some potential allies will say, “we would like to help but if we did our organization would lose too many donors.” Tell them: “You will lose donors if you do not help because otherwise they will think you are hypocrites.”
Recruiting allies doesn’t mean asking people to go soft on crime or to condone illicit sex. That’s absurd. It’s not absurd to say this: “You may hate us and our crimes, but our cause is still your cause. Because our cause is justice and the Constitution. It’s as simple as that.”
So, please, registrants: Keep writing to members of Congress and to your state legislators. Keep writing to the media. But please also take the time to call and write to the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, American Bar Association, Amnesty International, NAACP, National Organization for Women, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Council on Criminal Justice, Equal Justice Initiative, Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League, Urban League, LAMBDA Legal, Children’s Defense Fund, Human Rights First, Southern Baptist Convention, or to the organization of your choice. Go to their websites and write to their staff and board members. Ask them this one question:
How can you stand by when one million Americans are being subjected to the same types of discrimination and mistreatment that you stand against, and that your own members and constituents once experienced?
They may ignore you. Or they may give you a discouraging reply to the effect that they have “limited bandwith” or a “full plate.” But keep writing and keep asking. Because someday, somebody powerful will take a stand, and the dam of silence will burst.
When will FAC engage in deep canvassing to discover how citizens really feel about registrants, so they can craft messaging around how to build capacity?
Are there any actual organizers and mobilizers in FAC?
Probably when someone wins the lottery and provides resources necessary, or when more committed and capable volunteers step up to do all these “FAC should…” projects.
Remember, FAC has a limited number of volunteers, all of whom who are unpaid, carrying the weight of the entire fight for us, including you. Look at the thermometers for lawsuit funding, it should be much higher. Everyone should ask themselves, “what more can I do to take on more of that burden and push the movement further” and then do it.
I suspect a lot more people say “FAC should” instead of “I can, will, and am”. C’est la vie.
Chuck:
This is the problem. Everyone says why doesn’t FAC do this or ACSOL do that. People don’t realize that FAC and ACSOL don’t have multimillion dollar budgets. FAC will engage in “deep canvassing” when they have the funds to do so, which is most likely never. The same people that ask these questions fail to step up to the plate. I have been down this long road with VOCAL for the last 40 years.
FAC will survive as long as it’s core group stays in the fight. Everyone on the registry is waiting for someone else to do something. The few people who do step up to the plate have neither the time or resources to do the things that big organizations do. If only 1% of all of the people on the registry got into the fight, there would be 10,000 active people. There might be 100 active people who regularly volunteer for FAC, WAR, NARSOL and all of the other groups and half the active people aren’t even on the registry.
If 99.99% of registrants aren’t motivated to fight registries, then registries aren’t such a big deal in their lives.
FAC is an all-volunteer organization. Many of these volunteers regularly engage with citizens on registry issues.
Speaking of organizers and mobilizers, as we are in the middle of our 60-day annual legislative season, please take note of the active Calls to Action that have been issued by FAC volunteers on this site, via email, and via text, and take action accordingly.
Beyond that, the organizer, mobilizer, and canvasser is YOU.
Agreed! I have often been critical of our national organization NARSOL. They originally organized in the DC area and after 16 years we don’t have ONE member of Congress, DC elite, or any other national victim organization on our side??
The irony is, we all want the same thing! To live in a safe, free society for all citizens armed with policies that help people and prevent abuse.
…. that no one supports the violent, predatory, immedicable child rapist, that there’s only one person who raped and killed Meghan Khanka and the people who’ve paid for their crimes yet remain on the sex offender registry are not those people. Nationally, we still have a PR problem. Our “brand” to this day is, the group that supports pediophiles who predate and rape children. We believe we have to be on this island, stubborn and alone preaching a sermon that no one wants to hear. We want the same thing! We should be working alongside the public and encourage them in their outrage. We should be right there screaming, “WHAT ARE VIOLENT CHILD RAPISTS DOING OUT OF PRISON?” Scream that loud enough and you get an answer which is of course, violent child rapists ARE in prison. “THEN WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY??”
That’s how you change the narrative. No one can hear us on our island.
Hard truths from rpsabq. Let’s keep educating the public.
rpsabq
Funny you mention that. I got an article from them just now and it wouldn’t load. I tried contacting them but their site was down. I checked it on IsitDown website and got this message: Narsol.org is DOWN for everyone. Wonder if they got hacked?
Anyway, by time this message gets approved, or not, hopefully they are back up.
On a related note: does anyone know whatever happened with the American Law Institute’s new Model Penal Code? I remember how that was supposed to be a big deal.
Good PR makes for good results. People have to understand the registry does nothing in the interest of the public. It’s not just about education but it’s going to have to move to the next level at some point: diligent lobbying in Washington, for example. PSA ads. YouTube ads, etc. The people need to know how the registry works against them.
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.”
-Thomas Paine
I did not realize that I have been paraphrasing Thomas Paine for decades until a judge used this quote in his opinion. I believe it was the judge that found the making of our driver’s license to be forced speech. In Alabama? Anyway, I was ecstatic that what I have always maintained was foreseen by someone so long ago. Once they’ve established that the laws against registrants can be retroactive, they then have a precedent for the next one.
I imagine a conversation could go like this…
GUY1: Hey, you know alcoholics are going to drink and drive, we should take the licenses of anyone ever convicted of a dui.
GUY2: That’s a wonderful idea. If they’ve been arrested once, they’ve likely already done it 80 times without getting caught.
GUY1: To bad {MODERATED} managed to weasel his way out of a conviction, that guy is a menace.
Anyway, my thoughts are that we need to solicit groups that see the dangers this kind of legislation presents to future groups. As far as I know, no laws have EVER been retroactive before this. This is a precedent that WILL ABSOLUTELY be exploited in the future.
In the defense of some of those people not standing with us, almost all causes in some degree suffer from lack of support unless someone has some sort of connection. For example, if the ladies’ knitting club is being kicked out of a building they have used for decades, a granddaughter of one of the ladies might take it upon herself to go to the news and bring this to light.
I will also admit, if I had never been arrested, gone to prison, and put on the registry, I might not care. I have always tried to care about all people, but it sometimes takes you having a connection to something to care. Like when my dad got cancer, I started doing research, going over more and helping with chores etc.
Most of the people who get involved with the registry have some connection. For example, the founder of F.A.C started it because of her family member being arrested and put on registry, otherwise none of us would be on this site today.
Yes, I started FAC because my son is on the registry and I was so angry and frustrated about all the false information being used by people with agendas that really had nothing to do with ” protecting the most vilnerable”. I was an advocate working 10 to 12 hours a day commenting on articles, speaking before the Florida Legislature, helping to run support web sites, speaking on the radio, and so much more till I totally burned out. Various people have taken over leadership of FAC over the years with so much more skill than I ever had and I am so grateful. One thing not mentioned here is money. Unfortunately money 💰 is what moves everything. Money is power. People and families on the registry are fighting just to exist in this society much less having money to fund an organization.
I am so greatful to all those who work so tirelessly to try to bring truth and sanity to this ever worsening social injustice. Calling it an injustice does not begin to describe the horror of the restrictions but that was all I could think of.
equaljustice, my first exposure to FAC was on the radio. It was during the “scorched earth” legislative session.
From your experience, what should the rest of us keep in mind in order to slow or prevent the process of burnout as you have described?
Thank you for your service!!!
Thank you so, so much for all you did and do and hopefully will continue to do. I am with you as far as burning out. This August will be 32 years since I was arrested. I was released from all sanctions almost 20 years ago, and yet everyday feels like I am still on probation.
I think the registry is worse than probation. When my probation office came by the house and I was not home, she would slide a business card in my door with “Call me”. When the deputy comes to my house and I am not home for a registry check, I get a nice 11″ long Yellow flyer that says “SEX OFFENDE TASK FORCE” on it.
equaljustice:
Thank you for your hard work and dedication and for founding FAC. I agree with what you say but wanted to add another observation.
I have personally seen families impoverished by having their children taken away or charged with a sex crime against them, or both. However, I have also seen some pretty well to do family members refuse to take their own grandchildren in. I never thought that anyone would ever refuse to take their own grandchildren in, but have run into some who have when we tried to keep the kids out of foster care. Some of these families had million dollar homes. Family members were horrified of children making allegations against them, so many families refused to take these kids in.
I have personally taken in many “sex offenders” in my own home in order to help them get their feet back on the ground. Most have reestablished themselves and some now own their own homes. In California, many of these houses are worth more than $1 million. While most people are impoverished in the short term, many will get back on their feet. There is some money there. We just need to get those that we helped out 20 or 30 years ago who are reestablished to open their wallets to this cause just like we opened our homes to them in their time of need.
Well said
You can add to the things we’re sick of hearing, from prosecutors, the lie “ This is necessary because of the frightening high recidivism rate. “.
Great member submission. Spot on.
VOCAL (Victims of Child Abuse Laws) was the original organization 40 years ago. They had several chapters throughout the U.S. and thousands of members. What made them successful was the diversity of issues that they covered, from families having the state take their kids to false allegations of child abuse.
Even though they preceded the registry, they were the only organization that supported “sex offenders”.
I talked to Roger Bresnan a couple of years ago. He was the San Diego president of VOCAL for almost 20 years and a legend in VOCAL. He said VOCAL disbanded because you can’t run an organization with volunteers. An organization needs paid staff to survive. Every time some one suggested a project, Roger would pull together a group of volunteers and few would live up to their promises. If the project was completed, it was only because Roger Bresnan completed the project. Roger said what burned him out was everyone coming up with ideas that they failed to follow through on. He was tired of finishing every one else’s projects. This was a shame because Roger was a good leader and developed the San Diego VOCAL into a very solid organization.
I see NARSOL, WAR, FAC and all of these other organizations going the same route. Everyone is excited when the organization is formed. A good group can keep the project going for 10 or 20 years, but the organization becomes defunct as people burn out. Look at all of the people who have left ACSOL and FAC and neither organization is even 10 years old. VOCAL has been reduced to a few dozen people in the U.S. VOCAL actually remains as an organization in many countries, but not in the U.S. There hasn’t been an active chapter in the U.S. for at least 10 years.
There is no money in defending “sex offenders”. It’s only a matter of time that people here realize that.
‘Look at all the people who have left ACSOL and FAC’ not sure this is correct, if anything FAC’s numbers have gone up not down but I’ll defer to Membership to fact-check that assertion.
Wrt ACSOL, in their state ACSOL has successfully defeated residency laws, defeated presence laws, defeated Halloween laws, created a registry off-ramp, and successfully obtained an injunction against Federal registry regulations. What do you mean people have left?
Regards,
Jacob
‘You can’t run an organization with volunteers’ unless donors are willing to fund paid staff, what do you suggest? I think our volunteers do a great job!
Appreciate the account of VOCAL, I never knew about them
Jacob:
VOCAL has been around a lot longer than the internet and sex offender registries with the exception of California’s registry. VOCAL was the only organization that “sex offenders” could turn to for support 40 years ago. We saw a lot of people through their charges, supported them in jail and prison and provided housing to them after their release.
Most registrants under 40 probably have never heard of VOCAL. This may be why you are unaware of their existence. They have always had “sex offender” supporters because every organization shunned “sex offenders” back in the 80’s.
Membership was strong in the 80’s but declined in the 90’s and into this century. However, a small hardcore group is hanging on. Unfortunately, everyone is getting older so unless fresh blood steps up, VOCAL in the U.S. is probably down to it’s last decade or so of existence.
The membership of FAC has grown, but some core members have left or are no longer as active, i.e., Chance Oberstein’s departure from ACSOL, and as the FAC founder noted below, even she burned out. And this getting burned out was what I was referring to in my post because I have seen so much of it.
VOCAL didn’t have the advantage of the internet. Hopefully, the internet gives these newer organizations staying power.
Getting the word out was VOCAL’s biggest challenge. Advertising is expensive. We always had people charged with sex crimes wander into our meetings and we provided them with what help we could. But we could never reach a broad audience. The internet changes all of that.
What happens to volunteers is that they get burned out as mentioned by equaljustice who founded FAC. VOCAL volunteers have all gone through the same thing. We were all housing people, helping with legal research, fighting county jails to allow our law books and legal research in, taking expensive phone calls from prison and jail. For most of us, this simply became to much.
Yesterday we saw another example of how false the expression “ if it saves one child it’s worth it” is.
From early reports three children plus adults were gunned down again at a school. Automatic fire arms were again used. Biden again spoke out against them but can’t get support. I’m not taking any side on this just making a statement.
If the above quote were true something would have been done years ago. How many laws have been added to those on the sex offense registry since the first school shooting ? How many young lives have been snuffed out by those on the registry? Is there even one?
The point is that quote does in no way apply to the registry. It would apply to doing something to stop these shootings but then someone would have to give up a freedom. Laws are fine as long as it costs someone else something but not me. That’s how our political system works.
An example is , slavery is ok as long as I’m not the slave. Higher taxes are alright as long as I’m not the one to pay them. A sex offender should be punished forever because I’m not one. The registry doesn’t stop any crimes but do it anyway because I’m not one.
VOCAL,
Thank you for sharing your perspective on the challenges that advocacy organizations face in fighting against registries. It’s important to recognize that these organizations often operate with limited resources and rely heavily on the support of volunteers to carry out their mission.
It’s understandable that people may feel frustrated or discouraged when they see the slow progress being made, but it’s crucial to remember that change takes time and sustained effort. Every person who steps up to the plate and gets involved in advocacy work can make a difference, no matter how small their contribution may seem. I am one of those who is stepping up.
Your point about the vast majority of registrants not being motivated to fight against registries is an interesting one. While it’s true that these laws may not have a significant impact on everyone’s daily lives, they still represent a fundamental violation of basic rights and freedoms. It’s important for all of us to stand up against injustice, even if it doesn’t directly affect us.
Thank you for your dedication to this cause, and for inspiring others to get involved and make a difference. I stand ready to work with you.
Together, we can work towards a more just and compassionate society for all.
Chuck:
We are hoping to revive VOCAL. The problem is that we are all older and don’t know anything about the internet. We are in the process of starting a blog at vocalhome.blogger.com. We hope to hear from some of the old VOCAL, NASVO and FUND people.
Correction. That’s vocalhome.blogspot.com
…oh, and yes, I’ve done deep canvassing on a shoestring budget — and by shoestring, I mean no money.
…and the Points of Light Foundation training on volunteer management would differ with the concept of not being able to run an org with just volunteers.
So would MoveOn.
So would Seed The Vote.
You get it.
I’m ready.
This is exactly why I refuse to donate to charities that are all about “stop hate against Jews, Asians and Trans.”
America only does “SAFE: compassion and empathy. Civil rights groups steer away from certain “out groups” they know will bring them backlash and outrage on social media. If society doesn’t all ALL marginalized people, then what is the point in advocacy? Oh, that’s right, in America It’s all about selective inclusion and safe virtue signaling.
All humans should fall under the “protected class” umbrella .
Even those forced to register that are victims of digital shaming.
An update on the ‘Teamwork Makes the Dream Work’ events in the DC area which took place March, and 7th 2023. The concept initially began two years ago when Attorney Janice Bellucci (ACSOL) announced there should be a vigil at SCOTUS on March 7th to bring attention to the 20th anniversary of the Smith v. Doe debacle. WAR jumped in and said we would conduct a conference at the same time. Janice contacted NARSOL and asked that they combine their 2023 conference with ACSOL and WAR to have a united front in DC. That did not happen. ACSOL board backed out due to fear of a wealthy board member being told he could be sued personally if someone was hurt at the vigil. The vigil event with three speakers is on our WAR Innocent Victims YouTube. The conference sessions will also be put up there. We had 90 people attend the conference and 60 braved the cold and wind to attend the vigil. Guess what….nobody was hurt. Some came up and asked what the event was all about. Maybe it was because they saw the hand-crafted coffin transported to DC by WAR. 90 people for a first-ever nationwide event held at a hotel and included a panel with representatives from California (Janice). NARSOL and WAR. It was a unity panel to begin working together. Lastly, there was a documentary team there with us during the conference and vigil. They also participated in an hour-long conference room session with the Constitutient Liason of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s staff. All of that was taped by the documentary team. Sadly, some quipped why wasn’t there any DC media or national attention. All we can say is consider the location and daily activities. It was not due to WAR ‘not trying’ to get media attention.
Meetings began with NARSOL, WAR and Janice but have been postponed until participating entity involvement is determined and the degree of change everyone wants.
{REMINDER: Opinions and stories expressed in comments are solely that of the comment author. FAC moderates based on policy adherence, and with the spirit of facilitating safe and productive news discussion and commentary.}
I have made a resolve to put $8.00 towards funding all of the FAC legal challenges to end the registry by buying lottery tickets. And if I win any money I plan to give it all to FAC to help continue this endeavor…. I ask
can anyone else join me?
Dident you here? Sex offenders are not permitted to win large sums of money, Take the $8.00 and buy a stamp and envelope and a $6.00 USPS money order and mail it to FAC.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=sex+offender+wins+lottery&cvid=d9fae3ea16ba47f99ca5600e21bb90f9&aqs=edge..69i57.9798j0j1&pglt=41&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=SCOOBE
You are entirely correct in your statement that this cause needs a high profile figure to speak up in our behalf to get the ball rolling.
In media lately there is one individual that comes to mind that would be a perfect fit, in my opinion. Brook Shields. She s had TV interviews and magazine articles on her experiences. From what I’ve read she seems to have an unusually balanced head on the subject with a lot of personal experience as a victim and being well aware of the dramatic changes in opinions that have been made over decades. With her questioning whether it’s rational.
Has anyone from NARSOL or any of the other advocacy groups tried to contact her to see what her feelings are on the abusive sex offender laws . If she is aware of what they have become and how she feels about it. Her opinion could have a lot of weight.
‘Chance Oberstein’s departure from ACSOL’ would come as a surprise to both Chance and ACSOL, unless there’s something new I’m unaware of.
Hopefully, this will get approved as other posts haven’t. Chance is no longer the President of ACSOL Katherine Carpenter is the new President.
WAR is hoping to recruit millennials (1981 through 1996) to get involved. Also, we had an awesome conference, Hill Visits, and vigil at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. We had a documentary producer contact us and he sent a scout who was there filming the entire time. Our group had an hour-long meeting with Senator Josh Hawley’s staffer and the documentary guy was filming the entire time. The vigil is up on our Innocent Victims YouTube channel. More conference videos will be up soon including the Common Ground Panel discussion with Paul Shannon (NARSOL, Civil Rights Attorney Janice Bellucci and Vicki Henry (WAR).
Thanks Vicki for all you do. Your hard work and dedication should serve as an inspiration for everyone involved in this fight.
I’ve checked all rejected comments going back through 1/4/23, there are none from you. The only other comment you left in the last few days is linked below. (It’s a comment in this same article, just scroll down a bit).
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/member-submission-activists-unite/#comment-526117
Please contact us if you feel there is an ongoing error. We will need approximate submission dates and times for any comments you feel were lost.
Thank you.