If you attended the silentlambs march and wish to do something use the press release below to give to your local media and insert your name (where shown) and give your local account for an interview. This is a great opportunity to get local papers to cover the story. We had as you see 125 from 22 states, that could be a lot of press releases. So if you can use this opportunity to let the public know what happened.
silentlambs
125 Sex Abuse Victims From 22 States Deliver Hundreds of Stuffed Lambs to International Headquarters of Jehovahs Witnesses
First Ever March for Jehovahs Witness Child Rape Victims Met "With Cowardice" According to William H. Bowen
First Ever Courage Awards Presented on Front Steps
(Your name) of anytown, traveled to Brooklyn New York, to participate in a protest march on Friday September 27 th at the Home office of Jehovahs Witnesses. 125 abuse survivors delivered hundreds of stuffed lambs for victims around the world as a symbol of innocence lost. The march started at Perrepont Place and Columbia heights and proceeded to Jehovahs Witness Home office at 25 Columbia Heights at the front entrance. Adults molested as kids by Jehovahs Witnesses and advocates spoke out and demanded a church hearing to investigate possible criminal cover-ups by the denominations leadership for Jehovahs Witnesses the Governing Body. The Jehovahs Witnesses headquarters locked the doors and ignored the protest made up of several Jehovahs Witnesses in good standing from across the country. When asked to comment they invited press behind locked doors and made statements to the effect that the victims were liars and the problem did not exist. William H. Bowen of silentlambs had asked in a letter written for a meeting with the Governing Body (leadership) to present evidence of the extent of the problem. When he attempted to use the intercom at the front door, they turned the intercom off and refused to answer the door. Victims of abuse attempted to deliver little stuffed lambs from abuse victims from around the world. Headquarters refused to accept delivery and denied abuse survivors the right to do so when Headquarters summoned the police to charge anyone who left lambs at the front door with littering. Participants left lambs stuck in a chain link fence across the street much like mementos left at ground zero from the 9-11 disaster.
William H. Bowen presented the first silentlambs courage awards for those who exhibited courage above and beyond the call of duty in the interests of protecting children. Twelve awards were presented with the first going to Corey Pandelo/Holloway the first abuse survivor to speak out to the media about her molestation. Her mother and father, Barbara and Carl were also recipients as they were disfellowshipped for speaking out in her behalf. Victoria Boer of , was awarded for going through trial in the last two weeks suing Watchtower of Canada for mishandling her abuse as a child. Well over 100 Jehovahs Witnesses were present in court each day to support the Watchtowers position against her.
Ted Jaracz current Governing Body member was accused by one abuse survivor of molesting her as a child when different ones volunteered to speak. Kimberly Norris an attorney from Fort Worth Texas, announced yet another lawsuit filed in Oregon, making seven in the last two years. There was also five support Groups for abuse survivors from the New York area. www.keep-our-children-safe.com Tina Alfano-- www.toysofhope.org Melissa Dokofsky-- www.savethechildren.dyns.net SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, David Cerulli Child Protection Advocates, Dan Dugo.
This is the first public event ever for child rape victims of Jehovahs Witnesses. According to William H. Bowen founder of silentlambs, "Elders have threatened child molestation victims across the country for speaking out about abuse. Today Jehovahs Witnesses leadership exhibited cowardice and zero Christianity when faced with Jehovahs Witness abuse survivors."
Contact: (your name here)
www.silentlambs.org, William H. Bowen: 270-527-5350
Edited by - silentlambs on 30 September 2002 21:55:16