HATE BANNER TAKEN DOWN AND SEN. BROWN'S MISTAKEN SPONSORSHIP OF VAWA
1. Your Calls to Gov. Patrick Worked! 2. Sen. Brown's VAWA Problem - Call his office! 1. Gov. Patrick's Office Takes Down Jane Doe Inc. Hate Banner from Mass. State House Last year Jane Doe Inc.'s hateful 'White Ribbon Campaign' banner hung on the Massachusetts State House for a full month. This year, thanks to your calls to the Governor's office, the banner was taken down after less than a week. The banner never should have been allowed. The 'White Ribbon Campaign' and Jane Doe's banner falsely promote the hateful idea that only men commit violence, making it all too easy and common to throw a father out of his home and take his children away. Even incarcerate him. All without real justification. The reality, as everyone knows, is that men and women are equally capable of violent acts. Singling out men, and the governor's initial approval of this message, was sexist and discriminatory. However, that it was taken down so quickly is a very positive change and perhaps a harbinger of more to come. Call the governor's office at 617 725-4005 to thank him for taking the Jane Doe banner down and, most importantly, ask him to approve a Fatherhood Coalition banner in honor Fathers' Day (Sunday, June 17) this year on the State House. 2. Sen. Brown's Mistaken Sponsorship of VAWA The Senate Judiciary Committee passed VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) only on a party line vote, 10 Democrats in favor and 8 Republicans voting against. This was a good sign that VAWA is in trouble down the road when it comes up for votes in the Senate and House and good reason to continue to press Senators in every state to vote 'No' on VAWA. We have a special job to do here in Massachusetts. Like the White Ribbon Campaign and the so-called 'Domestic Abuse' 209A law the premise behind the more than $10b federal law is that all men are inherently batterers and all women victims. The result is widespread sexist discrimination and the legal subjection of men in society. The negative effects of VAWA can not be underestimated. It is a major weapon used to destroy families in this country. Sen. Scott Brown is a co-sponsor of the VAWA. It is reported he bases his mistaken support for the law on personal experience. However, he is wrong. The exception does not make the rule and he needs to understand for the benefit of all fit and loving parents why VAWA should not be reauthorized. He has yet to agree to schedule sufficient time to discuss this with the many concerned individuals from the The Fatherhood Coalition. Please call Sen. Brown at (202) 224-4543 (DC office) and (617) 565-3170 (Boston) . Tell him he must withdraw his sponsorship of this destructive law and ask him to schedule a meeting time with The Fatherhood Coalition now. We need your support to continue our work. Please help us financially by donating here. Thanks! Joe Ureneck Chair, The Fatherhood Coalition www.fatherhoodcoalition.org www.fatherhoodcoalition.org/newsite(for blogging) 857 350-0575