| CPS FAILS THE FAWN’S; CPS FAILS MADDIE NEWS RELEASE | |
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Statements by Joni Holm and Flora Jessop Press Conference held at 11 am Tuesday, February 17th in front of CPS offices located at 3802 North 53rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ | |
I am Joni Holm, the sister in law of Fawn Holm, one of the 16 year old runaways from Colorado City. Myself and my husband Carl, Fawn’s older brother, are willing to provide care and security for both Fawn’s. My husband and I are convinced that the best interest of the girls is served by placing them with loving family members living outside of the polygamy system. My husband was raised in Colorado City and he understands the abuses that children suffer inside. Crimes were committed against my husband by his father and also against his baby sister, Fawn. This is the main reason why she left home in the first place. I was not raised in Colorado City, nor in polygamy. We can provide the mentoring and love these girls need at this time to transition to the outside world. We have been meeting with the AG’s office, and CPS in order to facilitate this placement. However, two days ago the temporary guardian of the girls called and read me an order from the court stating that the girls were to have no contact with us and also severing contact with Flora Jessop, the friend who provided them with initial safety. I have not been provided a copy of this order. It greatly altered our plans without allowing us an input. The abusive parents were at the hearing however. I do not appreciate the way this was handled and want to let the public know some of the problems we are encountering as we try to keep Carl’s sister, and her friend safe. These girls want their story told so that others will not suffer as they are. They would like also to assert their right to freedom of speech, something they have never had. They also want the right to freely associate, determine their destiny, and return to school. CPS is hindering these simple goals. I am disappointed and upset by these events and hope that in the end justice is served. To this end we are no longer relying on the State of Arizona to do the right thing by us and these girls. We have contacted Justice for Children, a non profit group that assists people dealing with a state system in widespread failure. The State of Arizona does not help girls escape polygamy and abuse. They are returned to their abusers. Now here is the good news. Last night we had brief contact with my daughter and we heard the girls were safe. She refused to tell me where they are, but all are safe. When the girls learned that there was a no contact order with myself and other family members who live outside of polygamy they naturally became distressed and afraid that they would be sent back to Colorado City. The CPS workers did set up a meeting with their parents against their wishes. These mistakes caused the fear that made the girls run. This is all I have to say on this matter. Thank you for coming and covering this important story. | |
Flora Jessop’s Statement After I rescued these girls I brought them into the AG’s office because I want the state to put in place an action plan that will allow children to leave polygamy successfully. I began negotiating on behalf of these girls so that they could be among the first girls to come out with help from outsiders. Most children escaping polygamy wind up on the streets with nothing, naïve, no resources and desperate just to survive. I was hopeful for a good outcome. Yet fairly quickly it became apparent the AG’s office and CPS were breaking their agreements to us. When I brought these girls to safety, I asked that three conditions be met to ensure a successful transition. The first was that the girls be placed in a safe home of our choosing as these children have specific and unique needs. Few of these children have family on the outside, but when family is available we have asked they be placed with family members. This is possible in this case. Loving family members are ready to care for them. The second was that the girls be placed in pairs. They have left the only life they have ever known, their entire family, and are now adjusting to an outside world they have been taught is evil. The indoctrination is not easy to overcome. It is vital to maintain a friend to speak with who understands their plight. The Fawn’s are good friends and placement together is easy in this case. The third is that CPS does not interfere with my right to see the Fawn’s and continue to help them through this difficult time. This could also help CPS learn how to deal with these uncharted waters, promoting the freedom and self determination of girls fleeing polygamy since prior to this they have always returned girls to the polygamy they fled. In fact one of the main reasons the Fawn’s lost confidence in CPS is because another girl, Mattie, who ran about the same time was returned to Colorado City days later by the same CPS office, now controlling their lives. When we questioned CPS and the AG’s office about why Mattie was returned to polygamy, we were told this was because there was no abuse in that case. Polygamy is abuse! Let me say that again and maybe the officials will get it. Polygamy is abuse. However beyond that is the fact that CPS and the AG lied when they said this girl suffered no abuse. Her own statement reads in part: "I was in the bathroom and my father started yelling at me and banging on the door. He tried to unlock it and then I just opened it. He was still yelling at me and then he grabbed me and drug me down the stairs and I hit my head on the wall. He left a large bruise on my arm. ... I am very afraid of him. He took my diary and read it ... He has several times hit me with a willow stick causing a welt on my back." She goes on to say this is happening to her siblings as well. Mattie was betrayed by CPS. Were they about to betray the Fawn’s? They believed so and here are some other reasons why: They were first assigned a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) who listened to them and fought for what they wanted at the first hearing. She was mysteriously removed from the case and refused to tell us why, another GAL, was put on who failed to gain the girls trust and who did not listen to them. She took away the fragile support system they had in place with myself and with Carl and Joni by telling the girls they could not have contact with us. She then demanded they meet with their parents. Neither girl wanted this. The CPS worker, Germaine Abraham-Leveen, also failed to gain their trust by making demands the girls thought unreasonable on them and on their temporary custodian. When this all appeared as though it was falling apart, We took the girls to Justice for Children and asked for their help. They agreed to represent them and also to represent the potential and actual caregivers. I am very happy to know the girls are safe and that they are represented by people who will listen to them and fight for the girls rights. The public needs to understand how long we activists have been turning in information to the state in order to save the child brides in Colorado City and restore democracy to this lawless place. We are angry at the lack of real action on this issue. The crimes routinely committed inside polygamy are extremely serious. Many are still unknown to an unsuspecting public. It is not true as we so often hear in the media that people will not testify and that the state cannot put a solid case together regarding these crimes. It is true the state drags its heels while we continue to demand action using free speech, one of our only weapons. Preliminary investigations regarding the abuses in Colorado City started when Janet Napolitano was AG in 2000. These investigations were not started by public officials out seeking to do their jobs but because activists gathered and turned in evidence of crimes. Reports have gone to several law enforcement agencies in both Arizona and Utah and we receive lip service in return. When these girls ran, many from this community came forward and offered help. All of us have been betrayed by a system that has been failing not only the children in Colorado City but the children of Arizona for many years. After the order of ‘No Contact’, CPS agent Leveen had the audacity to inform the temporary caregiver that although I was not allowed to have contact with the girls, I was supposed to continue to provide for their financial needs through my organization. CPS in-fact offered only $58 for both girls clothing allowance. I am angry and you should be as well. Please help us by supporting our boycott of Utah and Arizona until they get serious about stopping the American Taliban, the terrorists within. Read how to help at www.helpthechildbrides.com or www.childbrides.org. | |
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Press Conference held at 11 am Tuesday, February 17, 2004 CPS offices located at 3802 North 53rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ | |
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