Media Alert

Press Release

Unity Rally for the Children: A two-fold issue

Why

Born of necessity for South Dakota children’s safety, the four colors of people will unite to insure that the children of South Dakota are protected from sexual predators and from being kidnapped by a social service agency resulting in the destruction of the family.

The first issue: There is no doubt there are many caring social workers in our state who work tirelessly to protect children from various forms of abuse and neglect. It is the system under federal, state, and local mandates that is the issue here before us, today.

National Public Radio has reported that our great state receives $100 million per year to fund the foster care/adoption system. Many news reports are suggesting that the children of our state are a “cash crop.”

As reported by Native Sun News, two investigations of the Department of Social Services are under way for Indian Child Welfare Act violations.

Non-Indian families are not immune to the destruction of family by the DSS system. Two of our rally supporters have worked closely with a Caucasian family, recently. The family has been separated for two years with the children scattered around the state. What is more, the family’s minister is not allowed to visit the children, much less the parents.

Evelyn Red Lodge asked the DSS in Rapid City for a handbook or any information on parental rights when a family faces an investigation by Child Protection Services. She was informed that a letter of request for information be sent to the Pierre office. The obvious question screams, “Why all the secrecy!”

The second issue the four colors of people will address at the rally is protection of children from sexual predators. Since the further limiting 2010 HB1104 Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse was passed, Robert Brancato, a Certified Fraud Examiner; told Native Sun News more child predators are moving to our great state. That said, many media outlets are describing South Dakota as a haven for these predators.

Here is why. HB 1104 limits the time a child has to report the abuse and seek civil damages to three years or to the arbitrary stipulation of three years after the discovery that the victim was harmed by the abuse.

Ironically, the law was brought to South Dakota legislature by the attorney for St. Joseph’s Indian School who was charged with many sexual abuse allegations committed against Native American children.

Further, HB1104 limits the time to seek damages to those who have not yet reached the age of 40. In doing so, the law unconstitutionally targets Native Americans as an ethnic group as the law was presented and passed after over 40 such victims filed civil litigation. Upon its passing, these civil suits were dismissed in the court.

As we are all aware, the clergy sex abuse scandal has reached epic proportions and is a global issue. The scandal reaches every color of peoples world-wide.

Why do these issues matter so much? Because, research tells us that children subjected to one or both of these issues will have life-long suffering.

Both issues will cross all racial boundaries and the effects of shattering a child’s dreams will be passed on generationally.

Please join with us in bringing awareness to the social change that must take place by using our constitutionally protected right to free speech in a public forum.

Date of the event: 16 December 2011 in Rapid City, S.D. Location to be released after permit issues are resolved.

Protect children now.    Give child sexual abuse victims their day in court. 

Draft A

About the Child Protection Act of Minnesota

The Child Protection Act, authored by State Senator ____________, and State Representative ________________ eliminates the civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children. The Act gives child victims of unspeakable sexual trauma the chance to speak up in a way they are currently unable to.

The Child Protection Act protects children. Many sexual predators have never been held accountable nor faced consequences for the crimes they committed because the current Minnesota law shields them from criminal prosecution and civil action. Children are exposed to dangerous child predators at this moment and ongoing.

Current Minnesota law only gives victims of child sexual abuse six years from the age of majority to use the courts for a civil remedy and to expose sex offenders. Under the proposed new law, victims will be able to hold accountable both the perpetrators and the individuals and institutions that are found grossly negligent in their responsibility to protect children from sexual abuse.

Children will be safer with the passage of this act because the public will hear evidence of how institutions failed to protect children from sexual abusers.

The threat of civil damages will motivate institutions to prioritize protecting children from pedophiles rather than keeping ugly secrets to protect their reputations.

The merit of the accusations will be determined by the time-honored American judicial system and established rules of evidence. The Child Protection Act offers the silenced a way to use their voices. As a law, the bill will give child victims in the state of Minnesota the chance to tell the truth and be heard in a court of law. Simply stated, the Child Protection Act protects children.

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