John Murtari Struggles Physically, Maintains Nonviolent Action, Eight Days Without Water or Food
.
.
Drawing on his faith, John Murtari is enduring the suffering that comes from eight days of dehydration and starvation, surprisingly, conditions he imposes upon himself. Murtari, father to Domenic, 13, decided his 6-month sentence for child support arrears would include the “nonviolent action of noncooperation,” to draw attention to the need for Family Law Reform and Parents’ Civil Rights. Murtari, a faithful, loving, gentle man graciously calls it being “uncomfortable,” yet speaks in a weak voice, saying the feeding tube he once feared was, ” now the best thing I can imagine.”
.
Members of A Kids Right, the parents’ group Murtari founded, seek congressional hearings on Family Law Reform and want to draw attention to the Civil Rights of all Parents. They want passage of a Family Rights Act, which protects the average parent’s right to custody of their children.
.
Murtari was taken to a local hospital emergency room Friday when his heartbeat became rapid and irregular. Plans to give him fluids by IV were halted and he was returned to the Onodaga County Justice Center medical unit. Today a Senior Medical Administrator at the Onondaga County Justice Center told Murtari they would not be putting in an IV or feeding tube, as he’d been told Friday. She said there were ethical considerations involved because he had the choice to eat and drink normally.
.
Fearing permanent kidney failure the administrator again asked him to drink. She said if the condition progressed to an emergency situation they would take action and send him to an emergency room for treatment. Murtari has had no food or liquid since July 31, [except for 3 small cups of water, about 18 ounces, last Friday] and small amounts of water that get swallowed when he brushes his teeth.
.
Saying, “It’s not easy,” Murtari plans on continuing, yet prays for guidance. He asks that his sincere thanks are conveyed to everyone concerned about his situation.
.
The 6-month sentence came from Judge Bryan Hedges of Onondaga County, New York who says Murtari is $60,000 behind in child support. Murtari disputes that claim, and says his case is full of injustice, including the wrong jurisdiction, travel expenses to see his son who was moved across the country not taken into account, and perjury. But Murtari isn’t thinking about money right now, he’s thinking about Domenic, and praying he’s doing the right thing.
.
.
Please participate in the worldwide Day of Demonstration for Equal Parenting and Vigil for John Murtari on Wednesday, August 9. Whether you’re one individual or an entire organization, everyone can make a difference. Please take photos of statues and trees tied with purple ribbons and send to teri@akidsright.org.
.
.
To ask Judge Hedges to reduce Murtari’s sentence, call or write:
.
Judge Bryan Hedges
Onondaga County Family Court
401 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 671-2040
401 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 671-2040
.
To contact public officials on Murtari’s behalf:
.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (up for election this year)
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261-7378
Phone: 315-448-0470, Fax: 315-448-0476
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261-7378
Phone: 315-448-0470, Fax: 315-448-0476
.
Congressman James Walsh (up for election this year)
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7306 Syracuse, NY 13261-7306
Phone: 315-423-5657, Fax: 315-423-5669
James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street P.O. Box 7306 Syracuse, NY 13261-7306
Phone: 315-423-5657, Fax: 315-423-5669
.
US Attorney Glenn Suddaby
P.O. Box 7198 100 South Clinton Street Syracuse, NY 13261-7198
Phone: 315-448-0672, Fax: 315-448-0689
P.O. Box 7198 100 South Clinton Street Syracuse, NY 13261-7198
Phone: 315-448-0672, Fax: 315-448-0689
.
Onondaga County DA Bill Fitzpatrick (John already sent Mr. Fitzpatrick a sworn complain about attorney misconduct and perjury — check A Kids Right’s main page for details on April 26,2006.)
505 S. Salina Street Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-435-2470
505 S. Salina Street Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-435-2470
.
To contact the media:
.
WHEC TV (NBC) -
Main Number: 585-546-5670
News Hot Line: 585-232-1010,
http://www.10nbc.com/contactus.asp
Main Number: 585-546-5670
News Hot Line: 585-232-1010,
http://www.10nbc.com/contactus.asp
.
WHAM TV (ABC) -
Newsroom: 585-222-1313
Newsroom Hotline: 585-334-8743,
News Fax: 585-334-8719 yourstories@13wham.com
http://www.13wham.com/contactus
Newsroom: 585-222-1313
Newsroom Hotline: 585-334-8743,
News Fax: 585-334-8719 yourstories@13wham.com
http://www.13wham.com/contactus
.
WUHF (FOX) – News Hotline: (585) 262-FOX1
News Fax: (585) 232-3005 http://www.foxrochester.co
News Fax: (585) 232-3005 http://www.foxrochester.co
.
.
.
WTVH (CBS 5) – http://www.wtvh.com/contactus/default.aspx
Main number: 315-425-5555
Main number: 315-425-5555
.
NEWS 10 NOW (24 Hour Local News) – http://www.news10now.com/content/contact_us
News Tips Line 1-866-4NEWS10
News Fax Line 1-866-634-4270
.
WCNY (PBS 24) – http://www.wcny.org/contact
Main number: 315-453-2424
Main number: 315-453-2424
.
Post Standard – City Paper 315-470-0011
Local News: citynews@syracuse.com ,
Court news: Jim O’Hara, 315-470-2260, johara@syracuse.com
Local News: citynews@syracuse.com ,
Court news: Jim O’Hara, 315-470-2260, johara@syracuse.com
.
.
Finger Lakes Times – Local Paper (daily)
Lyons Reporter: Jim Miller jmiller@fltimes.com
http://www.fltimes.com/
Lyons Reporter: Jim Miller jmiller@fltimes.com
http://www.fltimes.com/
.
NY Law Journal (Newspaper) 212-779-9200
.
To make monetary donations:
.
Donations to Murtari’s legal fund:
Mr. Charles Keller Esq.
Att: Murtari Legal Defense
9416 Carousel Center Drive
Syracuse, New York 13290
Mr. Charles Keller Esq.
Att: Murtari Legal Defense
9416 Carousel Center Drive
Syracuse, New York 13290
.
Donations of $100 for press releases:
Call Teri Stoddard at 877-635-1968 ex. 212. (corrected number)
.
Other donations:
Kids-Right Support c/o Software Workshop Inc.
Att: Media Fund
55 E. Genesee Street
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Kids-Right Support c/o Software Workshop Inc.
Att: Media Fund
55 E. Genesee Street
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
.
You can write to John:.
John Murtari
POD 2A-5
555 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202.
John Murtari
POD 2A-5
555 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202.
Possibly related posts...
I'm a sun and nature loving, 50-something, laid back, forward thinking, liberal anti-feminist egalitarian, san francisco bay area native, single mom of 4 and yia yia to 2. I've been active in the equal parenting movement since 2002. Known as the purple Queen of Equality, I once blogged as the Feminist4Fathers. Find me now on sharedparentingworks.org and jugsforjustice.org. | More from Teri Stoddard
Stumble It!
[...] approach. Murtari is a nonviolent peaceful protester for family rights. He’s best known for almost dying while incarcerated while refusing to cooperate in his [...]
[...] Murtari’s being fed with a nasal feeding tube, but it wasn’t always this way. Prison officials waited 10 days before giving him the feeding tube. Murtari had an irregular heartbeat, low blood sugar, blood pressure so low they couldn’t read the second number, and he’d lost 27 lbs. [...]
Well, I called about six of those outlets listed… one of them, I believe it was CBS5 in Syracuse, said they were waiting to see if anyone was going to protest so they could get some ‘images.’
If I lived in NY or even the Northeast, I would go… but I’m about 1500 miles west…
And yes, I’m contributing a $100 to his legal fund… I wish I had more.
Hopefully everyone will contact officials, the media, make donations. My thoughts and prayers are with you John.
Here is an actual situation where people can DO something that has relevance and makes a statement.
Indeed. Our prayers are with him.
Murtari is a Hero, beyond any doubt.
God Bless this man.