A Question of Mack or Murtari
If you’ve never been: forcefully separated from your children, had your wages garnished to satisfy court ordered child support, helplessly watched your child suffer from an ear infection or cold having been prevented by a vindictive ex-spouse from taking them to a doctor, lived on ramen noodles and generic soup, listened to the stories of the ‘new dad’ in mommy’s life, been compelled to work on the only weekend when you get to actually spend time with your kids, refused to answer the door because a friendly cop warned you about the bench warrant for your arrest for failing to pay $5000 a month in alimony (based on a $60K job), etc, etc, etc. this article will ‘make sense.’ If you haven’t lived through this kind of hell, then this will come as a shock.Â
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For some of us who have lived this nightmare, we have moved on, recovered and rebuilt our lives. Many times, the children who see the torment of their fathers come to deeply respect and admire their sacrifice; at least that is my story. My oldest son lives with me; my other three kids may move in soon. So, this isn’t about me.
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Several months ago Darren Mack, a Las Vegas businessman, allegedly killed his wife, Charla Mack and then attempted to kill Family Court Judge Charles ‘Chuck’ Weller later the same morning. She had left him and with the power of a Weller’s court now threatened to destroy everything he had worked for; his business, his family and his reputation. It was all crumbling around him and the worst part was that Charla Mack had taken their child. Darren Mack as a successful entrepreneur was obviously not used to feeling powerless or disenfranchised. The Judge, Chuck Weller, was not to be spared of Darren Mack’s wrath. According to one source, Mack was angry over a divorce settlement issued by Judge Weller. In addition to child support capped by state law at $849 per month, Darren Mack was ordered to pay $10,000 per month to help pay household expenses.
As details of these attacks became public, many people in the Father’s Rights community quietly acknowledged they weren’t particularly surprised by something of this nature happening. After all, in the last few years several men, a retired Connecticut State Trooper Michael L. Bochicchio Jr. and John Allen Muhammad, the infamous Belt Way Sniper, had gone on murderous rampages following some very questionable court rulings against them. Even though many in the Father’s and Children’s Rights community understood their rage, no one condoned their actions; murder, wanton violence and revenge were not how the movement wishes to be identified. But still, a lingering frustration and embitterment fills the minds of a vast group of men who have been crushed by these so-called family courts; this type of occasional violence was bound to continue, grow and possibly become organized as a biased and arbitrary judiciary continues its ongoing criminalization of divorced men with children.
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In striking contrast to these incidents is the case of John Murtari. Murtari, a well known and respected member of the Equal Parenting movement and founder of ‘A Kid’s Right’ was recently incarcerated for failure to pay almost $60,000 in child support. His advocates claim that the amount he is ordered to pay is based upon a previous job which produced twice the income of his current employment. Additionally Murtari himself has been indignant regarding the fact his child, a 13 year old boy, was moved across country by his now ex-wife and that he needs significant financial resources to maintain a long distance relationship with his son. In summation, Murtari did not ask for the divorce, he did not acquiesce to his son being moved across the nation, he did not decide how much he could pay in child support- he was simply handed a bill, based upon the income from an old job and told ‘pay…or else.’ And when he failed to pay, they threw him in jail. His effort to be a father had literally been criminalized.
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But being a man who reputedly has a strong faith and is a committed and loving father, he vowed a resistance of non-violence. For the first week and a half following his incarceration, he refused food and water. Even when forced to sit with the other prisoners in the dining hall, he maintained a Military level of discipline and refused to eat. Finally the authorities moved Murtari to a medical facility, fearing he may actually suffer kidney failure; they inserted Murtari with a feeding tube. Murtari continues his hunger strike and his supporters continue their vigil, both locally and internationally. He deals with the hunger and thirst everyday in a protest of conscience to send the message: a father is more than a meal ticket and his value as a parent is greater than the capacity of his wallet. He is sadden but determined, shaken but not broken. He continues on and while he breathes, we hope.
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Does a biased and bigoted judiciary and other members of the state and federal governments begin to acknowledge they have needlessly made potentially millions of domestic enemies? Do they admit he and thousand more like him have committed no crime than to attempt to remain a positive presence in their children’s lives? Do they begin to realize their actions have been nothing short of despicable, capricious and arrogant? Or will they continue their crusade of disenfranchisement, taking home, family and future away from men guilty only of being ‘divorced with children?’
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So, now the question: Will they deal fairly with a pacifist hunger striker or run the risk of getting a bullet from a man who has nothing left to lose? We will wait and see.Â
Father, businessman, Libertarian, Christian. | More from Eric Johnson
Stumble It!
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:52 pm
I respect John Mutari to the Nth degree. He is helping us, no doubt about that. But I refuse to condemn Darren Mack or anyone else who resorts to the Second Amendment when all other Amendments are denied. Simply put Mack’s alleged approach (I am still not convinced he was cool enough to have pulled off the sniper attack so successfully only a few hours after sending his wife on the her hearing before the angels at the Pearly Gates.) appeals to those of us who believe that quietly going off to Auschwitz and obediently stepping into the gas chamber is an unsatisfactory way of dealing with tyrants.
There is a fellow named Thomas Blatt, who wrote some books about his experience at Sobibor. He was the child who led the Camp Commandant to a place where other guests of the German taxpayers could insert knives into him and take his keys to the weapons locker for the machine guns.
Then they used the guns to shoot their way out of the death camp and ran the minefields for the forest.
It must have been the most fun they ever had in their lives! Giving back to the fuckheads what they fucking deserved! Even if they got killed while doing it. Even if they stepped on one of the mines on the way out.
It must have been a blast!
To kill a fucker who fucking deserves it has got to be more fun than the best sex ever to those of us who have been robbed, extorted, and ordered into peonage by fuckheaded assholes who give not a shit about the idea of what the United States is all about!
That is the temptation that so far most of us have resisted.
Pardon my use of Old English terminology.
August 24th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
If my life was destroyed by someone who was breaking the law and their oath to uphold justice then I don’t think my actions would be as respectable as what John is doing. I absolutely do not believe that Darren can be forgiven for killing his wife though. She may have initiated the divorce, but she was not the one responsible for taking his rights.
August 24th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
jriolo
absolutely do not believe that Darren can be forgiven for killing his wife though. She may have initiated the divorce, but she was not the one responsible for taking his rights.
Agreed. When he did that, he simply left his youngest child effectively an orphan.
August 24th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
The child support system in this country is run by a bunch of Nazis. I’ve been viciously abused the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department for a year. To date they and their shysters (including but not limited to: Dennis Coe, Lori A. Cruz, Deborah Echeverria, etc.) have illegally garnished my wages WITHOUT a valid court order, intentionally REFUSE to abide by a Court Orders (the first one was dated April 17, 2006) etc. Even though shyster Dennis Coe personally SIGNED the court order that states that I’ve OVERPAID my child support he and his thugs continue to (as recently as TODAY):
1. Garnish my unemployement checks
2. fraudulently report me to the credit bureaus as being 90 days past due (remember, I’ve OVERPAID)
3. Regularly refuse to respond to letters from my attorney
4. LIE
5. Have STOLEN my tax refunds
6. garnish my wages
etc., etc.
A new site has been established report on the Los Angeles County Child Support Nazis and an e-mail letter writing campaign is now being started.
The web site is located at:
http://www.lacochildsupport.org
Details about the e-mail campaign are found at:
http://www.lacochildsupport.org/horrors/viewtopic.php?t=7
Please write to the bastards at LA County today – shyster Dennis Coe whined to my attorney, nearly two weeks ago, when his e-mail address was first posted. Of course, sleaze bag shyster Coe has also continued to REFUSE to stop his real abuse of me. Again, please write today.
August 25th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Just remember that Charla Mack enlisted the aid of tyrants. She, as the client, had the authority to require that her lawyer be reasonable and she did not and perhaps refused to be reasonable.
I understand being appalled at Darren Mack’s murder of the mother of his children. I am also appalled at the behavior of this mother.
If the jury convicts Mack of murdering his wife, I would consider that the appropriate thing for them to do, provided that evidence presented actually proves the charge beyond reasonable doubt. If, however, upon drawing the conclusion that the crime was proven beyond reasonable doubt and the jury elected to do the jury nullification thing in consideration of all of the circumstances, I would also consider that the appropriate thing to do.
Provided afterwards, the jury is honest about it and willing to explain their reasons for their decision.
August 25th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
[...] . . Dennis with 101UsesForBabyWipes sent me this link to the audio version of John’s interview on News10Now. I’m not sure how long the video will be on their website, but Dennis said he’ll keep the audio link online as long as we need it. Please send the audio and video links to everyone you can think of who might help with our cause. . Doctors removed John’s feeding tube Monday so his throat could heal and he could get some sleep. Wednesday the plan to reinsert it was changed because he was no longer dehydrated. They wanted him to eat on his own, or at least to just be on a liquid diet. John declined, saying he’s starting over, no food or water at all, except a small amount of water to keep his mouth dry. His health was expected to decline more rapidly than the first time since he’s starting out in poor health, and it is. . When John called me this morning it was obvious he’s already feeling the effects of dehydration. He lost his train-of-thought a couple of times. At least this time he remembered after a moment. A few days ago John weighed around 145 lbs. Today he weighs 136. His blood sugar is 60, which is borderline. He plans on conserving his energy over the weekend. I don’t expect to hear from him again until Monday, which concerns me considering how quickly his health is declining. . First and foremost he wants me to thank all of you for your support. It means so much to him. John is praying at least 3 times a day and says it’s his faith that gives him the courage to follow his convictions. He says he appreciates your prayers and letters very much. (Please keep the letters coming.) He also wants me to remind everyone to be kind when acting on his behalf. He wants us to criticize the system, not individuals. . John’s address in jail changes, you can get updates here. Today it’s: . John Murtari POD 5A-9 555 South State Street Syracuse, NY 13202 . John’s attorney, Charles Keller, visited him in jail today. He told John that Judge Hedges made it clear he would not allow John to appear in front of him again, that John’s only choices were to accept probation or do the time. Mr. Keller expects to appear in front of an appellate judge early next week. He’s going to ask for a stay which would get John out of jail. John would appreciate donations to cover the paperwork. Mr. Keller has received over $300, but we need $400. Thank you to those who’ve donated! . Mr. Charles Keller Esq. Att: Murtari Legal Defense 9416 Carousel Center Drive Syracuse, New York 13290 . John is happy about the coverage we’ve gotten. He’d like you to thank the reporters, editors and/or producers: . Krights Internet Radio, 8/3/06 . Glenn Sacks Enewsletter 8/8/06 . Jailed Activist Refusing Food Post Standard – August 10 – . Lyons Man Refuses Food, Water Finger Lake Times – August 10 – . Inmate: I don’t recommend…this. Protesting child custody laws, John Murtari stopped eating 10 days ago Post Standard, 8/12/06 . Inmate from Lyons gets feeding tube Finger Lakes Times, 8/15/06 . 101UsesForBabyWipes Podcast (33 mins in), 8/17/06 . Michael McManus Syndicated Column August 19 . Letters in Support printed Post Standard, August 22 . Glenn Sacks Enewsletter 8/22/06 . A Question of Mack or Murtari Mens News Daily, August 23 . Syracuse inmate on hunger strike News10Now, August 23 . Numerous Blogs . John would also like you to call the news outlets that haven’t run a story yet, especially the television stations: . WHEC TV (NBC) – Main Number: 585-546-5670 News Hot Line: 585-232-1010, . WHAM TV (ABC) – Newsroom: 585-222-1313 Newsroom Hotline: 585-334-8743, [...]
September 16th, 2006 at 9:47 am
Here is quote from a historical American document know as The Declaration of Independence,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
January 7th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
My gosh, you all are overlooking the entire reason Charla filed for the divorce in the first place! She was scared of the guy. Plain and simple. And she Obviously had good reason to be. The guy was an out of control brute (3 times as big as she was) and in to “swingers” types of marriage and she wanted out. She did the right thing. She filed for a divorce. That’s what civilized people do. He had the means to pay child support and alimony. All he had to do was act like a civilized human being and he would still be enjoying a free life, his child, and his swinger’s lifestyle. For some reason, when it comes to obeying court orders, men snap. They do not want to be told what to do, what to pay, or how to act. This has become the norm in our society today. Practically every other week you read of a wife – who has filed for divorce… opps, all of a sudden ending up dead. Please folks! Is it any wonder why we have had to resort to “anger management classes” for everyone now? I am so sick of reading about men who freak out and all of a sudden stop working or hide assets for the transparent purpose of avoiding responsibility to their children, or up and murder their wives (and unborn children no less) just because they want to go off and play now.
This guy even shot a judge. He was totally out of control and should be behind bars.