Petition For Texas Authorities Contains 2,000 Signatures

April 23, 2008 - PRLog -- LEHI, Utah—Uniting their voices in opposition to Texas authorities' removal of 437 children from the Yearning for Zion community in El Dorado, Texas, over 2,000 individuals have signed an online petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/free-the-innocent-flds).

The petition demands the release of the detained persons, as well as an apology for the so-called “acts of aggression” conducted by Texas officials.

Connor Boyack, a Lehi, Utah resident, started the online petition on April 15 in order to help call attention to the abuse of civil liberties he believes is taking place. “As I talked with others about the situation, I was surprised to see how many people opposed the actions of the Texas government,” Boyack said. “While most people disagree with the FLDS religion and its practices, myself included, people are frustrated to see the ways their civil liberties have been ignored and to see the government’s aggression.”

Having first collected the signatures online, Boyack will soon be sending a copy of the petition to Texas Governor Rick Perry, Senator Hutchinson, Senator Cornyn, and Commissioner Cockerell of the Department of Family Services.

Boyack hopes the petition will have an effect on the recent decision by Judge Barbara Walther to keep all 416 children in state custody.

He cites a 2006 report (http://www.window.state.tx.us/news/60623statement.html) by the Texas Comptroller that reveals startling information about the Texas foster care system into which these children are likely to be placed. According to the report, children in the Texas foster care system are four times more likely to die than children in the general Texas population. It also reports that in 2004, 100 foster children received treatment for poisoning from medications, 63 received medical treatment for rape that occurred while in the foster care system, and 142 children gave birth while in the system.

“The Texas CPS officials have stated that the children are being removed because of the potential for abuse in the future,” Boyack said. “But how can this be a reasonable action, when this report clearly shows that the system into which they would be placed is itself riddled with abuse?”

The report also explains how Texas Governor Rick Perry failed to act to help remedy the foster care situation and prevented the release of important statistical data in 2005 to assist in a complete report by the Comptroller. In light of this history, Boyack says he doubts that Governor Perry will respond to the petition, let alone heed its request to act in support of the Constitutional rights of the FLDS women and children.  

“The odds are against appropriate action, but we have to try,” he said. “Regardless of the outcome, we’re going to make our voices heard to show there is opposition to what Texas officials have done and may do. We hope that somebody with authority will speak out in defense of their Constitutional rights.”

Connor Boyack is a political activist and blogger residing in Lehi, Utah.