Fatherless Day events at state capitals this Friday

Fathers 4 Justice is holding their annual Fatherless Day rallies this Friday in state capitals across the country.

With Fathers Day approaching, we're seeing the usual articles blaming fathers for the country's growing fatherless problem.  Currently, approximately four of every ten children who don't live with their fathers haven't seen them in over a year.  

"I talk to parents across the country every day," said Donald Tenn with Fathers 4 Justice, "and I can tell you that most of those fathers are not absent by choice."  It's lack of due process in family courts and no respect for family rights that are at fault, according to many fatherhood advocates.  

Spend any time in the fathers/family rights movement online and you'll be shocked at how many parents are fighting with everything they have to stay in their children's lives.  Their heartbreaking stories can be found in Yahoo and Google groups, on website forums and on Facebook.  Many of these parents have lost everything, from their homes to their bank accounts.  But nothing, they say, is as hard as losing the ability to parent their children.

You'll find men like Jack Frost of New York (in photo - second from right).  Frost recently protested outside his son's doctor's office in an attempt to have his desires heard and his rights recognized regarding his son's DNR.  As a noncustodial father trying to save his son's life he isn't getting a lot of help, he says.  This isn't the first time Frost has taken a stand for family rights.  He participated in a peaceful protest with activist John Murtari in Lyons, NY in November.

June 17, 2010 UPDATE:  Jack Frost reports that his son's doctor has revoked his son's DNR.  We all love hearing good news.  Thanks for the update, Jack.

Fathers and mothers who have been removed from their children's lives or who have had their parenting reduced, their family, friends and supporters are encouraged to participate in this event. 

• Fatherless Day
  
• Friday, June 18, 9-4
  
• Your State Capital
• Lobby in the morning
  
• Rally in the afternoon
  
• info@f4j.us

Teri Stoddard is a nature loving, 50-something San Francisco Bay Area native, mom of four and grandma to two. After a career in foster and child day care, Teri continues her child advocacy by reporting on family rights and issues affecting San Francisco Bay Area families.

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Related Links

• Fathers 4 Justice
  

• Fathers & Families
• National Coalition For Men
• DC Rally for Family Rights, July 23-25
  
• Parental Alienation Awareness Organization
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children