Good dads reach new heights to protect their children

August 23, 10:25 AMFamily Rights ExaminerTeri Stoddard

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Madison Nicole Tenn is seen in this old photo with her father Donald Tenn.

Tenn says he had to become a "daddy activist" after Madison was abducted by her mother three years ago, who then filed false charges of domestic violence to keep from having to return her to California.

Madison was one of the ever-growing number of children with stay-at-home dads.  With grief-filled words Tenn said:

I didn't choose this for my life.   

I was Madison's primary caregiver.  She looked to me for comfort when she was hurt.  Madison's mother Shannon Phillips took her on a trip that she said was a vacation, then illegally kept her in Illinois. 

When she learned that she would need to return to California, she filed charges of domestic violence against me.  She said I was stalking her.  I was 6 states and 2,500 miles away.   

Tenn says he just wants his daughter home in Sacramento.

Tenn and Paul Fisher face vandalism charges for an Ohio protest on a crane at OSU last year.  Their court date has been postponed until October.   He said they did not vandalize the crane. 

The crane has an operator's cab.  There was a walkie talkie inside that we could have used.  With the thunderstorm pounding us, it would have been much warmer and drier than where we were.  The door was locked, and we didn't enter.

When I left the crane I took everything with me that we had taken up.  We did not damage the crane in any way, and we did not leave anything on it.

People either support parent activists who climb tall buildings, cranes and the Lincoln Memorial for civil rights violations, or they say the danger involved makes these protests irresponsible.  Tenn says he and Fisher were in no danger when they climbed the crane. 

 I could walk to the very end of the jib.  I could even do a handstand while I'm there.  I am a trained and experienced tower climber.  That was my career.

Paul and I were 175' in the air.  I trained Paul in climbing before the protest, and we had safety equipment on at all times.

In 1985 I helped Channel 40 when they filmed a commercial for their new Monster Tower in Walnut Grove.  I was over 2,000' in the air.  Not only did I have no safety equipment, I was wearing a King Kong costume.

I know what I'm doing.  I was one of the best  tower climbers in the country.  And I was paid good money for my skills.

When asked if they were putting anyone else in danger, Tenn replied.

I was never going to let any police climb up to get me.  That would have put them in danger.  As soon as it was clear that they were intending on doing that, I agreed to come down.

Tenn became the president of Fathers 4 Justice this year, an all-volunteer civil rights campaign organization.

You can see Tenn in the beginning of the Channel 40 commercial in this video:

 For more info: 

• Abducted child's father faces prison for peaceful protest
• Northern California dad travels to DC to confront President Obama
• Family Rights 101: Why is there a fathers rights movement?

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