CPS FAILS THE FAWN’S
NEWS RELEASE
2/18/2004
CPS FAILS MATTIE
Press Conference to be held at 11 am Tuesday, February 17th in front of CPS
offices located at 3802 North 53rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ
I am Joni Holm, the sister in law of Fawn Holm, one of the 16 year old
runaways from Colorado City. Myself and my husband Carl, Fawn’s older brother,
are willing to provide care and security for both Fawn’s. My husband and I are
convinced that the best interest of the girls is served by placing them with
loving family members living outside of the polygamy system. My husband was
raised in Colorado City and he understands the abuses that children suffer
inside. Crimes were committed against my husband by his father and also against
his baby sister, Fawn. This is the main reason why she left home in the first
place. I was not raised in Colorado City, nor in polygamy. We can provide the
mentoring and love these girls need at this time to transition to the outside
world.
We have been meeting with the AG’s office, and CPS in order to facilitate
this placement. However, two days ago the temporary guardian of the girls called
and read me an order from the court stating that the girls were to have no
contact with us and also severing contact with Flora Jessop, the friend who
provided them with initial safety. I have not been provided a copy of this
order. It greatly altered our plans without allowing us an input. The abusive
parents were at the hearing however.
I do not appreciate the way this was handled and want to let the public know
some of the problems we are encountering as we try to keep Carl’s sister, and
her friend safe. These girls want their story told so that others will not
suffer as they are. They would like also to assert their right to freedom of
speech, something they have never had. They also want the right to freely
associate, determine their destiny, and return to school. CPS is hindering these
simple goals.
I am disappointed and upset by these events and hope that in the end justice
is served. To this end we are no longer relying on the State of Arizona to do
the right thing by us and these girls. We have contacted Justice for Children, a
non profit group that assists people dealing with a state system in widespread
failure. The State of Arizona does not help girls escape polygamy and abuse.
They are returned to their abusers.
Now here is the good news. Last night we had brief contact with my daughter
and we heard the girls were safe. She refused to tell me where they are, but all
are safe. When the girls learned that there was a no contact order with myself
and other family members who live outside of polygamy they naturally became
distressed and afraid that they would be sent back to Colorado City. The CPS
workers did set up a meeting with their parents against their wishes. These
mistakes caused the fear that made the girls run.
This is all I have to say on this matter. Thank you for coming and covering
this important story.
Flora Jessop’s Statement
After I rescued these girls I brought them into the AG’s office because I
want the state to put in place an action plan that will allow children to leave
polygamy successfully. I began negotiating on behalf of these girls so that they
could be among the first girls to come out with help from outsiders. Most
children escaping polygamy wind up on the streets with nothing, naïve, no
resources and desperate just to survive. I was hopeful for a good outcome. Yet
fairly quickly it became apparent the AG’s office and CPS were breaking their
agreements to us.
When I brought these girls to safety, I asked that three conditions be met to
ensure a successful transition. The first was that the girls be placed in a safe
home of our choosing as these children have specific and unique needs. Few of
these children have family on the outside, but when family is available we have
asked they be placed with family members. This is possible in this case. Loving
family members are ready to care for them.
The second was that the girls be placed in pairs. They have left the only
life they have ever known, their entire family, and are now adjusting to an
outside world they have been taught is evil. The indoctrination is not easy to
overcome. It is vital to maintain a friend to speak with who understands their
plight. The Fawn’s are good friends and placement together is easy in this
case.
The third is that CPS does not interfere with my right to see the Fawn’s
and continue to help them through this difficult time. This could also help CPS
learn how to deal with these uncharted waters, promoting the freedom and self
determination of girls fleeing polygamy since prior to this they have always
returned girls to the polygamy they fled.
In fact one of the main reasons the Fawn’s lost confidence in CPS is
because another girl, Mattie, who ran about the same time was returned to
Colorado City days later by the same CPS office, now controlling their lives.
When we questioned CPS and the AG’s office about why Mattie was returned to
polygamy, we were told this was because there was no abuse in that case.
Polygamy is abuse! Let me say that again and maybe the officials will get it.
Polygamy is abuse. However beyond that is the fact that CPS and the AG lied when
they said this girl suffered no abuse.
Her own statement reads in part:
"I was in the bathroom and my father started yelling at me and banging
on the door. He tried to unlock it and then I just opened it. He was still
yelling at me and then he grabbed me and drug me down the stairs and I hit my
head on the wall. He left a large bruise on my arm. …I am very afraid of him.
He took my diary and read it…...He has several times hit me with a willow
stick causing a welt on my back."
She goes on to say this is happening to her siblings as well.
Mattie was betrayed by CPS. Were they about to betray the Fawn’s? They
believed so and here are some other reasons why:
They were first assigned a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) who listened to them and
fought for what they wanted at the first hearing. She was mysteriously removed
from the case and refused to tell us why, another GAL, was put on who failed to
gain the girls trust and who did not listen to them. She took away the fragile
support system they had in place with myself and with Carl and Joni by telling
the girls they could not have contact with us. She then demanded they meet with
their parents. Neither girl wanted this.
The CPS worker, Germaine Abraham-Leveen, also failed to gain their trust by
making demands the girls thought unreasonable on them and on their temporary
custodian.
When this all appeared as though it was falling apart, We took the girls to
Justice for Children and asked for their help. They agreed to represent them and
also to represent the potential and actual caregivers. I am very happy to know
the girls are safe and that they are represented by people who will listen to
them and fight for the girls rights.
The public needs to understand how long we activists have been turning in
information to the state in order to save the child brides in Colorado City and
restore democracy to this lawless place. We are angry at the lack of real action
on this issue. The crimes routinely committed inside polygamy are extremely
serious. Many are still unknown to an unsuspecting public. It is not true as we
so often hear in the media that people will not testify and that the state
cannot put a solid case together regarding these crimes. It is true the state
drags its heels while we continue to demand action using free speech, one of our
only weapons.
Preliminary investigations regarding the abuses in Colorado City started when
Janet Napolitano was AG in 2000. These investigations were not started by public
officials out seeking to do their jobs but because activists gathered and turned
in evidence of crimes. Reports have gone to several law enforcement agencies in
both Arizona and Utah and we receive lip service in return.
When these girls ran, many from this community came forward and offered help.
All of us have been betrayed by a system that has been failing not only the
children in Colorado City but the children of Arizona for many years. After the
order of ‘No Contact’, CPS agent Leveen had the audacity to inform the
temporary caregiver that although I was not allowed to have contact with the
girls, I was supposed to continue to provide for their financial needs through
my organization. CPS in-fact offered only $58 for both girls clothing allowance.
I am angry and you should be as well. Please help us by supporting our boycott
of Utah and Arizona until they get serious about stopping the American Taliban,
the terrorists within. Read how to help at www.childpro.org
or www.helpthechildbrides.com.
Contact: Linda
Walker or Jay Beswick
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