NCFMLA, NCFMSD, CRISPE, and F4J members picket San Diego, Men's Leadership Forum

[Men's Rights Activist]

It was an early morning wake up for me this morning, at just before 3:00 A.M. By 3:30 A.M. I was on the road for the drive from Los Angeles to San Diego. The trip took a little over two (2) hours, and I arrived a few minutes before the sun rose.  It was the beginning of a bright, warm and beautiful day (weather-wise).
 
My friend and I met up in San Diego and soon headed out to the annual, San Diego Domestic Violence Council's, Men's Leadership Forum,
http://www.sandiegodvcouncil.org/news/MLF2007RegisrationBrochureFinal.pdf
or I should say the park in front of the place where the Forum was being held.
 
Upon arrival at the park, around 7 A.M., we set up six large ( 3ft. X 7 ft.) signs around the entrance to the park and Forum meeting place.



http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/MRA_06/MLF2007Protest/P2160019a-1.jpg


By prominently blanketing the entrance with signs, we felt Forum participants would be better able to view our opinions about domestic violence law as they were arriving. We also brought about 25 smaller signs, most 30" X 40" in size. The larger signs we laid against trees (or whatever we could find on public property that would hold them up), and the smaller signs we carried in our hands. We had more signs than picketers so we decorated the park with the extra 30" X 40" signs.





 
Our fellow protestors started arriving as we were still setting up, and eventually about 15 people where picketing in front of the event. I've altered all the faces to protect their identities.









 
Here are a few other photos of the picketers as they stood together.



 
One apparent Forum attendee hung out the van window he was riding in and shouted at us from where the van was waiting in the left turn lane. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but others said he was disparaging things we had on our signs about male victims and female batterers. As the van drove by my location I heard him say words to the effect, "You people are part of the disease in this world." Apparently, the man may well be a "case" in need of serious self-evaluation, and/or professional help.
 
Several times during the day, police cars drove by the location.


 
Overall, the day went well and a significant number of people saw our signs. We had a lot of traffic just driving by that saw the signs.

 
In our group, we had one man who was a member of Fathers for Justice F4J, who drove all the way from Sacramento to be at the protest. Combined we had people from a number of organizations present: Fathers for Justice (F4J), Children's Rights Initiative for Sharing Parents Equally (CRISPE), and the National Coalition of Free Men (NCFM - San Diego & Los Angeles chapters). I hope I'm not missing anyone, but giving our networking and outreach, it's a possibility.
 
After wrapping up the protest around 10:00 A.M. we all met in the parking lot by the big, purple CRISPE motor home for coffee, donuts and a tour of the big motor home.





 
A short time later we went our separate ways, some to participate in the Forum, some to do other things, and some like me - to drive home and get some serious nap time.

 
Three weeks ago we picketed at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA and today we picketed in San Diego, CA (500 miles away) - whew.  Of course, we still try to give L.A. a little attention as we're driving through.

[dr e]

Great stuff!  Good to see various groups working together. 

[outdoors]

 men would go to jail for a protest like that in my town!

[blackmanxxx]

Keep  up  the  good  fight,  folks  !!!!

[John Dias]

Crispe.org is not an active Web site, for some reason.

[Men's Rights Activist]

men would go to jail for a protest like that in my town!

This is not legal advice.  If you live in America, there should be 1st ammendment attorneys who could sue those who deny your constitutionally protected right to free speech.  Videocamera recordings and photographs of police, or d.v. industry misandrists, abusing your rights are helpful.

[Men's Rights Activist]

Crispe.org is not an active Web site, for some reason.

Yes, he's still getting the site up and running.  As I viewed the motorhome yesterday, I looked at a whole bunch of little pieces oddly stuck to a bottom panel and asked my friend, "What the heck is that?"  My friend replied, "Oh, his son wanted to get into the action so he contributed that as the motorhome was being covered." 

Sons, and daughters, imitating (learning) their Fathers (and Mothers) is a beautiful thing.  Assuming, both parents are fit parents.

Also, does anyone have a F4J America link?  I think they are still forming, but have some stuff in place.  I did find this in a Google search.
Fathers4JusticeUS
http://www.f4j.us/

[DONALD TENN]

The Fathers-4-Justice website can be found at least at the following: www.f4j.us OR www.f4j.org OR www.f4j.com OR www.fathers-4-justice.us

It was GREAT meeting all of you! We will be back in San Diego for the FC Judge conference in March, We will of course be in LA for the FIRST ANNUAL FATHERLESS DAY PARADE AND MOTORCYCLE RALLY in June as well. Hope to see ALL of YOU there!!! As well as MANY other events in California, Nationwide and Worldwide in the future!!!

JUSTICE IS COMING!
 
Donald Tenn is....
Christopher, Leesha and Madison's DADDY and
California State Coordinator
Fathers-4-Justice/US
Families-4-Justice/US
PO Box 276885
Sacramento, California 95827-6885
Office: (916) 838-6291
Facsimile: (916) 366-7383
Electronic mail: donald.tenn@ca.f4j.us
Web site: www.fathers-4-justice.us
 
The Fathers-4-Justice/Familes-4-Justice SuperHeros are **KPOW** **BAM** **SMASH** NON-violently fighting for *TRUTH* *JUSTICE* *EQUALITY* in our family courts for BOTH Mothers and Fathers because EVERYBODY knows that our children want, need and deserve BOTH mothers and fathers as active participants in their lives. **2 parents are better than 1** **50/50** Shared Parenting
 
JOIN OUR TEAM!!! Together Everyone Achieves More = TEAM
https://shop.fathers-4-justice.us/membership.html
 
Fathers-4-Justice is a 501(c)(3) organization, We are non-profit, your donations and membership are 100% tax deductible, we need and appreciate YOUR support in OUR fight. Thank You!
 
Families-4-Justice will soon be a 501(c)(4) organization, We are NON-profet, your donations and membership are 100% tax deductible, we need and appreciate YOUR support in OUR fight. Thank You!

[PaulGuelph]

Very nice! 

There should be a bigger emphasis in battered husbands, because people will get the impression that you guys are just trying to justify DV against women or trying to turn back the clock. You need to surprise people by saying what they don't expect.

Do the police ever harass you. I haven't had much trouble here in Canada. One time, an officer demanded our names, addresses and phone numbers. I don't think that I had to give it, but it was easier to comply than to refuse. He might find a broken light on my car or something.

[Men's Rights Activist]

Do the police ever harass you.

None of this is intended as legal advice: 

Not really, but we always photograph them when they show up for the record.  It's better still to video tape them.

I've read that one of the things they can legally break up a protest for is noise, but even protesting in front of a courthouse is not a problem in my experience, if one doesn't block access, or get so loud it interferes with the function of the court.

If private citizens are coming down the sidewalk, just step out of their way, no problem.

If you are able to get a thousand people to a protest, it might create a traffic problem and I suppose they could tell you to disperse, but I think it has to be a public safety issue first.  If they tell you to disperse, or whatever, do it.  However, it is a constitutional right to be able to assemble, and to petition the government for grievances.  It is a constitutional right to engage in free speech. 

I've never been to an MRA protest where someone got a permit, and I've never called police to let them know we're having a protest, although my friend in S.D. calls them to let them know.  The police appreciate the info.  My friend tells them he appreciates them showing up and protecting us for the abusive people in the domestic violence industry.  The cop cars at the protests do tend to add to the drama of the moment.

[Men's Rights Activist]

We will be back in San Diego for the FC Judge conference in March,

Hmmm...  Send them my sincerest thoughts...

[Men's Rights Activist]

There should be a bigger emphasis in battered husbands, because people will get the impression that you guys are just trying to justify DV against women or trying to turn back the clock. You need to surprise people by saying what they don't expect.

Good idea.  It's another year until this event comes around again.  San Diego is a gender feminist hotbed of domestic violence law advocacy, although some might say gender feminist hotbed is a bit of an oxymoron.

When some more cardboard comes along, some of these would be nice to have in the more portable version:

[Teri]

Great photos!  I think posters with a photo of a battered man on the left with a photo of a female perpetrator in jail attire on the right would do it.

I'm so proud to be in CA working with such dedicated advocates and activists.

Teri

[Men's Rights Activist]

I think posters with a photo of a battered man on the left with a photo of a female perpetrator in jail attire on the right would do it.

That's a great idea, Teri, but was that my right or your right   

I wish I had some new clip art.  I'm wearing this stuff out, but it still works pretty well.  I just had to add a few words.

[Gungerassa]

Great stuff!  Good to see various groups working together. 

I agree.  I'd like to see a lot, if not all groups merge into one group.  Many small branches are easier to break than one large tree trunk.