Protests Outside Washington County Courthouse Sparks Questions About Victim Safety And Judicial Due Process for Women.

Originally published by Voices Set Free www.VoicesSetFree.org

Protests Outside Washington County Courthouse Sparks Questions About Victim Safety And Judicial Due Process for Women.   On Friday July 10th protesters marched around the Washington County courthouse to build awareness about their concerns over women being denied due process and children being forced into the custody and unsupervised visits of their abusers. One sign read, "My friend meets her rapist every other weekend for parenting time. Protection4Children". Women came forward and told the media about their stories of being denied due process, especially in gender targeted crimes such as rape, stalking, and domestic violence. They expressed that these civil rights violations are often in conjunction with Family Courts. One woman told a story about how a judge gave custody of a child to an abusive father who ran off with the child for seven years before she found her son and it was confirmed by a medical examiner the child had suffered abuse. Other women report similar stories of judges dismissing or discounting all professionals including police reports, testimonies of mandated reporters, and medical and therapeutic professionals who testify of child abuse. Mothers, fathers, and grandparents were all part of the protest and expressed concern over family safety and systematic male entitlement in family court. One protester mentioned that they were at the court house to pay tribute to the hundreds of children that have been killed because judges failed to set up safe parenting plans for victims of family violence. In a recent news report it has been estimated by the Center for Judicial Excellence that over 700 children have been killed due to poor decisions by judges in allowing abusers access to children.[1] As awareness of family violence gained momentum with the #MeToo movement, celebrities such as Corey Feldman, other high profile figures, and countless concerned parents and grandparents are building awareness through the #Kids2 movement and protests. Voices Set Free is happy to join the cause of the #Kids2 movement in building awareness of child abuse and family violence. We encourage advocates and lawmakers to educate themselves on Childhood Abuse, Domestic Violence, and the struggles women face in the court systems. Voices Set Free 735 SW 158th Ave Suite 180 Beaverton,  OR 97006 503-997-8041 Voices Set Free is a 501 (c) 3 ID # 81-063-4495       [1] Ballard, C. (2019). Database Sheds Light On Child Deaths During Family Court Cases. Retrieved July 11, 2020, from https://www.kuer.org/post/database-sheds-light-child-deaths-during-family-court-cases