Silentlambs PRESS RELEASE - Distribute Freely

by abbagail 13 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  abbagail

  From: "silentlambs" [email protected]
  Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 14:21:28 -0600
  To: [email protected]
  Subject: Press Release-distribute freely

  Sex Abuse Victims and Advocates to Deliver Stuffed Animal and Service Bulletin to Local Church

  Further Lawsuits Filed against Church

  WHAT:

  Victims of sexual abuse in Jehovahs Witness congregations will deliver a stuffed lamb as a symbol of abuse awareness, also request to post a service announcement on the bulletin board of a local Kingdom Hall and make statements about their abuse as Jehovahs Witness children. They will also announce the filing of a lawsuit in the Second District Court at Las Vegas, Nevada on behalf of children sexually molested in a Yerington, Nevada congregation by Dan Fitzwater, now jailed in the Nevada State Penitentiary.

  WHEN: Thursday, January 9, 2003; 10:30 a.m.

  WHO: Former Jehovah's Witness elder William H. Bowen who started "silentlambs," (www.silentlambs.org) a support group for victims of child abuse who were molested as Jehovahs Witnesses, spoke out on 5-28-02 NBC's Dateline program about how children are being harmed by Watchtower policy. Abuse survivors and child advocates from the Las Vegas area will attend.

  WHERE: Jehovahs Witness Kingdom Hall," 1335 S. Mojave Street, Las Vegas, NV, on sidewalk outside front door.

  DETAILS: Four (4) plaintiffs are filing a lawsuit against the Watchtower Society, the policy-making authority for Jehovahs Witness congregations, and ministerial personnel in the Yerington congregation where Dan Fitzwater served as a Lay Minister. A document created by the Jehovahs Witness hierarchy admits seventeen (17) girls complained of being sexually molested by Fitzwater. William H. Bowen of silentlambs states, It appears this person used his relationship to the church to draw young girls to molest.

  Notwithstanding these complaints from seventeen (17) separate children, Dan Fitzwater was allowed by church officials to retain his position of authority within the church, allowing him access to other children. At present, Fitzwater remains a Jehovahs Witness in good standing, while serving time in a criminal facility for child molestation.

  CONTACT: www.silentlambs.org, William H. Bowen: 270-527-5350, cell 270-559-7791

  Comment from 1/97 elder letter:
  There are 17 girls that have accused Dan Fitzwater of child molesting. Five are from Yerington, the rest from other states.

  Edited by - Grits on 7 January 2003 16:17:23
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  freeman

  I love seeing that!

  You can run Tower of Darkness, but you cant hide. Your misdeeds are being exposed even now.

  Freeman
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  Gerard

  Good for Bill! I wish he keeps on targeting the WT and not ex-JWs...
• 

  LFitzwater

  Many thanks to our Concerned Lawyer for getting this done!!! She has put SO much of herself into this! Thank you Thank you!

  Laurie Fitzwater
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  hawkaw

  Well done everyone. You guys have done a great job on this.
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  abbagail

  Does anyone know what states the other victims are from? I sent the above press release to the local paper, and I got an email this morning from the Managing News Editor asking if any of the victims are from my area, and even though I doubt it, I really do not know for a fact. I emailed Bill w/cc to Laurie and AlanF, hoping someone may see their email (though BB may be gone to Las Vegas already).

  Anyone else know? Please feel free to email me. Thanks!
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  hawkaw

  I thought the one young lady from Minnesota is going but other than that ... my brain is not functioning to well this morning.

  Should be one helluva show though, much similar to the Minnesota news conference held last year by Jeff Anderson and Bill. All the press in Nevada have been hit with the release. Contacts at the Times, Time, AP, Newsweek and my Canadian Producer have also been alerted. I don't expect much from the US main networks or main newpapers as they are all focusing heavily on the war issues but I know the press conference should be a big splash throughout the State of Nevada.

  hawk
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  abbagail

  Thanks Hawk for the info.

  Never mind on my Q in my above post. Bill got my email and is contacting the reporter. Thanks anyway!

  I would think this should be a really big story because of the fact this perv had 17 known victims. Has any one priest ever been accused by 17 victims?

  Much success to everyone at the press conference!
• 

  Gizmo

  Comment from 1/97 elder letter:
  There are 17 girls that have accused Dan Fitzwater of child molesting. Five are from Yerington, the rest from other states.

  Grits anyway you can post the above letter?
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  abbagail

  Hi Gizmo, Sorry, but I don't have a copy of that letter. That comment was part of the Press Release from Bill, so you might contact him when he gets back from Las Vegas.