Fathers for Justice - Disbanded
Discussion
According to the local radio station here, they have temporarily ceased campaigning due to the 'Kidnap Blairs son' plot.
If I remember correctly (I wasn't really paying much attention!) there was a quote from one of the top people of F4J along the lines of "We have spent x amount of time putting our message accross and then some 'cretin' comes along and messes everything up and claims to be a member of F4J"
If I remember correctly (I wasn't really paying much attention!) there was a quote from one of the top people of F4J along the lines of "We have spent x amount of time putting our message accross and then some 'cretin' comes along and messes everything up and claims to be a member of F4J"
I haven't read or heard anything about F4J being disbanded but if it's true I think it's a shame.
The object of the group was very valid - some of the methods were a bit suspect and they were always at risk by getting taken over by the radicals but personally I think they've done more to increase public awareness of what goes on in the family courts than anyone else for a long time.
I also find it
irritating that something that I'm sure is a media/political stitch up has had the desired effect.
Remember boys and girls the walls have ears - remind me again about the freedom of speech?
The object of the group was very valid - some of the methods were a bit suspect and they were always at risk by getting taken over by the radicals but personally I think they've done more to increase public awareness of what goes on in the family courts than anyone else for a long time.
I also find it
irritating that something that I'm sure is a media/political stitch up has had the desired effect. Remember boys and girls the walls have ears - remind me again about the freedom of speech?
The broadcast I listed to didn't reveal much factual information it just said disbanded. I can imagine problems if a member had brought the group into disrepute, but surely they could just distance themself from that individual? Being as their organisation is driven by emotion its and not regulated like a normal capaign would conduct itself, I don't suppose its that surprising.
I do hope they do return it was at least serving as a voice for the hundreds of thousands of single fathers that have absolutely no parental rights unless married.
Yet another voice silenced in the police state
I do hope they do return it was at least serving as a voice for the hundreds of thousands of single fathers that have absolutely no parental rights unless married.
Yet another voice silenced in the police state
I got the impression that they were only ceasing to campaign for a few months. Presumably to let all of the bad press die down and to get the press to 'prove' that the kidnapping plot wasn't anything to do with F4J
I hope they don't stop altogether - someone needs to do something for the fathers!
I hope they don't stop altogether - someone needs to do something for the fathers!
This from their website.
www.fathers-4-justice.org/
Shame. At least it is NOT disbanded as reported by Capital Radio.
Fathers 4 Justice said:
OFFICIAL STATEMENT - 18th January 2006
Fathers 4 Justice Suspended by Leader - Campaign to close if Necessary
F4J leader Matt O'Connor announced last night that he was suspending the operations of the group pending enquiries into allegations contained on the cover of this mornings Sun Newspaper that 'extremist sympathisers' associated with the group had planned to kidnap the Prime Minister's Son, Leo Blair.
F4J say they condemn any such action unreservedly and that the group is increasingly having it's name 'hijacked' by a growing number of militant extremists and that it would seriously consider the long term viability of the campaign.
The group say that ex members have reportedly been in contact with the Anti-Terrorist Unit SO13 from Scotland Yard who said that activists would be shot on sight if engaged in any protests in Westminster.
Said O'Connor 'After peacefully campaigning for three years to ensure children get to see their fathers, we condemn any individual who planned this appalling outrage which is anathema to our campaign.'
'I have three young boys myself and couldn't think of anything more traumatic for Mr Blair, his family and his son than what is reported in this morning's Sun newspaper, however we should approach the story with caution as it carries very little information in it.'
'If the Police have enough information they should not only release the names of those involved but prosecute them. This kind of coverage unravels all the good work we have done over the last three years, though I despair that the desperation of fathers only reflects the intransigence of the government to address the crisis in family law.'
'If our position is constantly undermined by extremists, we will shut down the Fathers 4 Justice campaign.'
'I will not let this organisation be hijacked by militants and I ask all fathers to respect our commitment to peaceful non violent direct action no matter how aggrieved they feel about their treatment at the family courts.'
www.fathers-4-justice.org/
Shame. At least it is NOT disbanded as reported by Capital Radio.
Fathers 4 Justice said:
The group say that ex members have reportedly been in contact with the Anti-Terrorist Unit SO13 from Scotland Yard who said that activists would be shot on sight if engaged in any protests in Westminster.
Police state? 
>> Edited by ultimasimon on Wednesday 18th January 21:26
I guess no one saw the programme which was on TV a few months ago. It was basically an undercover journo with a secret camera filming all of the F4J meetings.
Well, whether this kidnap plot is a fit-up or not - I dont know or care. But what is certain is that F4J had been infultrated by some serious loonies and idiots years ago. Power struggles, threats to knock out the TV broadcast systems and violence dont do anyone any good. The protests that worked did so without having to resort to such underhand urban vandalism as the levels to which F4J had stooped - as funny as it sounds, expanding foam filler-ing MP offices doors isnt exactly the type of action you need to move the whole thing forward is it? Its a student prank....
F4J had a couple of big events which they capitalised upon for a limited time. As with so many other things, the people in the group got carried away, a power struggle ensued and the whole thing blew up in their faces. This was on the cards and has been for some time - its not a shock and its not a suprise. You could of course look at it another way - its just got them some damn good coverage in the press - so who exactly said what to whom and were they a member?
No such thing as bad PR? Make your own mind up....
>> Edited by off_again on Wednesday 18th January 21:44
Well, whether this kidnap plot is a fit-up or not - I dont know or care. But what is certain is that F4J had been infultrated by some serious loonies and idiots years ago. Power struggles, threats to knock out the TV broadcast systems and violence dont do anyone any good. The protests that worked did so without having to resort to such underhand urban vandalism as the levels to which F4J had stooped - as funny as it sounds, expanding foam filler-ing MP offices doors isnt exactly the type of action you need to move the whole thing forward is it? Its a student prank....
F4J had a couple of big events which they capitalised upon for a limited time. As with so many other things, the people in the group got carried away, a power struggle ensued and the whole thing blew up in their faces. This was on the cards and has been for some time - its not a shock and its not a suprise. You could of course look at it another way - its just got them some damn good coverage in the press - so who exactly said what to whom and were they a member?
No such thing as bad PR? Make your own mind up....
>> Edited by off_again on Wednesday 18th January 21:44
Why are they keeping low for a while?
Can you imagine any other organisation doing this just because a nutter had acted under their banner?
All they needed to do was to state that this story was not the result of any endorsed action on behalf of F4J. Then continue as normal.
As for rumors that their activists would be shot on sight if they took protests to Westminster this has to be a wind up or a reaction to one of the nutters. After the last time someone was shot down by the London police and the resulting media frenzy the government would be very reluctant, in fact mad, to be seen to be attacking, with guns, an organisation with considerable public support.
A reality check is needed before we all point the finger at No. 10!
Serious question - is there any evidence, any at all, for either a stitch up over a kidnap or threats of being shot on sight?
Personally I thought that the superhero stunts and the fantastically funny "grab a turkey"
stunts were very good ways to get coverage and to protest peacefully.
Why not "grab a turkey" at the CSA HQ?
Have they looked into sueing the CSA for incompetence? There must be thousands of thouroughly botched cases by now. How about a series of small claims actions, one F4J member at a time say, against staff members at the CSA? They would have to defend each action or potentially lose the case and be subject to balifs, obviously themselves F4J members, coming round to enforce the debt at the rate of one office chair taken per day...
Please keep going F4J!
Can you imagine any other organisation doing this just because a nutter had acted under their banner?
All they needed to do was to state that this story was not the result of any endorsed action on behalf of F4J. Then continue as normal.
As for rumors that their activists would be shot on sight if they took protests to Westminster this has to be a wind up or a reaction to one of the nutters. After the last time someone was shot down by the London police and the resulting media frenzy the government would be very reluctant, in fact mad, to be seen to be attacking, with guns, an organisation with considerable public support.
A reality check is needed before we all point the finger at No. 10!
Serious question - is there any evidence, any at all, for either a stitch up over a kidnap or threats of being shot on sight?
Personally I thought that the superhero stunts and the fantastically funny "grab a turkey"
stunts were very good ways to get coverage and to protest peacefully. Why not "grab a turkey" at the CSA HQ?
Have they looked into sueing the CSA for incompetence? There must be thousands of thouroughly botched cases by now. How about a series of small claims actions, one F4J member at a time say, against staff members at the CSA? They would have to defend each action or potentially lose the case and be subject to balifs, obviously themselves F4J members, coming round to enforce the debt at the rate of one office chair taken per day...
Please keep going F4J!
cymtriks said:
Serious question - is there any evidence, any at all, for either a stitch up over a kidnap or threats of being shot on sight?
2 things really -
1, there was a Police expert on the new at lunchtime saying that anyone targetting Number 10 or its
occupants at this time of increased tension would be shot on site! Remember this is the Police force that now
arrests people for reading lists of names at the Cenotaph. All controlled by a Government that employs thugs
to rough up pensioners who have the nerve mumble discontent at their party conference (before getting the police to
arrest him under so called anti terrorist laws) Now, Just keep that hired thug theme in mind and.........
2, The Government announces today that the CSA is going to turn "debt collecting" over to the private sector.
Just think about that last point. This Government is actually going to license thugs to come and take money
off you. When you consider just how piss poor the CSA has been at getting its facts straight before pursuing
individuals in the past does this not fill you with dread?
I want a revolution!
Andy
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