Report-back from the BMCC X

and the Mothers of Lost Children’s Mothers Day March and Lobbying Days

May 10^th – 13^th, 2013

A Mega-Report about a Mega-Week!

On Friday, May 10^th and Saturday, May 11^th, approximately 150 people gathered at the George Washington Law School in Washington, DC for the Tenth Annual Battered Mothers Custody Conference. We were graciously hosted by the GW Law School, whose dean welcomed us there at the beginning of the first main session on Friday morning. We also were greeted by attorney Elizabeth Liu who, along with attorney and GWU law professor Joan Meier, run DV LEAP (Domestic Violence Legal and Empowerment Project).

Our first speaker was Dr. Phyllis Chesler, who gave the first keynote of the conference by Skype. Phyllis

http://bx.businessweek.com/women-in-leadership/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phyllis-chesler.com%2F1116%2Fis-world-war-needed-to-protect-our-children

Here are projects that I’d like to request readers to considering heading up or working on with others, to increase the solidarity of our movement and to continue to bring our issue into sharp focus on the national stage.

1. Justice for Elsa Newman

2. BMCC sisters in solidarity

3. BMCC twitter feed

We had about 40 mothers plus Barry and Damon roaming the halls of

Congress in white t shirts, talking to people in the elevator,

hallways, opulent offices. We were a mighty force

with the white tshirts and the energy from the conference and the

march.

We actually spoke with one Senator in person

for a brief moment! We gave packets to every single Senator and 20 key

Congress members.

We had 9 or 10 official meetings with staff whose reactions ranged from

politely concern to gob smacked. We became more and more empowered as

the day went on. There were moms from the states that we needed

(members pay less attention to people outside their states/districts).

For any mom who wants to help, have her contact me by email so I can

send the packet we gave to the Senators. We need moms to contact their

Congressional representatives in the local district, grab a friend, go

in pairs or in groups of 4, pay a call on staff there, see if the

member would meet in person. If the mom fears retaliation, ask friend

go with another friend and talk about this egregious social justice

issue, and in general about a case without revealing a name.

I have a list of staff who seemed to really want to help and we will

follow up with them. We're asking for a Concurrent Resolution, so need

a champion on both sides. Since miracle after miracle is happening, we

are assuming that will happen.

Meanwhile, Joan's wonderful friend attorney/lobbyist Ray Calamaro has

asked for results, since he was impressed not only by the terrible

stories but by the goodness of the moms he met at the dinner. I'm

working on a more detailed trip report for him. My prayer is that he

will allow Kate to help with the follow up lobbying. That's always the

part we have trouble with since we don't have many in DC interested in

doing it. Eileen can't do it alone on the House side, although Anne and

Donnette may be able to help. We need someone to follow up

particularly on the Senate side. Vickie enjoys lobbying, as does

Marivic, so they may come to DC when they can to follow up.

The delegation is unleashed. We are living what Marge Piercy wrote

about. http://www.pacifict.com/ron/Piercy.html

The low road

What can they do

to you? Whatever they want.

They can set you up, they can

bust you, they can break

your fingers, they can

burn your brain with electricity,

blur you with drugs till you

can't walk, can't remember, they can

take your child, wall up

your lover. They can do anything

you can't stop them

from doing. How can you stop

them? Alone, you can fight,

you can refuse, you can

take what revenge you can

but they roll over you.

But two people fighting

back to back can cut through

a mob, a snake-dancing file

can break a cordon, an army

can meet an army.

Two people can keep each other

sane, can give support, conviction,

love, massage, hope, sex.

Three people are a delegation,

a committee, a wedge. With four

you can play bridge and start

an organization. With six

you can rent a whole house,

eat pie for dinner with no

seconds, and hold a fund raising party.

A dozen make a demonstration.

A hundred fill a hall.

A thousand have solidarity and your own newsletter;

ten thousand, power and your own paper;

a hundred thousand, your own media;

ten million, your own country.

It goes on one at a time,

it starts when you care

to act, it starts when you do

it again and they said no,

it starts when you say We

and know you who you mean, and each

day you mean one more.

-Marge Piercy

From "The Moon is Always Female", published by