Spokane7
65°
August 10, 2011 in City
‘Govabuse’ group plans Spokane protest
A family rights group is planning protests on Friday against the child welfare system at courthouses across the nation, including Spokane.
The protests, planned in 42 states and Washington, D.C., are being organized by an Internet-based movement known as Govabuse and will target family courts, child protective services and foster care systems that it says “separate and financially demolish families,” according to the organization’s website, govabuse.org.
In Spokane, the protest is expected to occur between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Spokane County Courthouse, according to spokeswoman Kristie Warren, of Newport, who identified herself as an advocate for Washington Families United.
“We are protesting civil rights violations that take place in courts — the rights of families that get lost,” Warren said.
She said more than 5,000 flyers have been distributed and that local organizers were hoping for a large turnout.
A Govabuse news release said the protest is part of “a nationwide effort to bring light to the abuses of child protective services and child dependency courts.
“Our dream is to raise our children free in this country from an oppressive government,” the release said.
According to The Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Hatewatch” blog, Govabuse has attracted “attention and support” from anti-government groups such as the Patriot and sovereign citizens movements.
Warren said the protests are not associated with any political ideology or group.
A spokesman for the Department of Social and Health Services said the department was aware of Friday’s protest in Spokane but did not plan a response.
Rights panel poorly understood 
Squid on August 10 at 5:14 p.m.
Pretty vague.
Is this group about being able to ruin people’s lives just by accusing them of child abuse, or being able to discipline your kids the way you think is necessary and right? Or??????
ManleyPointer on August 10 at 5:26 p.m.
CPS workers work hard to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. They do this work because they believe that all children deserve to be free from abuse and neglect by the adults in their lives. These people are dedicated, underpaid and, with very few exceptions, well-intentioned.
Abusive parents and wild-eyed government conspiracy theorists, on the other hand, take advantage of the lack of transparency into the system caused by confidentiality laws designed, with unintentional irony, to protect children and parents, and regularly accuse CPS of overreaching and “destroying families.” They don’t do this in a way that allows the public to be educated about both sides of the issue; they do it in a forum that doesn’t allow a response from those they attack and defame.
I hope the public gives Govabuse and WFU the attention and response that they deserve.
lowtechmaster on August 10 at 7:26 p.m.
If they prevail, only the children will lose!!
misjustice on August 10 at 7:28 p.m.
I dunno. I went to the groups’ website, or tried to anyways.
Using Google, I got 12,800 results (from putting their web address, govabuse.org, straight into the search box), and the first 6 or 7 were not “trustworthy” sites…the more I looked at the options, the more it was apparent that this is a fringe group. Fringe is okay by me but then I saw one of the urls was wikinut I didn’t need to research this group any longer.
Yeah, they have a right to peaceably assemble. So I hope that they enjoy their day in Spokane, it’s pretty at the Courthouse.
MORE interesting to me was the group Washington Families United. I Googled them and went to the list of their board of directors and what did I see?
This:
Board Position 4-Bob Apple Spokane Co bapple@spokanecity.org
He’s not the ONLY politician on their board but his name did jump out at me. AND his was the only e-mail that was using his OFFICIAL City e-mail. The other pols appeared to have used their personal e-mail addresses.
Very interesting…at least to me.
Here’s the link to Washington Families United; the “Our History” tab on the site is especially interesting. Much ax grinding and vague accusations with anecdotal evidence thrown in for good measure. IMO…
And very interesting that the first sentence of each person’s history (?) is written in the third person, then the second sentence on is in the first person.
http://www.washingtonfamiliesunited.net/ourhistory.htm
tobiasg on August 10 at 7:47 p.m.
If I want to smoke crack in front of my children, I should have that right and the government should keep their noses out of my house.
If I want to pimp my wife out for prostitution in our own home in front of our kids, that’s my God given right and the government should keep their noses out of it.
If I want to beat up my wife or children, that is my God given right and none of those Obama government crazed fools should get in my way!
They stop me from doing these things but they let homos go do their nasty business without raiding their homes and they even let them ADOPT! To make things worse, they let women get abortions!
Seems like their priorities are all backward and we’re here to stop it!
misjustice on August 10 at 8:00 p.m.
^ good luck with that…
You’re “joking”, right?
tobiasg on August 10 at 8:07 p.m.
Another thing that annoys me is that I can’t work because I’m on SSI disability and I can’t send any of my 6 kids off to work because of government interference with their “child safety laws” boo hoo. The Chinese send their kids off to work early and look that them? They own us!
SpokyDaBear on August 10 at 9:43 p.m.
As long as they are not a pastor on their own property.. they have no worries of being shot by the Spokane Police for their beliefs..
greenlibertarian on August 10 at 11:36 p.m.
Division of Children and Family Services is not perfect, that’s for sure.
Taking away parental rights is one of the most powerful things a state entity can do. If it were done to me on bogus information, I would be incensed and livid.
Protecting the welfare of children from truly abusive parenting is also very important.
It’s difficult work.
drywitt99 on August 11 at 12:34 a.m.
tobiasg….let me guess….teabagger????
They must be very proud of you!!
misjustice on August 11 at 4:09 p.m.
Where’s my post about Mr. Apple being a board member of Washington Families United and using his OFFICIAL City e-mail address, instead of a personal one like the other pols that are board members?
Oooooo….
misjustice on August 11 at 4:13 p.m.
I just checked the site for Washington Families United and under “Board Members” he is still listed as is his OFFICIAL City e-mail…seems wrong to me.
Maybe it’s just me?
misjustice on August 11 at 5:31 p.m.
My post is back up? Now I really am puzzled…
lynns on August 11 at 5:50 p.m.
As far as I know, it has never been removed.
—Lynn, S-R Web producer
misjustice on August 11 at 6:27 p.m.
Must just be me; operator error…
Lol!
; )