February 10—Harry Stewart, the Fatherhood Coalition member jailed for getting out of his car when returning his son following a visitation, is scheduled for release from the Norfolk County House of Correction in Dedham, Saturday, Feb. 12, at
8 a.m. A rally is planned at the State House steps for 2 p.m. that day.

Stewart was convicted of violating the restraining order his ex-wife held against him, and ordered to serve a 6-month jail sentence after he refused to satisfy the demands for probation: entering a batterer's program. Stewart refused to sign the
program's admission document that contains an admission of domestic violence—in effect, a false confession.

Though parole and early release is a standard procedure, because domestic violence has become a political crime, Stewart was refused parole on the same grounds as his sentence: refusing to enter the batterer's program.

Through his imprisonment, Stewart and the Fatherhood Coalition have drawn attention to the abuse of 209A abuse prevention orders, and their larger context: the massively funded domestic violence regime.

The Fatherhood Coalition asserts that the abuse of 209A abuse protection orders is but one method whereby the civil rights of fathers are compromised in the courts. Last year, the Fatherhood Coalition filed a multi-plaintiff lawsuit in federal court against the state's judges of the trial court. The Fatherhood Coalition demands equal rights for fathers, and an end to the violation of our civil rights under color of law.

Coalition Calls Fathers to Follow Harry Stewart's Example

The fatherhood coalition released a non-violent resistance program for fathers to follow that will allow them to participate in the fight for fathers' rights.

According to coalition co-chairman John Flaherty:  "Judges and other court officers have been thoroughly indoctrinated to the extent that the system, as it is, is beyond redemption from internal reforms. To break the back of this complex web of public and private social and legal agencies that profit from the persecution, destruction and eventual criminalization of fatherhood requires a massive resistance movement. This must begin at a grassroots level, in every family court across the nation. We can wait no longer. Now is the time. We         exhort all father's rights organizations to adopt the "Just Say No!" policy and recommend it to their memberships."

Below is the Fatherhood Coalition's passive resistance plan for fathers.