Justina Pelletier Protest

Justina Pelletier, is a name that in the 24 hour news cycle has come and gone like most
headlines gobbled up by the next sexy story. Unfortunately for Justina’s family, the kidnapping situation is still all too real. “The State” still took Justina from her family because they “know better”. Last Saturday May 24th was Justinaʼs 16th birthday, yet another milestone that friends and family will miss, and another day Justina and her family will have to endure this nightmare.

This story is not forgotten by all however. As a show of support, and as a somewhat
unconventional birthday party, hundreds, perhaps a thousand people stormed the MA state
house to show their displeasure outside of the Golden Dome. I showed up around
quarter to three, a little after Justina’s father Lou Pelletier had spoken, and just as the singing of Happy Birthday began. I must say that hearing all those people singing was amazing! Everyone I spoke to was disgusted, and pissed off at the inept “do-nothing” approach of MA Governor Deval “Mini Me” Patrick who has said for months that this case is out of his hands.

Mr. Patrick has allowed the Department of Children and Families to continue breaking apart families even though they have showed the inability to keep children safe or healthy while under DCF supervision. While researching info for this article I came across a scary fact, that from 2001-2010, 95 children have gone missing or have died while under the care of DCF, the stats stop there because DCF hasnʼt made the numbers from 2011 to 2013 public. How can a state agency go 3 years without reporting what they are doing?

Since this kidnapping and hostage crisis, most of the politicians in MA have been silent. A tentative offer was made to the Pelletier family, in which Justina would be remanded to the behavioral wing of JRI Susan Wayne Center about an hour from the Pelletierʼs home. The deal also demanded that family adhere to the medical plan of the doctorʼs of Tuftʼs Medical Center. This “deal”, which was leaked to media prior to the family finding out about it, proves how absolutely criminal this kidnapping has been. When Justina was
kidnapped from her family, the Pelletierʼs were following all the orders of Tufts, this is why DCF was called in.

DCF has got to be one of the most backward politically corrupt agencies in America. Olga Roche who ran the agency tried to resign during this case because of 3 other child deaths, but was not allowed to, and was given public support by Deval. She has finally been allowed to resign even though everyone I have spoken to, hardcore liberals included, thought she should be fired. Deval has since replaced her with a lawyer who has NO experience in child welfare, and has worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles for the last decade. I guess she will teach 5 year-olds how to flee abusive homes or state facilities by stealing cars!

Justina was a competitive figure skater when she walked into Boston Childrenʼs that night, and now she has no use of her legs. Justina is not getting the medical care she desperately needs, and is now confined to a wheelchair. I urge all parents, all freedom lovers, all Americans to shut down the switch boards, and urge all the members of the MA legislature to do the right thing until Justina is released. This isnʼt the only medical kidnapping in America right now, however it happens to be the one that hits closest to home for me. Like one of the protestors said yesterday “If we allow them this precedent, to steal this kid from her family, and you do nothing,… donʼt bitch when they steal your kid and we do nothing!”

Gov Patrick’s number is as follows Phone: 617.725.4005

TNAM Guest Opinion Contributor
Donny Zaltzberg
Zaltzy1212@gmail.com
Twitter: @Zaltzy12