"The letters linked below courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune were written by Hill Country Community Mental Health-Mental Retardation Center staff, in San Angelo, Texas. They assisted FLDS victims of CPS abuse in San Angelo shelters in early April 2008. The letters document what would in an international context be considered genocide or other war crimes. Despite these atrocities, it is doubtful that anyone in Texas CPS will be held accountable. "
http://iperceive.net/eye-witnesses-condemn-texas-cps-the-floor-was-literally-slick-with-tears/
The letters are photo copies and cannot be copy/pasted. At least not by me with my limited skills. I hand typed some of the thoughts. You can read the entire letters at the link.
Please remember that in this case where the CPS and the FLDS are saying 2 completely different things, the words of neutral people become powerfully important in helping to get at what is really true. These mental health workers were invited in NOT by the FLDS but by CPS. There statements are the most unbiased first hand accounts we have, whether we like what they have to say or not.
Quotes from the letters-
I was told by CPS that the women and children wont talk. The women gave me their names as well as the names and ages of their children.
Unlike CPS the Rangers were respectful and polite. The Ranger in charge of the group was named Wendy. She squatted down to eye level to talk with a woman and greeted her by name. She returned a woman's cell phone and told her of plans to reunite the group.
The CPS workers were openly rude to the mothers and children, yelled at them for trying to wave to family members and friends in surrounding shelters ,threatened them with arrest if they did not stop waving, continually reminded them that the women were guests only and could be made to leave...threatened them with never seeing their children again if they did not cooperate and ignored requests for anything. The mothers began asking if everyone who approached them was CPS or not.
CPS workers became irritated when the mothers requested brooms and mops to clean their surroundings. One broom, one mop and one bucket were finally provided and were shared by neighboring shelters.
The mothers complained about the food and snacks provided...children were used to nuts and fruits for snacks, not fried pies. Vegetables were scarce and everything was highly processed. Very different diet, the children developed diarrhea and GI problems.
Mothers were consistently calm and patient. Childcare was textbook development strategy.
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I was briefed that the women would not talk to us. This was not true. The CPS workers said they prayed in code but I understood them.
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I was briefed that the women were uncooperative. I found this not to be so.
Children got sick and were vomiting on the buses.
The lies to the mothers by CPS such as mothers of special needs children being told they would be allowed to stay and then that afternoon taken away. When I spoke up about this on the bus I was told to leave or be arrested.
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When arriving we were debriefed that the women were uncooperative and brainwashed.
I later realized that I was the one who was really brainwashed because I didn't want to go against or challenge rules that were wrong .
Thought about Nazi Germany
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We were told that the women wouldn't talk to us. This was a lie and was told to us to brainwash us.
Side by side cots, no air conditioning, no indoor plumbing.
Physical exams and X-rays of the children without parent permission. Women were constantly lied to by CPS about when they could see their lawyers or be with their children. The mental health staff was fired the second week. We were told we were being too compassionate. When the women stopped talking at all we were brought back.
CPS yelled at the children
I am glad that I got to see this. I am an older lady and never have I been so ashamed of being a Texan.
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The coliseum looked like a disaster scene
Whole experience left me with a sick feeling at the way it was conducted
I have worked in domestic violence/abuse field for over 20 years and never saw women treated this badly
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I was a former CPS worker . I became a Broker between the CPS and the mothers. One mother wanted to peel and cut up an apple for her child. CPS would not let her have a knife. Too dangerous.
Another mother wanted scissors to cut yarn to make cheerio necklaces with the children. Told the same things as about the knife.
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CPS would circle the beds with flashlights at night, The mothers were afraid their children would be taken in the night. This lead to exhausted women and children
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women and children were herded like cattle.
Had to go purchase air mattresses for pregnant women ourselves.
No showers for several days
CPS obviously did not know or understand the culture of non violence. Would not allow simple tools to help make projects for the children.
Women were lied to and denied access to attorneys. Separated from children without getting to say goodbye. Final day of separation the level of cruelty and inhumanity was over whelming.
4 year od was terrified and hid and wasnt found for a day.
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How could this happen in America.
It would take a book to tell it all.
I wanted to shout at CNN cameras what was really happening.
I sat with a pregnant mother whose 3 children were taken away and questioned for 6 hours.
I was worried about the mother of a 4 month old.Her name was Jeannetta Her mental status was grave in my opinion.
when you are a newspaper, isnt it? Basically it doesnt say anything that isnt being said all over the web elsewhere so I would call it "safe" politically safe.
