December 1, 2022 marks the 15th anniversary of the first SUCCESSFUL public awareness event, the "Silent No More Rally" in Columbus, Ohio. It was a two hour event in a cold late fall day, and we were heckled by members of an online vigilante group and Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA). (The online vigilante group was "Absolute Zero United", a extremist affiliate of the group "Perverted-Justice", the original online vigilante group best known for their involvement in the controversial Dateline NBC "To Catch a Predator" TV show. )AZU But we outnumbered them over 2-to-1 (there were about 50 of us but maybe 20 of them if even that) and we even confronted them after the event.
See the rally video HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5QN30VMMYg
We certainly had more to fear back in 2007. On the morning of June 16th, 2007, the five brave activists, representing Oregon, Texas, Arizona and Florida, met to begin operations on a project a dozen weeks in the making. The activists paid the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce for space to hold a press conference, and a number of media representatives were expected to attend. However, the local police were tipped off about the intended protest, and the activists were met with a heavy and hostile police presence. The activists were closely watched and a plain-clothes officer told one of the rally attendees if he so much as jaywalked or spat, he would be arrested. The activists were denied entry both at the Chamber of Commerce (the place for which they paid in advance for the press conference) and at the Jewish Holocaust Memorial Park, just across the street from the Chamber of Commerce.
The scheduled event in Miami was the first attempt at a public awareness campaign and it was met with consorship threats of arrest. In Ohio, the event wasn't censored, but this online vigilante group and biker gang tried to deter us from attending. And it wasn't like there was universal support for the Columbus event, either. The largest anti-registry group in 2007, SOHopeful, declined to participate and even condemned the event. But back then, people got so upset with SOHopeful they left en masse and joined SOSEN and some other website that in 2007 was nothing more than an online petition, "Reform Sex Offender Laws" (RSOL), which is known today as NARSOL.
Excitement was in the air following the event. On the SOSEN forum (which in 2007 was public so anyone, including the vigilantes, could see the comments), people applauded this Ohio rally and looked forward to future events. Here are some of the comments:
"Just back from the Ohio rally! Pumped up, inspired and motivated!! Agree with everything *** said. Dr Davidson was very good as were all the speakers!! I have to comment on Ali's speech. She bravely spoke to the crowd about her brother and how the laws have affected her. You should have seen her turn on several occasions and face the PJ crowd as she directed some comments to them. You go girl!! There was so much planning involved; the space and equipment, inviting/confirming the speakers, brochures, the HRW report, travel arrangements, fundraising. There are others areas of planning, I am not aware of. The event was a success from the planning standpoint; it was a well executed event. Congratulation s to every one invloved in planning the event! I was so glad to meet *** as I had worked with him when he mailed over 500 letters to Ohio RSOs. I also met *** who had hand delivered letters. Feedback for those who sent letters: I met one RSO who had rec'd one of our letters. Naturally he had a tragic personal story of injustice. *** said she knew of several who were there. Of course, she was on stage and identified, whereas I was just out in the crowd. So it would make sense that an RSO would have sought *** out. Thank you to all of you who mailed letters! It did make a difference!! At one point, 2 PJers came and stood on our side. After a few minutes, a cop came up and told them they'd have to move back behind an imaginary line... Any Indiana families out there who want to work on a rally for our state? Write me back. We need to start planning now. Or is there already a planning committee for Indiana and I missed it? Committee, if you already exist, let me know. I will help."
"I'm SO thrilled it went well today!!! I wish so bad I could have been there!!! Everyone was on my mind all night last night and all day today I kept checking the news and google... I couldn't wait to read the message board!!! I was telling EVERYONE about this and reminding them to watch the news! I can't help but to smile when I think about what everyone is doing.... what a wonderful group of people!! I am in Pennsylvania.. .. I can't wait to get a rally going here .... I am VERY close to Harrisburg (Lebanon) and I am anxious to get a rally going here. If anyone is planning one, please contact me... and if nobody is.... contact me and lets get one started!!!"
"WHERE is the NEXT rally going to be??? How about OKLAHOMA???? We're in prison here. 2000 feet from everything. 78% of all RFSO on Tier III, etc. etc"
"After speaking with a few that have been there, I am particularly interested in seeing the counter demonstrators. I understand they were unkept in appearence and looked like trailor park druggies who either grade school or high school drop outs."
"I loved the rally's message and I really loved that it never became the 'Cry Me A River' plead that the opposition expected. It really took away their fuel. I can't say I disagree with some of the protesters, though. One woman had a sign saying that 1 in 7 women in Ohio will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. That is tragic. I believe their concern for children is genuine. Their execution is what is f---ed up. I roared in laughter when I saw the woman carrying the sign "Sex Offenders have the right to remain Silent!". The irony of a counter protester using her 1st amendment rights to say that someone else shouldn't be allowed their 1st amendment rights must have eluded her because she glared at me when she realized I was looking at her. The bikers tried to do the whole bully thing when a few friends of mine went to the coffee shop to get something to drink, but they didn't actually say anything. They just followed them and tried to loom a little. My friends were not overly impressed."
"you want more? :idea1: which state should we go after? any suggestion? should we make a bid to so clear on what state should have a rso rally on?"
"Tennessee, please. :) I will go to OK, though, if and when it happens there!"
"I think, at some point, we should work on the tri-state regions, e.g. VA/MD/DC. I know there are other tri-state regions, but I don't live there! I especially think DC is a good idea because that's where the president is and all the important people who can change these laws. I say, at some point, because I think it might be better to focus on one project at a time since it took so much money and effort for the first one. I don't think we should be spreading ourselves thin."
Three months later (March 2008) a SOSEN forum post entitled, "100,000 SO's and family march on Washingtom DC" was made. The energy from the Ohio event was still high:
"We have in our power, all 300 or 400 members to plan such an event as Martin Luther King did. We have the ease of being able to send mailers to everyone on the registries. We have the passionate mothers, wives, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons, now numbering, I guess, 400 on this forum. If I tell a secret, or rather 400 people do, how long would it take to make a million. How much organization would it take to draw 100,000 of that to Washington. Ohio was a great event for us. It showed courage and determination. Now, let's plan for the big one. Why all this stuff and energy about tracting what states are passing what laws and which newspaper is saying this or that. Are we action oriented? Are we determined to take a stand.? Do we have the tools and orgnizational facilities amounst us to accomplish what Martin Luther King did? I believe so."
"I agree with everything you say, and the passion as well. And I think that was my message too. What I am saying is that it is time to mobilze it! It can be done. The time is now!"
But the voice of caution and worry started to creep in. From the same thread:
"I mentioned in a staff meeting lately that our next "rally" or better yet "symposium" should take place in Washington DC. I agree that it should take about a year to plan.. A HUGE concern would be money. People would need to plan and save for the trip. We should have money available to pay transportation and lodging for some high power speakers. Money for written informational handouts, music, skits, Media announcements. ..the list goes on and on. We COULD do this. I would caution everyone about getting former sex offenders to attend. We have not had sucess at this in the past. We would really need to brain storm about HOW to effectively get them involved and willing to attend. It may sound easy but it is NOT. WE thought we would have many in Ohio. They sure had incentive!! Many SAID they would come, few did. We would want a good showing of former offenders, and loved ones. We would want Victim Advocacy groups. We would want Legislators. We would want John Q Public. We MUST have the media."
None of this came to fruition. Sure, RSOL had a closed door conference in DC, but it wasn't an open air rally. There were other plans to hold public events in the 2010s but planning fell
FAST FORWARD TO 2021.
It has been at least an entire year since the first "behind the scenes" discussions about the a vigil and conference in Washington DC took place. We are now, at the least, a year into the planning.
And last month, one of the main organizers of the event, Janice Bellucci, and her group, the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) chickened out of the event. Citing fears of assault and the political unrest following the violent insurrection attempt on January 6, 2021, Bellucci stated, "I no longer believe it is safe to conduct a vigil in Washington, D.C. I no longer believe it is safe for individuals required to register or their families to gather at or near the U.S. Supreme Court. That is why with a heavy heart I have made the difficult and personal decision not to conduct or participate in the planned vigil."
In 2007, when SOHopeful chickened out of the Ohio rally, people left in droves. By the time SOHopful dissolved in 2008, the forums were a ghost town. That did not happen quite as much with ACSOL. While a few people voiced disapproval, any of the members applauded the decision, and even defended this act of cowardice and attacked those who criticised the decision:
"I don’t call it cowardice – I call it a tactical withdrawal. But if you are really feeling frustrated about all this – then put your money where your mouth is and stage your own – if you’re willing to take the risk – more power to you."
"This site and organization was not founded to be a protest rally point. It is founded by attorneys who every day protect and advocate for our rights and protections. This site also is not designed to be an “outreach” program for living resources. Maybe you can post in forums for such things but that is not ACSOL’s mission."
"Janice works her ass off for us, how dare you even say we need new leadership, if you want to start a new organization just do it and see how much good you can do. This whole registration problem is very complex, we need to make sure everything we do is safe and going in a forwarded motion. Please cut everyone some slack here, we are all in this together and with good will we will succeed."
"The Best thing ACSOL and all of us can do as a group isnt protest. It’s support those in this community who need Legal Help, Housing, Employment, Mental Health help, and LOW COST help with the Applications to be removed from the registry when we are allowed to do so. THATS what this group should be!! Not a sad bunch of protestors standing outside a bldg. I dont care about a Vigil, i care about getting off this damn registry and living my life. And thats what this group should be helping to facilitate!!"
"Thank you Janice for this recap. You made the right decision. It’s a heartbreaking situation. Thank you for your tireless efforts."
"Janices job is to act as a legal representative for us not as a foot soldier. She has expressed concerns regarding safety issues for attendees and their families, as such she has decided not to attend the event she does not have skin in the game. You are all being hunted, and safety concerns shouldn’t stop any of you from attending the vigil and acting as peaceful protectors. That’s a choice that you all have to make individually, Respect existence or expect resistance."
"I think it was meant to be. I wasn’t too keen on it in the first place. I can only imagine what the headline would have been. For those who were imagining themselves in an a-la Martin Luther King Jr. scenario, I think you would have been sorely disappointed. I think when we, as opposed to our allies, like Janice for example, try to win our case in the media or by doing something public, it does more harm than good. Yet whenever Janice is on the TV or in the newspaper speaking on our behalf it’s always a win. But I’m from Florida, so I realize my perspective can be completely different than you guys kicking butt in California."
"And where would you go Spyro? Name another organization that has done more for Registrants in California than in any other state...So, there is a little bump in the road and you’re ready to throw your arms up in resignation? Have heart my man!"
Perhaps that last one hit close to home for me as a Cincinnati Reds fan. Earlier this year, when Reds owner Phil Casellini faced strong backlash for trading off fan favorite player and assuring another losing "rebuild" season, he said in an opening day interview, "Where are you gonna go?" The team was demoralized, and ended the month with one of the worst monthly records in history at 3-18. In fact, they only won 1 game in after the comment was made, as the Reds had split a 4 game series against the defending MLB champs Atlanta Braves before "opening day" in Cincinnati. The Reds lost the opening day game on a blown save. They lost 11 in a row before beating St Louis (The Dirty Birds), then lost 9 more games.
Fans were so frustrated, one guy made headlines for threatening to take a crap in the bed of the Toyota Tundra the Reds give away as a promotional item. That game that was to take place on May 6th was rescheduled due to the weather (the baseball gods, maybe?). The next Day, the Reds split a doubleheader with the Pittsburgh Pirates (Rat-pies), then beat the Pirates on Sunday to win their first series of the year, The Reds took 2 of 3 against the Pirates, took 2 of 3 against the stinkin' Brewers (Boozers), and swept the Cleveland Guardians (the roller dercy club?) in a 2 game series.
WTF happened to our movement? What happened to the fire? It seems the larger the movement has become, the more afraid we've become. The pioneers of this movement took bigger risks. Today we're content with closed door events where sermons are preached to choirs.
I care enough about the cause of abolishing the sex offense registry and the other hateful laws it produces that I'm willing to go the house of our fearful leaders and defecate in their pickup trucks in hopes it will light a fire under their asses.
Before I close, I must address the mentality that has grown within our movement that we should sit back and just send money to the big groups in hopes of one big fat lawsuit, get Smith v Doe back in front of SCOTUS, get it overturned, and we live happily ever after. Easy-peasy, right? (I've already discussed why a conservative-run SCOTUS derails any hope we have of this pie-in-the-sky dream coming true.)
This exchange can be found in the comment section on an FAC article posted after the Brevard County Commission meeting:
Poster: "I think we have proven to ourselves that we are not going to win this in the newspapers, at county meetings or by appealing to the public. We are going to win this thing in the Courts. We can’t force people to like us but we are going to have to force the application of our Constitutional Civil Rights."
My response: "This statement is the biggest problem with our movement. Too few Persons Forced to Register have the guts to stand up to our oppressors. Instead, we have entire groups of Eeyores who come to FAC and elsewhere to grumble and wait for that one magical Court case that just gives us our rights back.
There are two things you need to realize.
Judges have the same biases and get their facts from the same place everyone else does.
The courts of the civil rights era were very liberal; today’s courts are largely staunchly conservative. And conservatives vote to uphold these laws far more often.
In a perfect world, every event one of our groups puts together, be it a county commission meeting or a vigil in DC, would attract hundreds, or even thousands, of Registered Persons and their loved ones.
The REAL reason little gets accomplished is too few people come out to any of our events and participate, whether it be out of fear or selfishness or the Eeyore mentality. Over the years, the hardest part of organizing events is just convincing our own people to support AND PARTICIPATE, which is harder to do at times than trying to convince Ron/Lauren Book or John Tobia or Barney Bishop they’re clearly in the wrong.
Change starts with YOU. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem."
Poster's Reponse: "I used to think as you do Derek, that if enough people would just stand up and be willing to say, 'enough!' But then I witnessed Occupy Wall Street, the Black Lives Matter movement and the January 6th event and how ineffective those protests were at actually changing anything – and those events were about issues that were popular with millions of people! I’ve seen how the media twists and turns our appearances on TV news. So yes, I believe it will be that “magical case” and that’s what I am waiting and working for. In regards to our current focus (ex post facto) one case did it (Smith v Doe) and one case can undo it. All the Court has to do is revisit that case, declare sex offender laws punishment and ‘poof’ the main sting of what a group like Brevard County is trying to do is gone. Yes, moving forward, we still have issues and yes getting rid of the registry entirely is the ultimate of our wishes, but we can cross those bridges when we get to them. I speak for myself when I say that once the Court says punishment, this nightmare is over for me. And many people are in my same shoes. No, it won’t necessarily save all of us, but wow what a difference that would make. It just takes one case and it will be magical!"
I'm just an average person. I don't have any magical powers. I can't make miracles for you. I don't have all the answers. I'm not a "professional." But, I've devoted my life to changing the laws and I am doing my part with the talent I have. While not everyone can be a front-line activist, we can ALL do something. But sitting around waiting for rainbows and unicorn farts from our political courts is not working.
There is still 6 months to plan to come to Washington DC. If you are coming just for the vigil, or just for the WAR Conference, or if you are just get your ass to DC. Stop making excuses!
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE MIRACLE, BE THE MIRACLE.
