PRESS RELEASE
May 20, 2006

Anti-polygamist Activists Concerned over Orrin Hatch Polygamy Support

"We are concerned where polygamy funding is going," said Rowenna Erickson co-founder of Tapestry Against Polygamy, who has answered calls on Tapestry's hotline for the last several years. "If Senator Hatch is supporting Utah's Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's Safety Net Program then there is a good chance Federal funding is being used to enable polygamy and its crimes." (Referring to Salt Lake Tribune, May 19, 2006 "Leahy singles out Hatch on plural marriage" by Robert Gehrke, " . . . The senator said he has also helped secure $750,000 for shelters, legal services, education, and training for women and children who leave polygamist sects . . . ").

Tapestry has reason to believe that Senator Hatch may have helped secure Utah grant money received from the US Department of Justice through Utah Attorney General's Office to help "bridge a gap" into polygamous communities. "This money is not being appropriately spent to help women and children who have left polygamy. This grant is being used to blatantly endorse polygamy by maintaining the polygamy status quo. It is a diversion tactic so the state of Utah does not have to deal with polygamy and its abuses," said Vicky Prunty, Executive Director of Tapestry Against Polygamy.

On November 3, 2003 Tapestry Against Polygamy went to Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff asking for help to prosecute crimes involving polygamy and provide resources for individuals who leave polygamy. Instead Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says he "will not prosecute a religious tenet" and has created a program to "build a bridge" into polygamous communities (see: Polygamy's Rape of Rachael Strong by John Llewellyn, Agreka Books 2006).

The tragic experience of Rachael Strong is just one example of Utah Attorney General's federally funded non-safety net. When Tapestry took the case of Rachael Strong, a twenty year old, who was the seventeenth wife of her stepfather (a well-known polygamist leader James Harmston) to both County Attorney Ross Blackham and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff they refused to prosecute because Rachael was over the age of consent. Rachael, who was ten-years-old when she was brought into a polygamous cult was groomed by women on the sex offender list to marry her own step-father. Rachel's case is not an anomaly. Rachael's story speaks for the thousands of trapped girls within polygamy who have no choice or voice.

Utah is not currently prosecuting the crimes within polygamy or polygamy itself. Tapestry Against Polygamy would like an accounting of the federal grant money that Senator Hatch has supported. We would also like a federal investigation of the dereliction of duty of the Utah State and national representatives who have shirked their responsibilities at the cost of women and children.

What the nation is presently experiencing with FLDS leader Warren Jeffs is only the tip of the iceberg. Within one Utah polygamous family seven brothers have a total of over six hundred children. Although polygamy is the greatest Utah political cover-up our time Tapestry still remains optimistic that we can work among state officials who are committed to dealing with the illegal practice of polygamy.

PRESS RELEASE
April 10, 2006

Agreka Books has just released:
POLYGAMY'S RAPE OF RACHAEL STRONG, PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT FOR PREDATORS,
by John R. Llewellyn

Rachael first brought her story to Tapestry who immediately notified the Attorney General's Office. What transpired after that you may find hard to believe it could happen here in Utah without government taking action.

It is a true story about a twenty-year-old victim of polygamy abuse by a known sexual predator, James D. Harmston, the prophet and leader of the True & Living Church, headquartered in Manti, Utah. It is a story of mind control and sex, a disgusting offense that is all too common among Mormon polygamists. What makes Rachael's story most compelling is her failed attempt to get the Utah Attorney General and San Pete County Attorney to take any action, especially when the evidence was clear cut and overwhelming.

The Utah Attorney General has taken polygamy from a moral issue, religious issue, legal issue to now a political issue. He has stated publicly that he will not prosecute a religious tenet, and true to his word, even in a case of extreme duress, he refused to prosecute in Rachael's case, or even explain to her why. This is a story, well told, of a beautiful young lady who has been denied the protection of the State of Utah.

What makes this book and Rachael's story so important? The timing. Mit Romney, Governor of Massachusetts, and a loyal member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is expected to be a candidate for the President of the United States. Polygamy is bound to be an issue. If the LDS Church and Utah Government are perceived to be soft on polygamy, it is not going to help Mr. Romney's candidacy.

Pauline Strong, Rachael's mother, was Harmston's third plural wife. Rachael was coerced into becoming Harmston's seventeenth plural wife for sexual purposes. Both Pauline and Rachael, along with the author, John R. Llewellyn and Vicky Prunty, Director of Tapestry Against Polygamy, will be available for interview and questions at the following time and place:

Time: Wednesday, April 12, 2006, 2:30 p.m.

Place: The small park just south of the Manti Temple, Manti, Utah.

The Manti location has been selected so that interested media will have close proximity to James D. Harmston and Mr. Ross Blackham, San Pete County Attorney, who refused to prosecute Harmston.

Contact: Tapestry (801) 259-5200 John Llewellyn (801) 259-5415

Books now available on amazon.com and bn.com. Books will be released to the media at the press conference.

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

PRESS RELEASE
February 27, 2006
Contact: (801) 259-5200

TAPESTRY AGAINST POLYGAMY

Tapestry Concerned About HBO Disclaimer

Big Love, a new HBO series about a modern-day polygamist, will begin on March 12th. Tapestry Against Polygamy is asking HBO to remove a disclaimer from the first episode of Big Love. The disclaimer reads as follows:

According to a joint report issued by the Utah and Arizona attorney general's offices, July 2005, 'approximately 20,000 to 40,000 or more people currently practice polygamy in the United States.' The Mormon Church officially banned the practice of polygamy in 1890.

"The disclaimer is misleading," says Vicky Prunty, director of Tapestry Against Polygamy. "The LDS church may not practice polygamy now, but they still believe in it, and their apathy towards polygamy suggests they look forward to a time when polygamy will no longer be against the law." Tapestry believes there are more than 100,000 practicing polygamists in the United States today.

In 1890, under military and political pressure from the United States, the LDS church issued a "Manifesto" that polygamy should no longer be practiced. However, the LDS church continues to publish and revere the revelations received by its founder, Joseph Smith. One of Smith's revelations, published as Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, declares that polygamy is a divine principle leading to the highest degree of glory. In the revelation, God commands women to accept polygamy under threat of damnation and destruction.

Because Joseph Smith was so adamant about polygamy as a divine principle, Mormon fundamentalists tend to regard the 1890 Manifesto as a rejection of God's commandments. When excommunicated from the LDS church, many such fundamentalists form polygamist communities in Utah and elsewhere. Polygamists tend to have many children. The second, third, and succeeding generations from Mormon fundamentalist groups may never have been members of the LDS church, but they almost always trace their beliefs back to Joseph Smith and Section 132. New converts to Mormon Fundamentalism often come out of the mainstream LDS Church.

The LDS Church recently issued this statement:

Polygamy was officially discontinued in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1890. Any Church member adopting the practice today is excommunicated. Those groups which continue the practice in Utah and elsewhere have no association with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and most of their practitioners have never been among our members.

The Church has long been concerned about the continued illegal practice of polygamy, and in particular about reports of child and wife abuse emanating from polygamous communities today. It will be regrettable if this program, by making polygamy the subject of entertainment, minimizes the seriousness of the problem.

"As far as we can tell," says Prunty, "the LDS church has turned a blind eye toward the polygamy problem. Its leaders remain silent while Mormon fundamentalists campaign to legalize or decriminalize polygamy. The church routinely turns down opportunities to help women and children who escape from polygamist communities."

According to Tapestry, today's polygamist subculture is rife with abuse, fueled by power, control and greed. Mental, emotional and religious abuse are prevalent within Mormon polygamy. Boys are ruthlessly cast out in order to create an artificial imbalance of women to men. Girls, deprived of education, are trapped in a web of underage marriage, statutory rape, incest, child-slave labor, trafficking of minors into different countries for sex, arranged marriages, marriages to close relatives, secrecy and isolation.

"The courts are not blameless either," says Prunty. "Polygamist parents are often awarded custody of children, or awarded visitation rights without supervision. This is not in the best interest of the children. Remember, polygamy is still a crime in every state."

Rowenna Erickson, Tapestry's co-founder, explains, "Much of the polygamy abuse that exists today is because Utah leaders are trying to distance themselves from the illegal practice of polygamy and its abuses. No disclaimer is going to relieve them of their conscience."

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

PRESS RELEASE
June 15, 2005

TAPESTRY AGAINST POLYGAMY
Press Conference: Wed. June 15, 2005 10 a.m.
East Building (next to state capitol) in Lobby
Contact: Vicky Prunty T.A.P. Executive Director
Andrea Moore Emmett Utah N.O.W. President

"POLYGAMY ABUSE CONTINUES AS UTAH ATTORNEY GENERAL LOOKS THE OTHER WAY: ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR ALL POLYGAMY VICTIMS"

The Attorney General's office has been concentrating efforts on polygamous leader Warren Jeff while many other just as abusive polygamy predators go undetected under the radar screen. "We hope the Attorney General will go after all abusive polygamists with the same vigilance as he is high profile Warren Jeffs. There is no protection for vulnerable victims who fall prey to these harmful polygamous leaders and there is no accountability paid by those who are flagrantly violating children and women within the polygamous communities," says Vicky Prunty, Tapestry Director. Tapestry Against Polygamy is asking the public to help by making a tax-deductible donation for victims of polygamy. Please contact our hotline (801) 259-5200 and all donation will go towards these cases.

At the press conference Tapestry will present three recent polygamy-related abuse victims who contacted us for assistance because they are falling through the legal cracks. We need help from the public.

Robbie Sweeten, father of four-year old daughter, is currently trying to gain legal custody from the Swapp-Singer-Morrison family and break the cycle of abuse to protect his daughter. Robbie: "I will do everything in my power to prevent my daughter from being a fourth generation plural wife."

Kathleen Covington, mother of eight, former member of the AUB group is trying to protect her children from her former polygamous husband so she can finally lead a healthy life. Kathleen: "I got out of the AUB group with an eight grade education, recently graduated from college and received a BS in teaching. Just when I am about to leave the state for employment I get served with a restraining order. With the help of a Kingston attorney, my former husband has orchestrated the state and my children against me."

Rachael Strong (twenty-one years old), recently interviewed on Current Affairs, grew up in the Manti polygamous group and was married to leader Jim Harmston as his eighteenth wife (her mother was Jim Harmston's third wife). John Llewellyn, experienced former investigator for the Salt Lake County Sherriff's Dept., who specializes in sex crime, built a civil case for Attorney Don Redd and because the crimes were so egregious was turned over to the Attorney General's office for rape, bigamy, and unlawful marriage approximately four weeks ago. We are still waiting for a response.

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

PRESS RELEASE
June 18, 2004

When: Thursday and Friday, May 20 and 21, 2004 - 9AM
Where: Court room of Judge Valdez, Mathison Court House

Once again a felon, allowed to live the illegal lifestyle of polygamy, is in court for the maltreatment of children. This particular criminal has been in Utah courts before, pleading no contest to child abuse and serving only 28 weeks in county jail.

The state of Utah continues to harbor these criminals who exploit, harm and violate the human and civil rights of the most vulnerable. Tax payers continue to fund their lifestyle while the court system is sapped again and again when they get caught doing what is known to occur.

Like cases in the past, these children are only a few of the numerous children abused by this man and many others like him every day in Utah.

We are asking the Attorney General's office, the court and other gate keepers of this state, "Will John Daniel Kingston get yet another slap on the hand for child abuse?" "When will the abuse of children, born by accident into polygamy, end?"

Tapestry Against Polygamy
National Organization For Women, Utah Chapter
CodePink

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

Tapestry Against Polygamy
P.O. BOX 16236
Salt Lake City Utah 84116
November 17, 2003  

TAPESTRY FLEES ATTORNEY GENERAL AS HE SEEKS ANOTHER WIFE

On November 3, 2003 Tapestry Against Polygamy met with Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and several of his staff members to encourage and support the Attorney General's office setting up a non-profit organization for individuals "leaving" polygamy. TAP asked to work in connection with the AG's office on this project and serve on its advisory board. Paul Murphy, public relations-person, said he would be contacting, Vicky Prunty, Executive Director of TAP, to jointly meet with an individual within the community who specialized in providing transitional shelter. Instead, on November 12, 2003 Vicky Prunty, received a phone call from Paul Murphy, stating that a representative from both Tapestry and the pro-polygamous community would be invited to join the Attorney General's office on Friday, November 21, 2003 to work together on this project.

Bringing in a pro-polygamist representative has already clouded the issue of helping victims of polygamy. On November 13, 2003 Vicky Prunty received an e-mail from Paul Murphy stating: "We all agree on one point: We want to stop abuse and we want to provide the same resources available in mainstream society to those who are living in closed societies."

"When Tapestry presented our proposal to the AG's office for a "networking and resource center" it was to help individuals who had taken that final leap, not to offer an option to remain in polygamy. There are wealthy polygamous organizations that are being subsidized by the government; these non-profits should take responsibility for their own members. Tapestry went to Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, because our government's apathy towards polygamy has created a cesspool of abuse and it's time they start cleaning it up."

"It is the decision of Tapestry Against Polygamy's board that we will not attend the Attorney General's meeting this Friday. Involving a pro-polygamist in a meeting to discuss resources for individuals leaving or contemplating leaving polygamy is a conflict of interest and shows an unusual disregard towards the victims of polygamy," said Vicky Prunty, Executive Director. "The lack of boundaries for this upcoming meeting is alarming. It takes a great deal of courage and strength to leave polygamy and our organization cannot afford to take any steps backwards."

"The approach that the AG's office is taking would be similar to trying to create a rape crisis center and inviting both the rapists and their victims to attend," says Rowenna Erickson, co-founder. "Trying to come to a solution with the perpetrator or their wives is unrealistic."

Tapestry encourages all service-providers working with the AG’s office and pro-polygamists to set their boundaries and reconsider working with those openly breaking the law by advocating that polygamists take responsibility for their illegal lifestyle and it’s consequences.

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

Tapestry Against Polygamy
P.O. BOX 16236
Salt Lake City Utah 84116
May 5, 2003  


Press conference to be held Wednesday May 7th 2003
Place: 150 So. 600 East Ambassador Plaza 5B
Time: 4:00 PM
Refreshments for the press will be served
Contact: Bonnie Macri
     Executive Director, JEDI Women
Phone: 801-604-9286 or 801-364-8562
Persons giving press conference:
     Liz Mimms, Utah Director of NOW
     Vicky Prunty, Director of TAP
     Bonnie Macri, Executive Director JEDI Women
Press packets will be given out at conference

JEDI, TAP, & NOW form Coalition in Utah.

JEDI Women- Justice, Economic Dignity & Independence for Women, TAP- Taspestry Against Polygamy & Utah NOW, The National Organization of Women become a Coalition to Help Utah Women

In the spirit of mutual interest in the civil rights and betterment of women and children, as well as in a shared effort for three nonprofit organizations to negate using precious funds for three separate and costly office spaces, Tapestry Against Polygamy, Justice, Economic Dependency and Independence for Women (JEDI) and the local chapter of Utah (National Organization for Women) NOW are joining office space as of Mothers Day, May 11th, 2003

The association TAP shares with JEDI, now comes full circle from TAP's inception over five years ago when JEDI offered support and generous office space before both were forced to relocate. Throughout JEDI's ten year existence, the plight of Utah's most vulnerable women and children has been publicly examined with many needed changes brought about.

NOW has always been a voice for women and children in a world that has considered them second class. Many changes that have elevated this dispossessed population of our society have been brought about through the efforts of NOW. In keeping with their ongoing work, NOW passed a resolution in 1991, supporting TAP and condemning the practice of polygamy as a human rights violation.

Though all three organizations share the common cause of creating a better world for women and children, they will maintain their separate identities, specific funding, and in many cases, separate philosophies. Many issues that are the focus of one organization are not necessarily the interest or purview of one or both of the others. Where philosophies intersect, the three organizations hope to find added strength in their combined numbers without compromising separate identities.

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

Tapestry Against Polygamy
10 West Broadway  Suite 616
Salt Lake City Utah 84101
July 9, 2002  


Contact: Vicky Prunty
Executive Director
Phone: 801-259-5200 or 801-596-7612 or
Rowenna Erickson 801-259-5200
Email: exwives@polygamy.org

An alleged ex-Mormon bishop stands trial on charges of bigamy in Sacramento, California.

Luis Gonzales has been charged with 20 counts of child molestation, battery, rape, bigamy, stalking, and fraud. The victim, alias Tammy Doe alleges, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been fully aware of this man’s illegal activities since 1998 and failed to do anything until the child molestation became public."

The trial is being held in the Sacramento County Court House, Department 26 located on H Street. Nancy Cachrane is the Deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County, and is prosecuting this case against Luis Gonzales.

This grueling trial is now in it’s third week. Publicity has been withheld until now at the victim and her family’s request. Tammy Doe, who is the third wife of six, is now coming forward publicly "to allow her voice to be heard". Tammy further states, "In this Country we have the freedom to believe in any religion we want but we are not free to hurt others in the name of God."

Closing arguments were heard this past Friday and Monday, July 8th. A verdict is expected to be rendered today July 9th, 2002.

Tapestry Against Polygamy is a non-profit organization located in Salt Lake City, Utah that advocates against the human right violations inherent in polygamy and provides assistance to individuals leaving polygamous cults.

Andrea Moore Emmett (801) 565-0861 retains the exclusive rights to this story in her soon-to-be published book. All proceeds will go directly to Tapestry Against Polygamy.

Tapestry Against Polygamy
10 West Broadway  Suite 616
Salt Lake City Utah 84101
February 18, 2002  


Contact: Vicky Prunty
Executive Director
Phone: 801-259-5200 or 801-596-7612 or
Rowenna Erickson 801-259-5200
Email: exwives@polygamy.org


Tapestry Against Polygamy celebrates "President’s Day" to honor past and former Presidents but, more importantly, supporters of Tapestry want President Bush to examine the crimes of humanity committed against polygamous wives and to intervene within the state of Utah and take action to save children and women still suffering within polygamy.

The opening day of the 2002 Winter Olympics, with the backdrop of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the rotunda of  the state capitol of Utah, President Bush stated at this press conference "that Utah is rich in history."  But the fact is, Utah’s  history of polygamy still lingers. Like the women under the tyranny of the Taliban polygamous women still are denied an education, health care and a voice in their lives. Advocates against polygamy are asking, "How can the United States Government be so committed to the women in Afghanistan plight and yet fail to do anything within the United States?"

We (TAP) ask the government who has already cut off welfare to impoverished mothers, "How can they justify supporting these polygamous felons through welfare, WIC and illegal federal housing grants (church consecrated houses and buildings)?"

TAP also asks, "Where is the separation of powers and more importantly where is the equal protection under the law?" The US Supreme Court has twice held that polygamy is not protected as a religious freedom . How can ANYONE have the right to be allowed to sexually, mentally, physically and emotionally imprison woman and children in the name of God.

TAP again advocates that the  government should have the HONOR and the INTEGRITY to take action against these crimes committed throughout the United States. The US has, after all committed itself to eradicate these identical injustices world wide,  TAP says, "Let’s start at home!"



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February 4, 2002
Tapestry Against Polygamy
10 W. Broadway Suite 616
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone (801) 259-5200

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