Petition

Jeremy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:45:59 GMT

Dear Honorable Government Electives and Associates:

We, the following United States citizens are friends and acquaintances of many relationships with the Dirk & Crystal van der Spek family. We have attached our signatures to this petition stating the following:

Each of us enjoys the individual rights and freedoms of religion, conscience, assembly, association, communication and protection of the laws of the United States as citizens. We petition our elected honorees to secure these same rights and privileges by "Private Bill" for the fourteen members of the van der Spek family; Dirk Sr., Crystal, Kyra, Vicky, Dirk Jr., Kenny, Geoffrey, Nathan, Shari, Chelsea, Quinten, Kevin, Scott and Brennan. This family which consists of the parents and 12 children, 2 minors born here, 2 adults that are now legal permanent residents and 8 other children, fled Belgium, December, 1998. The children had been returned to their parents by local authorities of the child protective services acting without the knowledge of authorities involved with the "anti-sect" commission, after 14 days of forced separation from their parents in the care of child protective services. No alleged neglect or abuse as charged due to their religious affiliation to The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the "Mormons" was observed nor proven. The local administators released them to their parents with documents and signatures in an effort to assist the family to leave Belgium immediately. The parents, threatened by a regional court in Antwerp, with fines, imprisonment, dissolution of their family unit, placement of children in state institutions and confiscation of property if they did not disassociate themselves from their religion and deny their Christian faith in The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This "court" was held shortly after taking the children by gun-point and loading them into police vans sent to state custody institutions. Their father was out of the country on a work assignment. Their mother, taken to jail and then to the court, had been denied an attorney. She tried to defend herself but was told to "shut up or things would get much worse".*

The van der Spek family fled with the hope of a safe haven in the United States, applying for asylum. All avenues to acquire asylum were argued, but denied stating, although not a frivolous case, protection should be issued by Belgium, a democracy and a member of the United Nations.*

A Belgium "never voted upon", "anti-sect commission", appointed by another "never voted upon" committe, appropriated by federal and regional government departments acted on a 1994 black list of 174 "dangerous sects" circulated through out Western European Union Member States.* This list of "dangerous sects" names churches and Christian organizations from America such as the "Mormons", Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A, Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and Baptists.* The "dangerous sects" criteria was the alleged status of being in "rupture with the environment of origin" namely the six recognized churches in Belgium, a proclaimed Roman Catholic Nation, and "enlisting of the children" in their religions. The later termed "a crime against children".*

This anti-sect committe is an anonymous group of "experts" protected from any "stress or retaliation".* This sophistic anti-sect Belgium commission created themselves an unprecedentented power over the fundamental human rights of teh people in Belgium, spreading to all the Western European Union Country Members and demanding unification in their purpose of destroying the black listed "dangerous sects".*

The committee admits these legal barriers*:

> There is no legal definition of a "sect", nor do they desire one since it would constitute incompatibility to republican principles.

> There is no legal definition for "dangerous criteria" in referencing a "cultuelle association".

> All "sects" cannot be treated the same without challenges to the neutrality of the State with respect to worship.

> The purpose of the committe is to prevent sectarian "drifts", but in doing so, narrows framing of sect activities prohibiting freedoms of religion, meeting and association.

The committee then states it will advance it's self within present laws of a variety of governmental departments, changing and modifying those as needed; "mobilizing all existing means to battle" sects without official church recognization given to only 6 churches and one "humanitarian organization" as the 7th.* The committe cannot author any laws that are legally credible. The legal barriers are sophistically maneuvered to promote the "anti-sect" committee's purpose with manipulation and modification of existing laws using governmental authorities and law enforcements both regional and federal.* Since 1997, many groups in Belgium, Europe, and the United States oppose such unchecked power of persecution and are working to resolve the problems this "power" has created. To date, no written agreement or law protecting "sects" listed by the committee have been formalized. No protection or legal recourse has survived, although there continues to be much debate.*

The period of childhood passes quickly. The hardships and dangers to the family unit are severe. The emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual harms are irreversible.

The "anti-sect" committee can ascertain any accustion upon an accused "sect" with the burden of proof upon the accused.* Manipulation, basic denial of an unbiased trial, or as in the van der Spek's experience, a denial to an attorney, usurps any legal recourse.*

We therefore ask that the 14 members of the van der Spek Family be given permanent visas and protection in the United States of America via a Private Bill written by the Honorable Senator, Orrin Hatch and all those elected associates that would co-sponsor the same with him. We rely upon the wisdom, integrity, love and defenders of basic humanitarian freedoms and rights in our elected officers in the security and freedoms sought for the van der Spek family.

We sign our names that we do stand for these rights and freedoms, requesting your urgent and serious assistance to safeguard the family unit of the Dirk and Crystal van der Spek family and their religious freedoms and human rights.

* All statements within petition are from public documents and public websites which are attached, with any others upon request.

Signatures of United States Citizens, Names & Cities of Residence on the attached pages:

K. Burrola

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:14:32 GMT

With all the illegals getting all the freebies -how dare this happen to this family-Sen. hatch you had better helo them.

petition

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:52:43 GMT

Florence Damasco

petition

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:51:43 GMT

Tiffany Kvist

Jessica Lyon

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:24:52 GMT

I don't understand that this family that have been here for so long and worked to become something great have to leave when they have been told previously that they can stay! Why doesn't the government just worry about bigger things like the illegals coming over here and getting all these jobs. It doesn't make sense to me why this family that comes here legally should have to leave when there are millions of illegal immigrants running around, stealing identities and killing people. And now the government wants to give them the healthcare plans too!!! WTF This country has just gone nuts

anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:16:08 GMT

Let this family stay and kick out the illegals....

The van der Spek plight is our own plight if protection and justice are not given and enforced!

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:07:04 GMT

The van der Spek plight is our own plight if protection and justice are not given and enforced. Our family has known the van der Spek family personally for almost 10 years. They are not only great friends, but wonderful examples of perseverance, honesty, labor, and resourcefulness. They know how to hold family unity as precious as their faith. These are very industrious, intelligent people who speak up to five languages, have had successful businesses and assets they left behind to flee with their 10 children and 2 suitcases to the U.S.A. hoping to return to their own country when their own legal rights would be upheld. They have exhausted all legal means available both in Belgium and the U.S.A. They are not unique to the persecution sorely felt in Europe and many places in the world by thousands of their own faith as well as other faiths. Ignorance and fear are alive, well and thriving in many places where neighbors are strangers. Countries that claim to be members of The United Nations supposedly tied together with respect and supportive muscle to sustain basic human rights and freedoms, much like our own U.S. constitution, but just as those rights are challenged and at times denied here, so are they in other countries. This is not a new problem, but to many of us who have for generations teethed on the silver spoon of our country's constitutional freedoms and protected rights, a story like the van der Spek plight sounds like a movie hybrid of "NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER" & "SOUND OF MUSIC", even though they are both real situations that happened to real families, well this is a real story to a real family too!

When we fail to protect the innocent and deserving of this world, we all lose. We lose our own freedoms by doing nothing, we lose the value of the family unit, and individual conscience when we watch someone else lose theirs. We are blessed, not lucky to live where family and freedom of religion suckled the foundation of the greatest republic yet known, and we threaten that foundation and those rights when we have the power to not request, but demand it for others. We have voted for years for our representatives to REPRESENT us and to use all the legal means available to do so. A private bill for the van der Spek family, not only serves this unique family, but a common injustice that has fought it's way through governments for generations and impressed the minds and spirits of true martyrs that have already paid the price. Is there a time when the Constitution has not been challenged, attacked and pitted against all kinds of malice, when some who swore to uphold and defend it, trumped their malinger card through their own indifference, self grandeur agendas and just plain lack of integrity, while some took on the martyrs' spirit and held up the ensign of freedom, one more time, each time it was challenged. This private bill is that opportunity to brace that spirit that is sadly waning. Put your names to something that is redeemable for us all while it still stands a chance before the end of the year. Let Congress and the Senate look back on 2009 with all it's incredulous threats and be proud of the private bill for the van der Spek family, a bill for all families who want to raise their children in their own faith without surrender of their religious beliefs or their family unit. Let that demand shake governments awake to the fact that the family is the basic unit of all governments and that the faith of their fathers and mothers can survive in the hearts of their children for generations. That's what we all need. Do what is necessary, now, then thanks will survive for generations as well. Remember that this and every THANKSGIVING.

Our prayers are with you,

Joyce Hare Whitaker, Marv Whitaker & Family, Bountiful, UT.

Van der Spek Family

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:47:13 GMT

I know this family. They are a good family. I hope they will be allowed to work things out and stay in the United States. It is frequently said " Do what is in the best interest of the children." Well this family does not need anymore trauma in their lives. To be seperated from other family members, to be forced to move not only from one area in the United States but to another country would be extremely stressful and sad for the family. They are hard working people and deserve to stay here and live a life free from fear and sadness. Please elp them to do this. Elaine Platt

Please let them stay.

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:33:42 GMT

Petra V. Miranda, Kearns, Utah

The Van Der Spek Plight

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:05:57 GMT

The Jensens, SLC, UT.

van der Spek Family

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:11:30 GMT

My ancesters came to this country in the 1600's for religious freedom. The van der Spek family should be allowed to stay as should all who seek freedom and are willing to work hard and keep the laws of the land. Please help them.

Myrna Conder, Taylorsville Ut

Re: Petition

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:46:09 GMT

Danny and Vika Filimoeatu Provo, UT..

Let them stay....One Love...

Please Find A Way

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:16:29 GMT

These great people surly deserve to stay in this country. We have thousands that are here that don't even care to become leagle. get rid of the ones that are criminals.

in support

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:35:04 GMT

JFrank -SLC, UT

Petition

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:13:15 GMT

Karl Powell

Farr West, Utah

Marnell Garrett, W.V.C, Utah for 28 years now!!

Anonymous — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:40:40 GMT

Help this family out.