| Town hall to hash out social issues with polygamy | ||
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By Rachel Olsen The Spectrum | ||
ST. GEORGE - Domestic violence and unique issues in polygamous communities will be hashed out Thursday at a Town Hall Meeting in St. George. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and others hope to break down barriers and discuss future endeavors to help victims in the meeting that will be moderated by News Talk 890 KDXU host Cliff Donovan. Since the summit on polygamy that took place in St. George in August 2003, Utah Attorney General Spokesman Paul Murphy said government agencies, nonprofit groups and polygamist groups have met and worked to accomplish different goals to end domestic violence and child abuse in communities known to be closed to outside sources. Now, Murphy said, they want to move forward with open communication and, by opening the meeting to the public, the Attorney General's Office hopes that will happen. "We have people talking about each other and not talking with each other," Murphy said. "The meeting will probably not be long enough for everyone who wants to speak to speak, but the hope is that it starts a dialogue so this isn't the last time we talk." Linda Kelsch, community actions director with Principle Voices of Polygamy, an advocacy group for polygamous families, said having everyone take part in open dialogue is exactly what she hopes will happen. "We need to lay down our swords and stop choosing sides ... so we can work together," Kelsch said. At the last public meeting of this kind, Kelsch said, some of those representing the polygamous communities thought they were slighted by being excluded from what was termed a closed meeting for government agencies but that allowed in media and groups Kelsch said work against polygamy. The Utah Attorney General's Office organized the 2003 polygamy summit to start the process of rooting out illegal activities, including abuse. And while Kelsch is apprehensive about the possible agenda of hosts and moderators of the Town Meeting scheduled for Thursday, she said she is always full of hope. Murphy said various groups accomplished many things over the past year and a half, including a $700,000 grant to provide additional resources for domestic violence victims from polygamous communities and a manual to educate officers and case workers about beliefs and barriers facing polygamists. By working to bridge the gap of non-trust, Murphy said he hopes Thursday's meeting will educate the public both in the closed communities of polygamy and those outside of it. "There's still a huge trust barrier. ... It feels like sometimes they (other agencies) have a hard time wrapping their minds around the culture (of polygamy). But it's not about the culture, it's about dealing with abuse," Kelsch said. "Change is hard and it's been hard for us (in polygamist communities) to come out and speak," she said. Both Kelsch and Murphy expressed that the key to making this and other meetings successful would be to find common strengths in each other. "I hope the town meetings will provide a forum that will create the environment needed to eventually end the polygamy controversy in Utah and Arizona," Kelsch said. The Town Hall meeting is open to the public, but seating is limited. Reserved tickets are available from Hope for the Child Brides by e-mailing child_brides@yahoo.com or by calling (435) 627-9582. Tickets are limited to four per person and no one younger than 12 is allowed at the meeting. | ||
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published February 28, 2005 | ||
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