John Murtari Receives Feeding Tube, Continues Passive Resistance for Civil Rights and Equal Parenting

Activist Father Not Eating or Drinking to Highlight the Need for Family Law Reform

Devoted and loving father John Murtari received a feeding tube today, and says he’s relieved. Murtari, founder of A Kids Right, is carrying through with his passive resistence of not eating or drinking to highlight the need for family law reform, the civil rights of noncustodial parents and equal parenting

Murtari’s health started to deteriorate soon after he turned himself into the Jamesville Correctional Facility in New York July 31. He lost twenty-eight pounds in 9 days, had such low blood pressure the medical personnel couldn’t get a diastolic reading, had uncontrollable shakes, and was starting to have trouble finishing a sentence. He agreed to cooperate with the doctors when he was told they’d be giving him a feeding tube, so he’s had approximately 30 ounces of water and 2 nutritional supplements since he was moved to the Onondaga County Justice Center August 3rd.

Murtari has been charged with willful failure to pay child support, even though he says he’s been paying as much as he can afford. His child support order was calculated by using the salary of a previous job, at twice the income he makes now.

This practice of imputing income has thrown many noncustodial parents into arrears, threatening their drivers’ and business licenses, and their freedom, like in Murtari’s case. What was once created to protect the children of “deadbeat” parents is now turning average people; normal, loving, responsible, law-abiding parents of both genders, into criminals.

A rally was held in front of the Onondaga County Courthouse yesterday on the International Day of Demonstration for John Murtari and Equal Parenting. Demonstrators came from as far away as Canada, and from all over New York.