Fathers 4 Justice
{{Short description|Father's Rights Charity}}
{{Excessive examples|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Fathers 4 Justice
| formation = {{start date and age|2003}}
| logo =
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| type =
| founder = Matt O'Connor
| origins =
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| product =
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| headquarters = London, England
| method =
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| website = {{URL|https://www.fathers-4-justice.org/}}
| owner =
| dissolved =
}}
File:Day of the Dad Demo, London, Father’s Day, 2004.jpg
Fathers 4 Justice (or F4J) is a fathers' rights organisation in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2003, the group aims to gain public and parliamentary support for changes in UK legislation on fathers' rights mainly by staging stunts and protests, often conducted in costume.
History
F4J was founded in the UK by Matt O'Connor, a marketing consultant.Deborah Ross [https://web.archive.org/web/20080425071613/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/matt-oconnor-the-man-behind-fathers4justice-406610.html "Matt O'Connor: The man behind Fathers4Justice"], The Independent, 4 July 2006 He is the sole shareholder and a director of Fathers For Justice Limited.{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05954235/officers|title=FATHERS FOR JUSTICE LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)|work=companieshouse.gov.uk}}
Activities
File:Fathers 4 Justice in Peterborough.jpg and Superman in Peterborough, June 2010]]
= 2003 =
On 21 October 2003, campaigners Eddie "Goldtooth" Gorecki and Jonathan "Jolly" Stanesby scaled the Royal Courts of Justice in London while dressed respectively as Batman and Robin.{{cite news | date = 21 October 2003 | title = Rooftop protest by 'caped crusaders' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3209640.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}} The following day, the group's members protested through London in a military tank in support of Goreckwi and Stanesby.{{cite news | date = 22 October 2003 | title = Rally over fathers' rights | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3212448.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}} Nine days later, David Chick climbed a {{convert|120|ft|m}} crane near Tower Bridge while dressed as Spider-Man. The Metropolitan Police subsequently set up a cordon around the area that disrupted traffic through some of East London for several days.{{cite news | date = 3 November 2003 | title = Spider-Man cordon criticised | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3236541.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}} Chick was later cleared of criminal charges.{{cite news |title = Spider-Man cleared after police tactics are revealed |work = The Times |page = 5 |date = 15 May 2004}}
= 2004 =
In 2004, Stanesby carried out a "citizen's arrest" of the then-Minister of State for Children Margaret Hodge at a conference, handcuffing himself to her and stating: "Margaret Hodge, I'm arresting you for covering up child abuse." Both Stanseby and Jason Hatch (who had also attempted to handcuff himself to Hodge) were later cleared of false imprisonment charges by a jury.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7024846.stm | work=BBC News | title=Two cleared in handcuffed MP case | date=3 October 2007}}
On 19 May 2004, an alert was caused when two members of the group threw purple flour bombs at Tony Blair during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons.{{cite news | date = 19 May 2004 | title = Blair hit during Commons protest | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3728617.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}} Charged with public order offences, activist Guy Harrison was fined £600,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3749579.stm|title=Man fined over PM flour-bombing|publisher=BBC|date=26 May 2004|access-date=4 July 2015}} and Ron Davis given a conditional discharge.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Following the House of Commons incident, The Times wrote that the group "has succeeded in becoming the most prominent guerrilla pressure group in Britain... within eighteen months of its founding".{{cite news| author1=David Charter|author2=Sam Coates|author3=Gabriel Rozenberg|title=How protesters fooled a baroness|work=The Times|date=20 May 2004|access-date=4 July 2015|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=cam_earl&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&docId=IF502877221&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0}}
In September 2004, member Jason Hatch climbed the walls of Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman; all charges relating to his protest were later dropped.{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article401021.ece | location=London | work=The Times | title=Best of Times Worst of Times Jason Hatch | date=19 December 2004 | first=Anushka | last=Asthana|author-link=Anushka Asthana}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Also in September, David Chick climbed the London Eye, forcing the attraction to close. He was found not guilty of charges of causing a public nuisance.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4289091.stm | work=BBC News | title=London Eye protester not guilty | date=22 February 2005}}
= 2005 =
In May 2005, campaigners dressed as superheroes protested on top of the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield during the World Snooker Championship.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4497401.stm | work=BBC News | title=No charges after Crucible protest | date=30 April 2005}}
Protester Ray Barry also climbed St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton on Fathers Day in June. He was later cleared of a public order offence charge, after which he repeated the protest on Christmas Day.{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12436745.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106113544/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-12436745.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=Dad on roof for Christmas Demo: Campaigner scales church in "fight for justice"|work=Birmingham Evening Mail|date=28 December 2005|access-date=2014-01-10}} On 27 September 2005, protester Guy Harrison climbed the Palace of Westminster unveiling a banner stating "Does Blair care? For Fawkes sake change family law." A jury acquitted him of the charge of committing a public nuisance offence.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6049588.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fathers protester wins court case | date=13 October 2006}}
= 2006 =
During January 2006, The Sun published a story in which it claimed F4J members planned to kidnap Leo Blair, the young son of former Prime Minister Tony Blair "for a few hours as a symbolic gesture". The police said they were aware of such a plan{{Cite web |title=BBC Learning English {{!}} Prime Minister's son 'kidnap plot' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2006/01/060118_leo_blair.shtml |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}} but added it had probably never progressed beyond the "chattering stage".{{cite news | date = 18 January 2006 | title = Police aware of 'Leo kidnap plot' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4622880.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}} However, F4J Founder O'Connor condemned the alleged plot and threatened to shut down the group because of it. Within days, the group was disbanded.{{cite news | date = 18 January 2006 | title = Fathers 4 Justice to end campaign | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4626106.stm | work = BBC News | access-date = 3 June 2006}}
In March 2006, F4J member and barrister Michael Cox was jailed for refusing to pay money he owed to the Child Support Agency. Cox told a hearing in Southampton he refused to pay on principle, as he had joint custody of his children, and his former wife wrote to the court in support of him.{{cite news |last=Gibb |first=Frances |date=26 June 2007 |title=Father jailed for refusing to pay child maintenance despite exwifes support |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article1985796.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611201445/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article1985796.ece |archive-date=11 June 2011 |access-date=2 May 2010 |work=The Times |location=London}}
F4J then re-formed again in May and protested during the showing of the BBC lottery show The National Lottery: Jet Set on 20 May. The show was taken off-air for several minutes after six F4J protesters ran from the audience onto the stage displaying posters bearing the words: 'Family Law Lotto, Next Time It Could Be You!'.{{cite news|date=20 May 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5001386.stm |title=Lottery show delayed by protest|work=BBC News|access-date=20 May 2006}}
= 2008 =
On 8 June 2008, two fathers from F4J climbed onto the roof of Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman's house while wearing superhero-style costumes; they called themselves "Captain Conception" and "Cash Gordon". One of the fathers, Mark Harris, said he wanted fathers to have the same rights as their children's mothers' new partners. He also said they would not come down unless Harman read Harris' book, Family Court Hell.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7442435.stm | work=BBC News | title=Man held over Harman roof protest | date=8 June 2008}} In the same month, Bristol Family Court was evacuated after a fire alarm was set off in the building during a F4J protest outside the building.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7452957.stm |title=Fathers protest at family court |work=BBC News |date=2008-06-13 |access-date=2014-02-10}}
On 9 July, F4J members Nigel Ace and Tony Ashby, this time in Spider-Man and Batman outfits, climbed Harman's roof and draped a banner that read "Stop The War On Dads."{{cite news|author=Anil Dawar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/jul/09/familyandrelationships |title=Fathers 4 Justice campaigners stage protest on Harman's rooftop |work=The Guardian |date=2008-07-09 |access-date=2014-01-10}}
= 2010 =
In 2010, campaigners interrupted an interview with snooker player Steve Davis, causing the BBC to cut to a pre-recorded video segment.{{cite web |date=2010-04-24 |title=Fathers 4 Justice BBC 1 interview World Championship Snooker Steve Davis |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3J77fAzN9Q |access-date=2014-01-10 |publisher=YouTube}}
= 2011 =
In July 2011, O'Connor staged a hunger strike just outside UK Prime Minister David Cameron's home in Oxfordshire, demanding that he honour what O'Connor said were pledges about grandparents' rights to see their grandchildren, as well as rights governing shared parenting.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-14100312 |title=Fathers4Justice in David Cameron doorstep protest |work=BBC News |date=2011-07-10 |access-date=2014-02-10}}
= 2012 =
In 2012, F4J staged a naked protest inside the Oxford Street branch of retailer Marks and Spencer in order to protest the shop's advertising on parenting website Mumsnet which F4J believed "promotes gender hatred".{{cite news|last=Edmonson|first=Nicholas|title=Fathers 4 Justice Stage Naked Mumsnet Protest in Marks & Spencer Oxford Street |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/316172/20120319/fathers-4-justice-naked-protest-marks-spencer.htm|access-date=25 April 2012|newspaper=International Business Times|date=19 March 2012}}
= 2013 =
In June 2013, Paul Manning glued a picture of his 11-year-old son to John Constable's 1821 painting The Hay Wain in the National Gallery in London. However, F2J later publicly withdrew support for Manning in January 2014, following alleged breaches of their terms and conditions.{{cite web |date=2014-01-08 |title=F4J Fact Check — Home Truths |url=http://www.fathers-4-justice.org/f4j-fact-check-home-truths/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140121093554/http://www.fathers-4-justice.org/f4j-fact-check-home-truths/ |archive-date=21 January 2014 |access-date=2014-01-21 |publisher=Fathers-4-justice.org |df=dmy-all}}
Also in 2013, Tim Haries spray-painted the word "Help" on a portrait of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey. O'Connor announced that he would additionally target other art works in order to highlight his campaign.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fathers4justice-vows-to-step-up-attacks-on-the-nations-artworks-8692589.html?origin=internalSearch | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Emily | last=Dugan | title=Fathers4Justice vows to step up attacks on the nation's artworks | date=7 July 2013}}
On 9 August 2013, F4J protester Martyn Judd climbed onto the balcony of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel to protest what he asserted to be the inequality of fathers' treatment in family court cases during a CAFCASS conference at the hotel. The protest came to an end when sprinklers flooded the hotel.{{cite news|author=Matt Lloyd |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/sprinklers-end-fathers-4-justice-5692926 |title=Sprinklers end fathers 4 justice hotel protest |work=Birmingham Mail |date=2013-08-09 |access-date=2014-01-21}}
= 2014 =
On 8 January 2014, Tim Haries was found guilty of defacing the portrait of the Queen.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25656305|title=Campaigner Tim Haries guilty of defacing Queen portrait |work=BBC News|date=8 January 2014|access-date=8 January 2014}} On 5 February 2014, Haries was sentenced by Judge McCreath at Southwark Crown Court to six months in custody.{{Cite news |date=2014-02-05 |title=Fathers4Justice man jailed for defacing Queen portrait |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-26053161 |access-date=2023-08-05}}
= 2015 =
On 30 November 2015, two men involved with the group were arrested after a few hours of standing on the roof of Queens Gallery, an art gallery on Buckingham Palace grounds.{{cite web |url=https://gma.yahoo.com/fathers-rights-protesters-scale-roof-buckingham-palace-grounds-061800954--abc-news-topstories.html |title=Fathers' Rights Protesters Scale Roof on Buckingham Palace Grounds |website=Gma.yahoo.com |date=2015-11-30 |access-date=2016-04-21 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305131800/https://gma.yahoo.com/fathers-rights-protesters-scale-roof-buckingham-palace-grounds-061800954--abc-news-topstories.html |url-status=dead }}
= 2016 =
On 15 June 2016, three F4J protesters stormed the stage of ITV's Loose Women shouting "No Kids No Cash." The show was briefly taken off air.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/15/itv-loose-women-fathers-4-justice-protest-coleen-nolan |title= ITV takes Loose Women off air due to Fathers 4 Justice protest |website=theguardian.com |date= 15 June 2016 |publisher= Guardian News and Media Limited |access-date=11 March 2017}}
On 22 August 2016, O'Connor walked on stage dressed as a priest during a live broadcast of the Rose of Tralee during Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly's interview with host Dáithí Ó Sé. He was subsequently removed from the stage by security staff before being taken away by Gardaí.{{Cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/fathers4justice-protester-gatecrashes-rose-of-tralee-on-air-1.2765082 |title=Fathers4Justice protester gatecrashes Rose of Tralee on air |website=irishtimes.com |publisher=The Irish Times |access-date=11 March 2017}}
= 2018 =
On 4 September 2018, while streamed live on the F4J Facebook page, O'Connor and his fellow protester Paul Robinson staged a messy protest at an ASDA Supermarket in Peterborough by pouring Coco Pops and milk all over the floor in the cereal aisle. The pair claimed that Kellogg's latest slogan "Loved By Kids, Approved By Mums" was promoting cereal discrimination against dads. The pair paid for the items afterwards when police were called to the protest.{{Cite web |url=https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/police-called-as-fathers4justice-stage-messy-protest-in-peterborough-city-centre-asda-over-cereal-discrimination-999869 |title=Police called as Fathers4Justice stage messy protest in Peterborough City Centre Asda over 'cereal discrimination' |website=peterboroughtoday.co.uk |date=4 September 2018 |publisher=Peterborough Today |access-date=4 Feb 2024}}
= 2024 =
On 15 December 2024, F4J protester Christopher Todd scaled the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree whilst dressed as Santa and hung up a poster of Keir Starmer bearing the words: 'Put the father back into Xmas', and then proceeded to hang another poster of himself and his daughter on the Norwegian Spruce. The incident resulted in the temporary closure of Trafalgar Square whilst the police tried to talk him into coming down from the tree. He was eventually arrested and charged for causing criminal damage to the Christmas Tree, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 22.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/kent-man-charged-after-protester-in-santa-suit-scales-trafal-317546/ |title=Deal man charged with criminal damage after protest dressed as Santa climbs Trafalgar Square Christmas tree |website=kentonline.co.uk |date=18 December 2024 |publisher=Kent Online |access-date=18 Jan 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protester-santa-trafalgar-square-christmas-tree-fathers4justice-stunt-b1200068.html |title=Protester dressed as Santa scales Trafalgar Square Christmas tree in dramatic Fathers4Justice stunt |website=standard.co.uk |date=15 December 2024 |publisher=London Evening Standard |access-date=22 Jan 2025}}{{Update inline|date=February 2025|reason=court proceedings?}}
Criticism
Members of the group have been accused of conducting intimidating attacks in order to upset court staff, family lawyers, and Members of Parliament.{{cite news|url=http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/archive/2013/05/03/10397927.Fathers_for_Justice_face_Twitter_ban_over_campaign/ |title=Fathers for Justice face Twitter ban over campaign |work=Romsey Advertiser |date=2013-05-03 |access-date=2014-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102123716/http://www.romseyadvertiser.co.uk/archive/2013/05/03/10397927.Fathers_for_Justice_face_Twitter_ban_over_campaign/ |archive-date=2013-11-02 }} During protests outside the offices of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), individual case workers were identified by name. One office of CAFCASS was forcibly entered by F4J members who then detained an unnamed employee; no criminal proceedings are known to have resulted.{{cite news| url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article92735.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110115810/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article92735.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 January 2014 | work=The Sunday Times | location=London | title=Fathers 'terrorise' lawyers | first1=John | last1=Elliott | first2=Abul | last2=Taher | date=21 November 2004 | access-date= 27 November 2012}}
Former members of the group have claimed F4J and the O'Connor family have "lost its way" by being sidetracked from reforming family law and instead descending into personal attacks on Twitter, libel (for which they were sued), and allegations of illegal acts such as putting an MP under surveillance and tracking her movements with a GPS tracking unit.{{cite news |author=Emily Dugan |date=9 October 2014 |title=Fathers 4 Justice and the mother of all hate campaigns? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fathers-4-justice-and-the-mother-of-all-hate-campaigns-9786179.html?origin=internalSearch |work=The Independent}} Former members who do not agree with O'Connor's leadership went on to form the New Fathers 4 Justice group in 2008.
Impact
An unintended result of the F4J campaign has been the exposure of flaws in security at Buckingham Palace, resulting in security enquiries or reviews there{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3653986.stm | work=BBC News | title=Urgent review over Palace protest | date=14 September 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}} and also at the House of Commons.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/fathers-4-justice-militants-vow-to-strike-back-on-d-for-dads-day-564385.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620000003/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/fathers-4-justice-militants-vow-to-strike-back-on-d-for-dads-day-564385.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2010 | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Fathers 4 Justice militants vow to strike back on D (for Dads') Day | first1=Jonathan | last1=Thompson | first2=Sophie | last2=Goodchild | date=23 May 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.fathers4justice.org/ Fathers 4 Justice]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5001386.stm Lottery show delayed by protest]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4905836.stm Fathers' rights group scale abbey]
- [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/geldof%20blasts%20critics%20of%20fathers%20for%20justice Bob Geldof supports Fathers for Justice calling them heroic after critics attack their leadership]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican/A2830637 BBC iCan: Fathers' rights]
Category:2002 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Family and parenting issues groups in the United Kingdom
Category:Fathers' rights organizations