Editor:
It was with both anger and despairthat I read the articles drawing attention to Women's Day on March 8, in particular, "A Voice for the Silent,"which mentions the appalling amount of sexual violence against women, and how fewcriminals are brought to justice (Coast Reporter, March 1). The article advisesmainstream women to"speak out on behalf of those women who are silenced."
Countlessmainstream womenhave "spoken out"on behalf of the silencedwomen and girlsofBountiful, whose residents follow the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).
On June 30, 2009, RCMP declared in B.C. Supreme Court they have DNA and birth certificate proof that "Bishop" Winston Blackmore has impregnated nine underage girls. As well, they have proof thatsome of Bountiful's parents are traffickingtheir underage daughters to polygamist compounds in the U.S. and receiving American girlsin exchange.British Columbians waited confidentlyforcharges to be laid against the known criminals. Nothing happened.
Then on June 30, 2011, Chief Justice Robert Bauman of B.C. Supreme Court declared that S.293 CC, proscribingpoly-gamy, is constitutional, thus eliminating the B.C. government's last excuse for inaction.
Christy Clark's government has had ample opportunity to bring thecriminals of Bountiful to justice. Instead, they have thrown the cult's girl childrentothewolves of the FLDS. At election time IhopeB.C. voters rememberClark's government's incomprehensible, despicable avoidance of upholding the laws protecting women and girls from trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Jancis M. Andrews, Sechelt
