FLORA JESSOP - Reaction to the guilty verdict

FLORA JESSOP

 I escaped from polygamy 15 years ago and now live in Phoenix,  Arizona with my husband and two children. I fought for my freedom, just as the children trapped today fight for their right to be free. After turning to DCFS for protection, I was sent back to the polygamy compound, into the cult I asked them to protect me from. I was severely punished for running away and spent the next three years in seclusion, held hostage by my uncle Fred Jessop, and kept from my siblings and even my mother.  In April, 2001, my fourteen year old little sister, Ruby, was married to her stepbrother, Haven Barlow. Ruby also had the courage to run away and sought her brothers help. After one week, she was returned to the polygamy compound and disappeared.
  When I contacted Utah authorities in DCFS and the Washington County Sheriff's Office for help to get my sister the protection she needed they agreed to help. They did not do so, however. After meeting with DCFS in St. George, where I was promised help for Ruby, I found they thwarted my efforts.  After thirty five days, they finally met with Ruby but once again failed to enforce the child protection laws they are mandated to support.  Ruby and I were both betrayed by the very system that is responsible for protecting children from sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, statutory rape, coercion, and forced marriage. These rights are guaranteed to all children but those living inside polygamy remain unprotected.
  I have vowed to stop this injustice and am now focusing on demanding that a federal prosecutor be named to intervene on behalf of these neglected children.
  Both Utah and Arizona have repeatedly and long term failed to protect children in polygamy from abuses of all kinds. Ruby is a hostage. No one has seen or heard from her for ? days. Please help us publicize this travesty of justice.  I am working with others to establish a foundation to help children escape polygamy  so they can secure the rights all other citizens enjoy in this democracy.  These children need help completing their educations, finding homes, jobs and adjusting to a world they know little about. 

(Source: http://helpthechildbrides.com/stories/florajessopautobio.htm)

She has been active since the early 2000s in anti-child abuse work particularly focusing on the plight of women and children in the FLDS. She founded an organization, "Help the Child Brides" (later dissolved) and later joined "Child Protection Project" with fellow activist Linda Walker. We Will be writing about Flora at a later date. This page doesn't do her justice, but we wanted you to have a glimpse of this wonderful lady who has spent her life helping others.

Survivor! Every girls nightmare, every girls fear, Why can't people understand      when we shed these awful tears? Crying has never been my way      I try to hide the pain but sometimes when I stop and think      I feel it all again The awful sickening feeling      of his body next to mine and the sound of clothing ripping      all reality is gone. I try to shut the sound out      pretend it isn't true but the feeling wouldn't go away      and there was nothing I could do The pain, the hurt, the fury      that I've felt from that day on Never ever seems to stop      just keeps coming on I wish I could forget about      that awful summer night but there was nothing I could do      but run away in fright My body was so hot and bloody      the wounds were deep, so sore Every muscle in my body      felt like they'd been torn I hate my body, hate my soul,      my life, must it go on? And to every girl in this world      I hope they never feel The pain, the hurt, the fury,      that, to me, is very real. 11-14-1987

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