Tina Swithin: Right to Free Speech
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Please help me protect my right to free speech. #StopTellingTheTruth
In 2009, I began divorce proceedings and a child custody battle in pro se. It defied logic at every turn -- several therapists told me that my ex-husband had high narcissistic or worse, sociopathic traits. In 2011, I began blogging about my journey (www.onemomsbattle.com) and my plight received international media attention. I wrote a series of four books, "Divorcing a Narcissist," to help others who were following in my footsteps. My own battle ended in 2014 when a Judge called my ex a sociopath (twice) and revoked his visitation completely. Until recently, we were enjoying complete peace from this family until June 28, 2016 when my world was turned upside down.
My ex-brother in-law, Jason Porter (who was a huge part of my custody battle) was arrested for child molestation and I have been told it is the worst case of child sex abuse that SLO County has seen in 15 years. His bail has been set at an unprecedented $7,000,000. Prior to this story breaking, I worked very hard to protect my ex-husband's identity and the identity of his family in my writings. Their family has now been thrust into the spotlight due to their son's arrest and now, they want to silence me.
Today I received a 4-page letter from an attorney in San Luis Obispo County requesting that I cease writing about the family. I need to hire an attorney this week. I have been accused of causing my ex-mother-in-law to be terminated from her job and more. I need to defend myself and to defend my freedom of speech. While I represented myself in Family Court, I am not qualified to represent myself in this legal matter. I do not have the funds to do this on my own. There are many people around the world who have been helped by my work and I fear that being silenced will take away the world-wide platform that I have created.
All donations will be channeled directly into my upcoming legal fees. Any funds that are unused will go to my 501(c)3 non-profit organization, One Mom's Battle (OMB) and will be used to send educational packets to family court professionals. I do not receive payment or compensation for my time or work with One Mom’s Battle – and in fact, no one at OMB receives compensation for their work. We are 100% volunteer driven. www.onemomsbattle.com
Recent article highlighting my case: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article96594907.html
Radio interview with Dave Congalton: http://www.920kvec.com/davecongalton/posts/air-date-august-24-2016-4th-segment-tina-swithin-shares-one-moms-battle.php
Link to redacted letter that I received today: https://www.dropbox.com/s/eyxdngrqja4wr2u/Cease%20and%20Desist_Redacted%209.9.2016.pdf?dl=0
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am not one who normally asks for help -- this has brought me out of my comfort zone but I cannot give up my right to freedom of speech. I will continue to speak out about my plight and the individuals who have placed my children in harms way. -- Tina Swithin
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” - Anne Lamott
In 2009, I began divorce proceedings and a child custody battle in pro se. It defied logic at every turn -- several therapists told me that my ex-husband had high narcissistic or worse, sociopathic traits. In 2011, I began blogging about my journey (www.onemomsbattle.com) and my plight received international media attention. I wrote a series of four books, "Divorcing a Narcissist," to help others who were following in my footsteps. My own battle ended in 2014 when a Judge called my ex a sociopath (twice) and revoked his visitation completely. Until recently, we were enjoying complete peace from this family until June 28, 2016 when my world was turned upside down.
My ex-brother in-law, Jason Porter (who was a huge part of my custody battle) was arrested for child molestation and I have been told it is the worst case of child sex abuse that SLO County has seen in 15 years. His bail has been set at an unprecedented $7,000,000. Prior to this story breaking, I worked very hard to protect my ex-husband's identity and the identity of his family in my writings. Their family has now been thrust into the spotlight due to their son's arrest and now, they want to silence me.
Today I received a 4-page letter from an attorney in San Luis Obispo County requesting that I cease writing about the family. I need to hire an attorney this week. I have been accused of causing my ex-mother-in-law to be terminated from her job and more. I need to defend myself and to defend my freedom of speech. While I represented myself in Family Court, I am not qualified to represent myself in this legal matter. I do not have the funds to do this on my own. There are many people around the world who have been helped by my work and I fear that being silenced will take away the world-wide platform that I have created.
All donations will be channeled directly into my upcoming legal fees. Any funds that are unused will go to my 501(c)3 non-profit organization, One Mom's Battle (OMB) and will be used to send educational packets to family court professionals. I do not receive payment or compensation for my time or work with One Mom’s Battle – and in fact, no one at OMB receives compensation for their work. We are 100% volunteer driven. www.onemomsbattle.com
Recent article highlighting my case: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article96594907.html
Radio interview with Dave Congalton: http://www.920kvec.com/davecongalton/posts/air-date-august-24-2016-4th-segment-tina-swithin-shares-one-moms-battle.php
Link to redacted letter that I received today: https://www.dropbox.com/s/eyxdngrqja4wr2u/Cease%20and%20Desist_Redacted%209.9.2016.pdf?dl=0
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am not one who normally asks for help -- this has brought me out of my comfort zone but I cannot give up my right to freedom of speech. I will continue to speak out about my plight and the individuals who have placed my children in harms way. -- Tina Swithin
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” - Anne Lamott
Organizer
Tina Swithin
Organizer
San Luis Obispo, CA