The Backlash! - August 1996

Organization News - The Sovereign Patriot Group
Voice phone: 907-345-9701 - Fax phone: 907-345-9862
c/o 975 East Ave., STE 112 Chico, California Republic 95926-9999

Cheney crisis

Political prisoner in the 3rd month of his hunger strike

by Sylvia Long-Labno, Internet Scribe


I just got off the phone with Bob Cheney who called collect from Butte County Jail.

This is Day 21 of his hunger strike. He sounds very weak, but at the same time, even stronger in his determination to never submit to this "system". He is not accepting food or drink, he has not and will not sign anything, he is not wearing a wristband.

His people have been trying to obtain the recordings of his trial and have not been allowed to have them, as is required by law. The written transcript of the trial is $1,200, but the recording is supposed to be available free, but they've just been given the run-around. Cheney's people will be taking this up with the Judicial Council.

Cheney has no access to the law library. He is kept in a cave-like cell in solitary confinement 23 and sometimes 24 hours a day. He has not been outside for the last three days.

He sounds very bad. He broke down a couple of times when he was expressing his determination to keep going "toe-to-toe" with the system, and especially when he said that he is doing this not for himself or just for fathers or just for Americans, but he is doing this for his son. He said, "This sytem will not be around for my son to inherit. This is my watch. I will not allow this to happen on my watch."

The sadness and the pain were almost too much to bear.

People, this man is a POLITICAL PRISONER! Is there NOTHING we can DO???

At least... pray for him.


I can hardly believe it, but I just received another brief call from Cheney, who is now in his 46th day of hunger strike. I thought he would be dead by now.

If you might still be interested, he is going to send me a press release as well as an open letter to all fathers' rights advocates, to be released on his 50th day, which I believe will be Thursday. In addition, I have a ton of old e-mail files with all the info, but I have answered your initial questions between-the-lines below:

I've been following your reports on Cheney, because John copies all those messages to me. I don't know when I'll be able to do a story on Bob, because I'm going tobe out of town for the next couple of weeks. But I need some basic information.

What is the genesis of his case?

It is my understanding that he wants full custody of his son, but was ordered to pay $361 CS payments in 1989. They garnished his wages until he lost his job at CSUC in 1994, and he refuses to pay because he views the CS system as corrupt and as a way for government to control people. (I share that view, BTW.) The charge he is in for now is 270 (the same as my Bob) which is "willful failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, etc." Nothing about money, but that's what it's about as far as the FSD system sees it. Point is, Bob has always been willing and able to have his son live with him and provide all that. They're using 270 to criminalize fathers and to extort money to feed the system so that they can all continue to have their jobs and live off the taxpayers.
How much does the government say he owes in child support?
I don't know for sure, but based on his having not paid since '94, I would guess it would be somewhere between $8,000 and $9,000.
Is his refusal to pay based entirely on his protest of the system, or does he also cite economic reasons?
Entirely on his protest of the system.
How old is his son? Has he said anything about all this?
The boy is 13. I have heard nothing reported that he has said. I imagine his "mommy dearest" is keeping all this from him.
If you can answer these questions or get me the answers it would be helpful.
A lot of this I got from an AP story that ran in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on 6/17/96. I understand AP picked it up from the Sacramento Bee.

Cheney told me this afternoon that the sheriff is telling the media there that he is eating, but that that is a bold-faced lie. He also said he has filed over 100 pages of varying legal papers, and that they are just being ignored.

Dan, there's no question in my mind but that this man is a political prisoner. In the past, he has made life very uncomfortable for the sheriff, DA and judges in Butte County over their abuses of power in cases other than his. Now they have him where they want him, except they can't make him eat.

He is willing to die for what he believes in, which is more than I can say for most of us. And it isn't just for fathers and children, it's for all of us because what's happening is that we're getting sucked into the system and chewed up, one by one.

It is my fervent prayer that he will not die in vain, unheard, alone.

Please let me know if you think you can help. I can put you in touch with a bunch of people who are much closer to the matter than I. I'm just his "Internet Scribe".


I received a brief call from Cheney this afternoon. He said he is mailing me a letter (snail-mail) which is to be an open letter to all fathers' rights advocates.

He sounded well, but this is his 46th day of hunger strike. He says sheriff is telling media that he's eating, but he isn't.

Monica, he said your paperwork was wonderful, he was really impressed, and it has been filed. However, as with everything he has filed, it is being ignored.

He said he would like to get word out, media and all, in recognition of his 50th day of hunger strike, which by my caluculations will be next Thursday.

I know you guys are working on lists. Is it possible you could provide them to me or repost Cheney's letter once I get it to you? I don't know how to get anything out anymore except perhaps through Sharad's group or pulling out all the addresses from my old e-mail (which I had started to do but haven't got very far with from having to try to make a living.)

I am amazed that he is still alive. It can only be by the grace of God.

Can you help?


Following are my posts re Cheney. I received yet another call from him today. He himself is NOT sending me a letter because he is not allowed to have paper and pencil, nor is he allowed visitors. He asked me to call another person in Butte County, which I did, but he wasn't in.

He had another court appearance today, before judge William T. Land (not sure about middle initial or last name spelling). He said he doesn't know where this judge came from. (The name rings a bell with me, but I can't place it.) Anyway, Cheney said the judge treated him very nicely and apparently the upshot of the hearing was that the 2nd charge and sentence was set aside. (It is my understanding that this is because the 2nd charge was for Contempt of Court which was because Cheney refused to pay, which was of course, also the same charge as that brought against him for 270 (willful failure to provide food, clothing, etc.), so the DA really wanted to get rid of that second one because he knew they had him in double jeopardy, which might come to someone's attention at some point.

He said there was a reporter there from the local regional paper, who told him he had also tried to get the court transcripts of the trial but had been unable to do so, having been told the files had been misplaced.

According to another source, only one friend of Cheney's showed up at court today, two of his other friends having warrants out for their arrests. (Charges unknown.)

I myself do not know what to think. I always accept his collect calls, but, considering how long he's been without food, I cannot tell if he's really connecting properly from a mental standpoint. He is concerned that the Injunction (which apparently someone has filed on his behalf) will be ignored, and that he will be force-fed.

I asked him about his son, and he told me that he has not seen him since 1991, at which point the X spirited the child away, and Cheney, asking help from the authorities to find the child, was told, "you'd better get a lawyer." Can you imagine that being their reaction had it been the "mother" that reported a parent- abduction?

Folks, I fear that the feminists have indeed won, not only the battle, but the war. Good people are in jail, dying, broke, facing spurious charges, at the end of their wits, committing suicide, as a result of this hell-inspired scheme to emasculate men.

For 30 years you guys have been WAY too polite, too "gentlemanly", too kind. And the big "judicial dildo" has gotten you and then flipped you over, knife in hand, to finish the job. You're WAY past "screwed".

And I, for one woman, am saddened beyond feeling. I can vaguely remember a world where "daddies" were respected and revered, where "mommies" loved "daddies" and both of them loved their children more than they loved their lives. I can almost remember when "honor" referred to more than a "roll" (although they may have done away with that now too, since most kids in school can't read, but maybe they get on the "honor roll" for feeling good enough about themselves to beat up on the kid that sits next to them, or maybe share their drugs that they stole from "mommie".)

The state of the world absolutely SUCKS! It's o.k. that the "president" smoked/smokes pot, screws around on his wife, lies about everything, and it's o.k. for the judges to ignore the law in their courtrooms, and the Constitution is an archaic document fit only for curious history buffs, but IT ISN'T O.K. to be a God-fearing, honest person. And, if you are so unfortunate to have fathered a child by a "woman", you are automatically the lowest of the low, smegma slime, not even fit to be an outcast of society.

I can't see any solution to it guys, and that was the end of my conversation with Cheney today. He said that it has gone too far, that the "system" is too well- entrenched, that there is nothing that can be done to turn it around.

I told him this: "Cheney, just keep one thought in mind: Jesus is coming again sometime, and it looks to me it might be sooner than later." He choked up and then said, "It looks like I'll be going to meet Him before He comes for me." And I said, "Cheney, He just might beat you to the punch! I sure hope so!"

And so I do. For all our sakes.


After anxious delay, I finally received a copy of Bob Cheney's hand-printed letter from Butte County Jail. I have transcribed it as faithfully as I know how, changing only punctuation when it seemed necessary for readability.

I submit it to you without comment:


July 14, 1996

Mr. Robert Lindsay: Cheney Jr.
A Sovereign
35
Butte County Jail
Oroville, California [95965]

FOR WIDE DISTRIBUTION

To those concerned in the Fathers' Rights Movement, and Patriots:

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I sit here presently incarcerated in the Butte County Jail, and upon my reflections, I am thinking of you. I would endeavor that you know that I am here unjustly, against my will and consent, and completely over my authority. I am here under great duress, yet I remain resolute, and will remain so until the end.

I have stopped and turned and have challenged a great and evil leviathan, whom knows no bounds, limitations, or recognizes any law... not even its own. This outcome was surmised even before I entered court; in fact, NONE of my Writs, Motions or Verified Complaints were ever entered into the record! This is true from the outset of this conflagration 11 years ago when I demanded my son from the start. This system is unequal in application and completely biased upon performance. To be factual, neither Fathers nor Patriots shall ever win in such a singularly nepotistic and corrupt system, for it is engineered for our loss, for it truly is a sliding bullseye.

I write this communique to you to tell you that upon their victory upon my body, and over my liberties, that I shall NEVER submit. I have NOT booked into jail, nor have I completed their classification process. I am not, nor shall I ever wear their "wristband". I have maintained my hunger strike, and all of this is driving jail officials and the jailers into a lather. They have physically forced me into the prison garb I now wear, and if it were not so cold in here, I would indeed go naked.

The Sheriff himself has visited me and "offered" the "Keys to Oz", as it were, if I would "only" comply: B Pod, the most relaxed and unsecured area of the jail, complete run of the law library, complete run of all computers, extra phone and visitations...etc.

"Resolute" was my only answer to him.

They have threatened me with force feeding, shoving a tube down my nose into my stomach. They have sent me to Butte County Mental Health to be "evaluated" all in which to break me. Unfortunately, I have been inculcated with the precepts that in America, you can protest the will of your conscience. As a child, I can remember the contempt in which Americans used to speak towards the Russians; "If you're a prisoner there," they warned, "and you dare protest against the government, they throw you into a Mental Institution!"

I found such a statement abhorrent to a free cogent society even then, as a child. To be LIVING through it, and EXPERIENCING it, frankly is a nightmare. Never in my wildest dreams did I think our Country and the Constitution would be subverted so. I am in my 39th day (Ed. note-7/14/96) of my "water only" hunger strike, (Side note: At Butte County Mental Health my friends and family visited me and after a 4 hour discussion I ate, so I have deducted 2 days as my strike has not been consecutive due to that amelioration), and I fully intend on maintaining that integrity.

Nonetheless, my message here is in regards to what you can do, and it is simply this: Do NOT pay child support, pay no monies to either government or lawyers... Do NOT submit or book when entering jail (they RECEIVE monies when you do). Fight this system economically, as it is a factual reality our courts are completely subverted and lost to us.

One of my largest goals is to collapse the present system, so my son and your children NEVER have to experience or endure this fascist tyranny.

Confucius, who we know as a great sage, yet was factually one of China's greatest magistrates, was one day traveling with his disciples when he happened upon a woman grieving upon a mound. "What is wrong?", the Great Master inquired. "My father is buried here.," she lamented, "killed by a fierce tiger. My husband also, for he was killed in the search for my father, and also my son, whom strode out to avenge his father and grandfather...."

Confucius thought momentarily, then inquired, "But why do you stay in this place with such a great and evil beast about?"

"Because there is no oppressive government here," she answered.

The Great Master then traveled on a bit and turned to his disciples, "Remember this always," he exhorted. "An oppressive government is more fierce than the wildest raging tiger."

I am now fully engaged with this tiger that has entered every American's life, and more importantly, which cannibalizes our own progeny. Government cannot run government. What in God's name is it doing in our lives? It is time to cripple it and put it back in its cage... It can no longer be allowed to range across the American landscape. It's time to reinforce Constitutionalism... and reinforce individual and family life.

I am in jail. I have done no crime, as the only crime done was to me; that my son was forcibly stolen from me. I have been arrested WITHOUT any warrant by two unnamed officers whom arrogantly barged (in) and illegally searched an entered my own home and arrested me.

At trial, my "counsels of choice" were arrested, harassed, thrown out of court and prohibited from aiding me. I myself, with no court having jurisdiction, was forcibly dragged across the bar and forced to participate in a kangaroo "Court of Inquisition"."Judge" (a misnomer) Richard C. Cumming threw me into jail at trial every chance he could. He made fun of me and rebuked all Constitutionalists, calling us "Bull-Crap". This is above and beyond the fact that he had been disqualified six times! I arrested him twice, once verbally, and the next day with a Verified Criminal Complaint that was served in Superior Court, the D.A.'s office and on the Sheriff. That Complaint legally vaporized and has never been considered as to its merits nor in any way, shape or form, acted upon!

Yet, supposedly this was a "fair" judge... as found by the California Judicial Council, whom IN RECORD TIME (about 1 hour) head my C.C.P. 170.1(a) 6C, and ruled on it, and; then they quickly obtained yet another judge to enter our court and in one minute state Richard C. Cumming was a fair judge!

But now the D.A. is moving to REDUCE the year and a half sentence this "fair" judge excessively imposed, because factually it was too excessive! (They want to reduce it to one year.)

In America this is happening.. and worse. My case is not unique.

I did not want this. I felt taking my son, letting my ex-girlfriend take her two children, and letting her see my son as much as possible, was fair. I was asking for no money, and I certainly didn't want my son on welfare. Somehow, that's turned into a crime - as I have NEVER paid child support, as I will not pay to have my son stolen from me.

I have no idea where this is going... or where my efforts will lead me. I only know that this is serious enough to fight at all costs. Many of my friends are being attacked by the IRS, and they accept the fact that government is too huge to fight, especially when it's wrong. I do not accommodate that philosophy. If our prior generation had stood against this inequity in 1950, 1965, 1973... perhaps my life would be free now.

This unjust tyranny, like it or not, has happened on my watch, and I cannot let this injustice go by. Indeed, I would rather be playing basketball, dating, attending dinner parties, or camping with my son,...not doing this.

I cannot responsibly do that however. Not when the submission of such injustices means living as a slave, and encumbering future generations to something worse.

Lastly, there is a more cancerous aspect to this abomination, and that is that this system that so readily incarcerates fathers and enslaves children to the chains of welfare and the feminist empire, is killing just not this society but civilization itself. "Nations of the World collectively hand the torch of Civilization but to one nation." Presently, that nation is America, and as we devolve from the weight of welfare and feminism, this nation is clearly missing a manifest destiny. The Leviathan that eats out our substance and attacks Industry over that of Big Government interest, clearly impedes the ascension of the individual man, and thereby civilization. We should be in a far, far, better place... At a time of "peace", the world's richest, most productive nation has resorted to cannibalism of its own citizens, rather than affording them the hard-earned fruits of peace. We have fought many wars to turn back tyrants and dictators whom would "dare" do to us what now "government" calls "law". It is not law. It is a mythology placed through the vehicle of the legislature, whom have betrayed us with a compendium of statutes that attack us unmercifully, with no effective redress, and which eats out the substance of our homes, until, no longer are we a nation of savings. Now we have to "borrow" for everything. Our courts are monoliths of destruction, and the "vote" has been subjugated to the point to where Americans no longer even make the attempt to vote, for we fully recognize its corruption.

My heart is heavy upon what has happened here, because, in fact, it is so needless. As a Systems Engineer, I can tell you factually that I would NEVER design a system such as this. If my authority was attended to, my life, and my son's would have been much more enriched. I could have handled this much better than the agony that has transpired here. The costs to society in my one case alone has burdened society in amounts that have been staggering! For instance, at my O.R. hearing, there were four executive officers from the Sheriff and D.A.'s office there, just for me! At my trial, no less than 35 officers and agents were in the courtroom...all at taxpayers' expense. Meanwhile, in the next court, a trial was being held for a kid (single-female-headed-household product) whom attempted to kill a police officer! Shot the officer in the head and blinded him for life. Yet... no government officials were there to intimidate that court. What's wrong with this picture?!?

All I've ever done is to expound and support the Constitution in which to find a way to win my son back and get us out of slavery. I started a Contitutional organization called The Sovereign Patriot Group. All we did is help people... fight tickets, and stop government intrusion into their lives. We helped black, white, Indian, Chicano....anyone whom needed it at no cost. We held government corruption up to public contempt through our T.V. show... and for this they pack 35 government agents into my courtroom (at public expense) and disregard a murderer and thief?

I don't get it. And from that, follows my assertion that the system HAS to be planned for our demise: Welfare is breeding an underclass which is creating crime and a superstructure of government bureaucracies; the middle class, private industry are being economically hammered into submission; the Constitution is abated and no longer functions; police, big government, and prisons are our new American Industries... and if someone dares stand up against it... they are crushed. You can use systems of redress in this nation, as long as you lose using them. The second you become effective, they kick your door in, hold a mock trial for you, then, they have their paid armies show up to intimidate the courtroom.

In America this is happening, and worse.

I am now in complete isolation, 23 and 24 hour lock down. I may go outside once a week for one hour. Some days I get 2 telephone calls...legal only, I can have no visitors. I cannot see any of my "Counsels of Choice", only A.B.A. approved lawyers. I have no paper, only that which I find "lying around". I have no pen, only a pencil, which they steal every so often. I can send no mail out, I cannot receive paper, pen, envelopes, or stamps as my member have tried getting them to me, and I have no law library. I can buy nothing and run out of soap and toothpaste, yet; I am content.

This whole catharsis culminates here. All I wanted was to have my son and live in peace, but this system is determined to "invent" a criminal, and how effectively it has. It has placed me into prison for a "debt" I have never owed. It has already taken $63,000 from me and wants to steal $11,000 more. Yet, one of their Family Support Division Accountants got up and testified in open court in my trial that, they "weren't making a penny" from all this. Yet my son has nothing, and more importantly, as the head of my family and household, I can show NOTHING for that theft. The case could be made, however, that this present prison cell is what I've purchased, (above and beyond my consent.) We are all the lesser for this conscripted perversion.

I am not a criminal. I never have been a criminal. I never will be a criminal. Yet this is indeed my secured future, more importantly, it is the future of my son and your sons and daughters. For, in the future, if you are not working for the system, you will most assuredly become part of it.

Injustice is a part of life, and what has happened to me and many other fathers is indeed part of that injustice. When in the course of human events, the equilibrium of injustice lends itself to becoming more of the rule than the exception in any society, then; it clearly has become time to re-engineer the foundations causing and imposing such tyrannies. In regards to the Fathers' Rights and Patriot movements, it's clear that an elemental reformation must be undertaken. For clearly, this apartheid against fathers must end. For if we cannot rule and be self-determinate in our own homes, how can we ever rule over government?

My friends want to "buy off" this debt Family Support is demanding. I have told them, and my members, emphatically; NO MONEY GOES INTO THIS SYSTEM; Not the courts, not the D.A., Welfare, NOTHING. I will not pay for what is basically an Organized Crime Syndicate to deny me what is rightfully mine and which is my birthright.

I have received many letters from you people, and although I am held and sealed in a cave, I truly want to thank you for them. To put it mildly, they humble me.

I would also endeavor to thank Sylvia and Bob whom also turned and faced the beast.. and whom tirelessly have become my remaining window to the Internet. Yet, they say they have done nothing...

Also members of The Sovereign Patriot Group, who still take up the pen and sword to defend people in my absence, to Mr. Kevin Haddock whom made my story national, and whom provided his insight to provide the word-byte used nationally; "Mr. Cheney doesn't want his son to inherit this system." Such sentience and dedication from my members is indeed a comfort. They have tirelessly defended me... and have factually "put the fear of God" into many government administrators.

I'd like to thank the Oroville Jural Society, notably Ms. Pauli Romano and Mr. Mike Kram, whom should immediately receive pay raises for their superhuman effort in this matter. Also Mr. Jerry Wilson whom has become quite effective in his courtroom efforts, which have helped me and other people.

Also Monica, whom I have never met, yet who provided relief for my people by putting together the Motion supporting my hunger strike.

Also Mr. John Burr and Jeff Jarret who are working on the Title 42 action on my behalf, and those down south.

I'd also like to thank friends and family who have been extremely concerned about this. I can only hope that they understand, and do not find it within themselves to berate me for doing what I believe is right, rather than what is conveniently pragmatic. It would have been much easier to submit and "just" pay.

I'd also like to thank all those who have written letters on my behalf. Somewhere, I must believe in my heart that some good will come of this.... I cannot see anything.... I can only hope for that immutable truth to prevail.

I want all fathers whom now are suffering to know that there is a day soon coming; and at the appropriate time and place you too will turn and begin to fight, for it is written in the hearts and minds of all men everywhere.

Also, I wish the Patriot movement continued success, we must plant the seeds of truth and resolute discipline to harvest a crop of freedom and liberty.

I want you to know that I will continue my fight here. I have no idea as to what or where this road leads to, I only know that I am NOT a criminal, I refuse to be a slave, and my son is my own. For these principles, I will most assuredly give my life, as I would for my country.

The Honorable Reverend Bluford has been my pastor here, and he has been a sole lifeline to me in this crisis. He will receive this handwritten document from me, and hopefully, it will find its way to you.

In parting, I want you to know that I have found something that is like a star in the sky; it is from II Timothy and it reads:

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." (4:7)
Remember: You have more rights than there are stars in the Heavens, in the sky....

In defense of my family and son,
Sincerely,
Mr. Robert Lindsay: Cheney, Jr., of the House of Cheney
Executive Director, The Sovereign Patriots Group


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