Registrants, members of their families and supporters demonstrated unity in Washington, D.C. this week in a conference and a vigil near the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. Both events included leaders and members of multiple organizations that support registrants and their families, including ACSOL, NARSOL, WAR, Florida Action Committee, SHINE, United Voices, Pathfinder and Restorative Action Alliance.
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Conference presentations addressed a wide range of topics beginning with a presentation by civil rights attorney Janice Bellucci regarding why the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Smith v. Doe, must be overturned in order to stop the significant harm it has caused and continues to cause. Amber Vlangas, Executive Director of the Restorative Action Alliance, and Ann Croat, President of WAR, spoke about the need to abolish the registry. Professor Stephanie Jerstad shared data she has gathered regarding elderly registrants being denied access to housing and healthcare.
Joe Nicholson (not your average Joe) inspired the audience with his presentation, the United States of MIND, and Danell Puglisi-Knutson, Founder of SHINE, and members of that organization shared the unique challenges of women required to register. The conference ended with a Unity Panel moderated by John Dawes of NARSOL. Each member of that panel — Brenda Jones of NARSOL, Amber Vlangas of Restorative Action Alliance, Shawn Barrera-Leaf of United Voices, Anne Croat of WAR and Janice Bellucci of ACSOL — discussed their organization’s major goals for 2025 and how meeting those goals will help registrants and their families.
Conference attendees traveled to the U.S. Supreme Court the day after the conference in order to educate both the U.S. Supreme Court and the public regarding the significant harm caused by the Court’s decision, Smith v. Doe. Many registrants spoke during the vigil about the challenges they have faced, including former registrant Frank Lindsay, who registered for more than 44 years. Family members also spoke about how they have been harmed by the registry due to lack of adequate housing and employment opportunities as well as social stigma.
The conference and vigil will be repeated next year in March 2026. Details regarding the exact date and location will be posted on this website soon.
I count 16 people in that picture. 16. Many of us are on lifetime parole and most I’d say don’t want the hassle of dealing with the registration office for a cross country trip. This keeps us silent. Why not send out massive letter campaign using all the addresses on the registry? Get signatures of everyone on the registry with their family members and present that to DOGE as a money saving initiative. It someone has gone through prison, all the brain washing classes and lived a clean life then let them be! Why add so much punishment?
Thank you very one for your time and effort, and especially for putting your literal selves out there for such a cause!
Great pictures! And I’m glad Janice and all the others were out there representing us. It’s not the size that matters, but the heart, which was on display by the folks who showed up. One small tidbit of concern: Does the average joe that walks by know what the protest was about? Hardly anyone knows about Smith v Doe. Some Jethro might think “They be protesting them gubmint gun registration laws! Them real Americans!” Then when he gets home and looks up Smith v Doe online, “Oh my God!! 😱Sick bastards!”