Formerly Amish couple Elizabeth and Rudy Byler are determined to fight for their children. Photo courtesy of Byler family.

by Health Impact News/MedicalKidnap.com Staff

A mother who is fighting the Child Protective Service system to get her children back was threatened during a mediation hearing last week. Elizabeth Byler of Pennsylvania, who grew up in an Amish community, appeared at the hearing without her lawyer present, due to her attorney’s scheduling conflict.

Byler was allegedly given an ultimatum by court officials—to take down the Justice4theBylers Facebook page “or else,” they would “come after” her.  Elizabeth told them that she did not start the page and does not have administrator access to the page.  However, she was reportedly called a liar, and they demanded that she delete the account right there.  As she pulled up Facebook on her phone to try to access the page settings, she told the officials:

I can’t access it.  I’m not an administrator.

After the hearing, Elizabeth feared being accused of noncompliance, so she contacted a friend who is an administrator.  She asked the friend to delete the page immediately because she was afraid.  (Only an administrator can delete the page.)

The friend obliged.  However, when word of this reached another administrator, the page was reactivated.  This was as an act of resistance against the court’s attempt to “bully a Medical Kidnap mother into silence.”

Later that day, a statement was posted on Justice4theBylers Facebook saying that Elizabeth had requested that the page be taken down, but that the page would remain.  The administrator went on to say:

We have the utmost respect for Elizabeth Byler, but understand that, though you may be able to control her with threats, you cannot control us.  She is powerless to compel us in any way to take down this page.  And we are watching.  We just want you to do the right thing.

This is about the Freedom of Speech of fellow Americans to speak about the injustice that is happening to the Byler family, and to thousands of other families across the United States, and, indeed, the world.

This is about Freedom of the Press, as well.  Social media IS media.  As such, we have the Constitutional Freedom to report on news that is happening to this family and others.

When the Founding Fathers placed Freedom of the Press in the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution, it was with the understanding that the press is a means by which the people can hold governmental officials and agencies accountable to the people.  That is, in fact, the primary purpose of media.

Thus, the purpose of this page, and others like it, is to inform the people about the actions of government against citizens, specifically here, the Byler family.  This is a legitimate use of media, and thus, we will not bow down to those who attempt to silence us.

They may be able to silence Elizabeth Byler’s voice, for now, but we will NOT allow OUR voices to be silenced.  We call upon those who would silence her voice to hear the plea of a mother – broken, crying for her children to come home.  We implore you to do the right thing for her, and for all the families that you come in contact with.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!!!”

See the original story here:

Medical Kidnap of Children from Former Amish Mother Reveals History of Abuse in One Pennsylvania Amish Community

See story regarding the gag order:

Judge Allegedly Tries to Gag Former Amish Mother Over Medical Kidnap Story

See story regarding the effects of the stress on Elizabeth from the Medical Kidnapping:

Doctor Tells Former Amish Mom that Stress from her Medical Kidnapping of Her Children is Killing Her

Mother Elizabeth Byler has vowed never to stop fighting for her children. Arthur is her youngest. Photo supplied by family.

The Founding Fathers and the Supreme Court have historically supported Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press as means to hold government accountable to the people.

“The Constitution specifically selected the press, which includes not only newspapers, books, and magazines, but also humble leaflets and circulars, to play an important role in the discussion of public affairs.  Thus, the press serves and was designed to serve as a powerful antidote to any abuses of power by governmental officials and as a constitutionally chosen means for keeping officials elected by the people responsible to all the people whom they were selected to serve.  Suppression of the right of the press to praise or criticize governmental agents and to clamor and contend for or against change … muzzles one of the very agencies the Framers of our Constitution thoughtfully and deliberately selected to improve our society and keep it free.” – Hugo L. Black – US Supreme Court Justice 1937-1971 (Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214 1966)

In another case, New York Times Co. v. United States 403 U.S. 713 (1971), Justice Hugo L. Black clarified:

“In the First Amendment, the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy.  The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government’s power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government.  The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people.”

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin recognized that a free press is necessary to hold government accountable.

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins.”  Benjamin Franklin

How You Can Help

Elizabeth Byler with son Arthur. Photo supplied by family.

Visit the Justice4theBylers Facebook page to show support for the family.

A petition to help Elizabeth get her children back, Non-Amish Woman Steals Children from Amish-Born Woman, is here.

The Governor of Pennsylvania is Tom Wolf at 717-772-2500.  He can be contacted here.  His Facebook page is here.

Here are the legislators for the Bylers’ district:

Senator Michelle Brooks is at 717-781-1322.  She may be contacted here.

Representative Tedd Nesbit is at 717-783-6438. He may be contacted here.

Fayette County Children and Youth Services Director Gina D-Auria is at 724-430-1283. She may be contacted here.