FITCHBERG RIVERA FAMILY UPDATE:
The 5 children have been placed with family in Massachusetts, not in foster care.
DCF threatened to remove the children when there was no imminent danger, and now claims to have custody of them, without due process and for no apparent reason except that the parents refused vaccinations for their healthy baby, and declined a home visit with DCF. Exactly which laws did they break?
Father needs 25K Bail, 200K bond to get out of Worcester County Jail, and is representing himself, but seeking
LAWful counsel.
Mother incarcerated in Chicopee, represented by court appointed attorney.
Next hearing April 15th, Fitchburg District Court.
See “Sudden & Unexpected” story on X @toobaffled with 350K hits and shared from #MadAngelsArmy on Facebook with thousands of shares and rising!
Keep sharing! This family seriously needs to be surrounded with support.
Home School Family Who Refused Shots for Their Baby Pursued and Punished like Criminals
By Joan Quinn Eastman
FITCHBURG, MA – A family with five children from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fled to Texas after what they claim was unwarranted harassment and intimidation by local police and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The extreme response was reportedly sparked by the parents’ informed decision to decline to vaccinate their healthy nine-month-old baby.
The parents, who homeschool their children, stated to their pediatrician that they were opposed to their new baby receiving the shots based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. Despite citing religious exemptions which are law in Massachusetts, the father, Isael Rivera is being held in Worcester County Jail on a $200,000 bond or 20K cash bail, while the couple’s five children have reportedly been taken into custody by Child Protective Services (CPS). It is unclear whether the children are in foster care in Texas, or back in Massachusetts DCF custody.
Fitchburg Police Department public appeal flyer posted on Facebook.
“This is a blatant violation of fundamental rights on multiple levels,” says Ron Bouchard, Constitutional Law Strategist. “By what authority has this family been apprehended and for what? Was there a warrant? What is familial kidnapping? A family has the right to travel with their children. How and why have they been reported missing, and by whom? What laws have they broken and what imminent danger exists to justify the drastic action of DCF and the Fitchburg Police Department traumatizing this family by tearing it apart?”
The ordeal began when the family’s pediatrician, a mandatory reporter, threatened to report them to DCF after the parents declined vaccinations for their infant during a wellness check.
“The doctor said if we didn’t vaccinate, he’d have to report us,” the father, “Izzy” Rivera, allegedly told an advocate who provided safe harbor for the family in Texas. “Despite assurances that their baby was well-fed, cared for, and thriving, DCF soon left a notice on their door demanding a home visit. Fearing for their family, the parents refused, citing their rights.”
What followed was a dramatic escalation. Fitchburg police, at the direction of Leominster DCF allegedly surrounded their apartment, banging on doors and circling the property for up to 30 minutes. “Ruth Encarnacion hid in the closet with her five children,” said the good samaritan who assisted the family over their 3 week exile. According to her account of what the family told her, with police and DCF returning in greater numbers the next day, Rivera was also forced to hide, while his wife and children fled from Fitchburg.
The family then reunited and embarked on a three-day trek to Texas, aided by the advocate who arranged for an Airbnb, food, and supplies to help them to do what they believed was best for their youngest child and their whole family. “For protecting their child, they were pursued like criminals,” she said. “He told the doctor it was against their beliefs to vaccinate, but it didn’t matter.”
The Texas woman accommodated the family of 7 in an RV, witnessing their love and care firsthand. “He’s a good man, not violent or abusive,” she insisted, refuting claims of domestic violence now levied against Rivera. “They’ve been a family for 15 years.”
The family’s refuge was short-lived after a credit card charge for formula pinged their location. On March 8th, authorities tracked them down in Texas as reported by Boston 25 FOX News.
“State Police were everywhere, yelling ‘come out with your hands up,’” the Airbnb host recounted to the family’s sponsor. “The parents were arrested, charged with familial kidnapping, and the children were seized by CPS.”
Advocates consider this to be a modern-day witch hunt, accusing DCF and Fitchburg police of overreach. “They’re homeschoolers exercising their rights,” the Texas woman emphasized. “This is persecution.”
The pediatrician’s office declined to comment, as did DCF and the Fitchburg Police Department, while authorities have yet to produce a warrant that justifies the urgency or necessity of the pursuit.
“This directly violates the mandatory provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution (1780), Part the First, Article II,” says Bouchard of WethePeople2.us, which guarantees that– “No subject shall be hurt, molested or restrained in his person, liberty or estate for worshipping GOD in the manner and season most agreeable to his own conscience.”
As the story unfolds, questions mount: Where are the children? Have they been vaccinated against their parents’ wishes? And why was a lawful family treated like fugitives? Check here and BostonBroadside.com for updates on this developing story.
What is the name of the pediatrician and his or her info? Evil must be exposed.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The name can be found elsewhere now in various social media, but the writer here is of course purposefully holding off at this time for certain reasons in our “Notes between printed editions.”
The purpose of the above article is not to persecute nor prosecute but to share awareness of a situation in Massachusetts (and beyond) and the extent to which those in power will use their powers against parents. It is also to serve as a warning for others, and more importantly as request to others similarly harmed.
Much more will be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, We do ask that if you or a family member or someone you know has experienced coercion which can be documented, from a medical professional or member of children services, we ask that you contact us in order that we may potentially arrange for an appropriate legal recorded statement, written and oral deposition.
Who had custody of the kids? Who is the Pediatrician that reported them? Is there a GoFundMe? So many questions!
Bad journalism, if you don’t name the pediatrician
Yes !