Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1311

Tonight's special guest is Dale Hemming from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He leads the effort at Sioux Falls Free Thinkers where the motto is 'Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent!' Among numerous other issues for Dale is the safety of our children. The web site says, ".. all those with open minds are welcome. Free Thinkers are those that want a world without rules and controls on thought, without mental borders and boundaries. A world where anything is possible." With our talk show, Dale is announcing the launch of a 6 week child abuse awareness campaign in Sioux Falls that involves sixteen 10x21 foot billboards for National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April). The campaign will be sponsored by Sioux Falls Feminists. Dale, now 71, became a feminist in 1960 while he was in high school. In college he went further. "I was a campus radical and civil rights activist fighting against the Vietnam War, racism, and for women's rights and gay/lesbian rights," Dale explains. In 2002 Dale started to volunteer as a women's advocate, working with abused women and their children, and serving as a male role model. "If one looks at the appalling statistics and facts on child abuse you will understand my involvement in the issue," Dale says. He's addressing these issues head on, and at his own expense." I believe we need to stop hiding the ugliness of child physical and sexual abuse. We need to get it out in open so we must deal with it." Dale explains, "My latest child abuse billboard images and wording are as explicit as freedom of speech allows. Hopefully more children and adults will report child abuse to the 14 different professional organizations listed on the Sioux Falls Feminists 'Where to Get Help' page."