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Yesterday we sent an email letting people know that our Director, Dennis Sobin, had been arrested at a public hearing at city hall in Washington, DC and we asked for your help to prevent a repetition of this grave injustice. Here are some of the many responses we received in the past 24 hours. Note: Below appear a small sampling of the email responses we received, without any changes except to conceal the names of the senders. Their names and contact information will be provided only to members of the press who wish to contact them for interviews and obtain their permission to publish their names. (Already, Washington City Paper has interviewed our director.) We also received a large number of positive phone calls. At the bottom of this page appears the original email we sent with details of the arrest, along with the telephone numbers of Washington city officials who can correct this injustice. As per request, we hereby provide the email addresses for those officials: Adrian Fenty, Mayor [email protected] (Mayor) 202-724-8876 [email protected] (Mayor's advisor) Vincent Gray, City Council Chairperson [email protected] (chief of staff) 202-724-8032 Jack Evans, City Councilmember [email protected] 202-724-8023 Phil Mendelson, Chair of Judciary Committee [email protected] 202-724-8064 ***************************************************************** Below are some of the emails we just received: ***************************************************************** I called everyone on the list. Spoke to Heidi at Mr. Mendelson's office (they said they were "aware but not getting involved") and I reminded her that a larger issue is up in the air here, and that is the right of citizens to have a free and open forum in public buildings (especially when invited!). I told her as a resident of the District I was "shocked" that legal guidelines could be manipulated at CITY HALL of all places to silence an invited guest. Everyone else I left messages for.... if we can get a couple dozen people making these calls it might be enough to generate some buzz, which sometimes translates into support. I'll wait and see if Fenty or anyone else calls me back - but at least the message is getting out! ****************************************************************** hi dennis i got the email this morning about your arrest... holy smoke! i'm so sorry to hear about the bad blood between you and your son, whatever it is (i don't need to know), but i want you to know that i made three phone calls this morning, and also to let you know that i was told that others were calling as well. you're doing great work and for the best reasons, and no doubt there will be many other roadblocks and attempts at deterrents along the way, but that's the way it is with god's work. a pastor of mine once likened the phenomena to those beautiful stones and sea glass that find at the beach... they got that way by being tumbled around in the sand and waves. *********************************************** Hello: I called the 202-724-8023 number listed below and got transferred 4 times before finally talking to someone named HEIDI who listened to what I had to say about calling in support of having Darrin transferred so that Dennis can testify at City Hall , to which she simply replied OK and hung up. I do not know what type of response we are expecting to get, but please be sure to let people know that they can be transferred many times and DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED!!! No one will take your name, number or ask any questions. They listen to why you are calling and then transfer you to someone else, to whom you again have to explain why you are calling. BE PATIENT and PERSISTENT! *************************************************** This is an abuse of office by Darrin Sobin. His direct superior, the attorney general, should be pressured to prevent Darrin from taking any such further action. Exactly how the AG does that is not up to Dennis or the PFO staff to determine. If it means Darrin loses his job, so be it. Let the chips fall where they may. He can find employment elsewhere, where he cannot exercise authority that he cannot handle responsibly. Darrin Sobin is a disgrace to the AG, the citizens he supposedly represents, to his father, and his family. Call it like it is. ***************************************************** Wow! I am so shocked to hear this. The prosecutor (his son) has some serious issues. I feel so bad for Dennis and I will make the calls. Any arrest is devastating, but to have your own son do something like this is almost beyond belief. I hope everything works out. Please keep us updated. ****************************************************** We are arranging to have a staff member reach out to each of the officials named in your communication. If there is anything else that we can do to support you, please do not hesitate to let us know. *********************************************************** I'm with you, Dennis (and your Prison Foundation.) We spoke a few times and had planned to meet, but the powers that be prevented this. I spent a total of 30 years in prison, completing a 20-year sentence just recently in Federal Prison, where I was tortured before being released 6/14/2006. Nine guards were removed from duty for what they did to me, however the Buearu of Prisons quietly placed them back on the job six months later, though the investigation is STILL ONGOING. Stay strong, my brother!!!! We are calling the Mayor's office now!!!!!!!!!!!! ********************************************** I am very shocked that such a thing could happen to such a nice person. I'm sorry that my telephoning ability doesn't allow me to make calls. If you decide to send some sort of an e-mail or letter let me know.