A group of persons forced to register, members of their families and supporters demonstrated unity in Washington, D.C. this week in a unity 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 PARSOL, NARSOL, ACSOL, WAR, Florida Action Committee, SHINE, United Voices, Pathfinder and the Restorative Action Alliance.
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. Millersville University of Pennsylvania criminologist and PARSOL Advisory Board member Stephanie Jerstad shared data she has gathered regarding elderly registrants being denied access to housing and healthcare.
Pennsylvania’s own Joey Nicholson (not your average Joe) inspired the audience with his presentation, the United States of MIND, and Danell Puglisi-Knutson, Founder of SHINE VOICES, and members of that organization shared the unique challenges of women required to register. The conference ended with a Unity Panel moderated by PARSOL Managing Director and NARSOL Marketing Director John Dawe. 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.
On Monday, March 3rd, 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.
