Local ‘Save Our Children’ efforts focus on substantial issues rather than conspiracy theories

On Friday, September 18, “Save Our Children Front Royal” held the first of a series of planned events to bring attention to a perceived gap in the state or U.S. Justice systems that many feel “under-punishes” convicted pedophiles. The late afternoon march assembled at the Warren County Government Center around 5:30 p.m. proceeded down Commerce Avenue and Water Street to the Front Royal Village Commons/Gazebo area and circled back on Chester and Second Streets to the government center.

Neely and Charles Bettis man the ‘Save Our Children’ paraphernalia stand; and below, conduct a little business awaiting the return of marchers to the WCGC starting point. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

Organizer Brittany Lewis says the march and coming events are designed “to bring awareness to child abuse and sex trafficking” issues. She stressed that “Save Our Children Front Royal” is not associated with recent efforts of the factually-discredited Q-Anon political conspiracy theory group to latch onto the ‘#saveourchildren’ logo to its own ends, or for that matter to the 1970s origin of the slogan in Florida tied to an anti-gay agenda celebrity Anita Bryant served as the spokesperson for.

“No, when I was starting this up someone asked about that and I had to tell them I wasn’t with those groups. I put ‘Front Royal’ on at end … to try and distance us from that,” Lewis told Royal Examiner.

Rather, “Save Our Children Front Royal” is born of experience closer to home. That experience was her becoming aware of a young child’s abuse locally and deciding that abuse was too close to home. And while the alleged perpetrator has been arrested and is awaiting trial, it is the end result of such prosecutions on pedophile charges that Lewis says is one of the primary reasons she began “Save Our Children Front Royal”.

The ‘Save Our Children Front Royal’ march proceeds through the Village Commons amongst other dueling events and prepares to turn up Chester St. to return to the WCGC starting point.

“The average jail sentence is 3-1/2 years,” she said of pedophile convictions.

And for Lewis, and others rallying to her cause, that is not enough time behind bars for the sexual victimization of her or any of our society’s children.

Upcoming events include a “Paint Night” fundraiser for the Laurel Center for victims of sexual abuse that will be held in the Washington Suite of the Blue Ridge Shadows Holiday Inn on October 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and another march on October 24, slated to begin at 10 a.m. at the WCGC parking lot.

For further information see the “Save Our Children Front Royal” Facebook page or contact Brittany Lewis by email at brilewis91@aol.com or by phone at (540) 692-9893.

Marchers, including several sporting ‘#save our children’ logos, make their way through a crowded Commons area. News reports in recent months, including the NY Times, have commented on the Q’Anon conspiracy theory group’s attempts to ‘hijack’ the ‘#saveourchildren’ slogan to their own ends. ‘Save Our Children FR’ organizer Brittany Lewis has distanced her local efforts from such conspiracy theories, focusing on more substantial issues like pedophile sentencing ranges.