By Zandy Dudiak
The Patch
November 22, 2011
dormont-brookline.patch.com/articles/sexual-abuse-coverup-protest-scheduled-for-dec-5-in-dormont
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Activist Mike Ference will stage the second in a series of "Last Call" protests targeting local institutions and individuals tied to cases involving the abuse of children and young adults on Dec. 5 in Dormont.
The protest will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the Allegheny County District Attorney Detectives office at the Dormont Municipal Center.
Ference is targeting the detective bureau for failing to take action after he presented detailed information about alleged clergy sex abuse, coverups and other criminal behavior to them in 2007. He had asked that they reopen the attempted murder case involving his son, who was shot and injured on a Serra Catholic High School bus in 1989 by a student who turned the gun on himself and died.
"With what's going on at Penn State, it's obvious we can no longer rely on people in trusted positions to keep us safe," said Ference, who has been pursuing and writing about such cases for 23 years.
"When it comes to any abuse of children, there's never a happy ending. Maybe this is a godsend—exposing Penn State," he said, his voice growing emotional.
Ference chose Dec. 5 as the date for the protest as it marks the 23rd anniversary of the shooting incident involving his son.
Those who have been abused can call the Diocese at 412-456-3060 or its hotline number at 1-888-808-1235 to report the incident, no matter when it occurred. Incidents can also be reported to the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313.
Additional protests are in the planning stage. For more information on the Dec. 5 protest or other upcoming events, call Ference at 412-233-5491 or email mike@ferencemarketing.com.
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