Biography Ms. Laura Chapman is an accomplished professional Social Worker, advocate for women and children, public speaker, and expert witness in the State of Colorado. Ms. Chapman’s professional seminars offer a “one of a kind” in depth look into the world of polygamy. Conference attendee’s write such endorsements as, “Excellent speaker. Bring Ms. Chapman back every year until something is done to change this situation for women and children in Colorado!”
In 1998 she joined three like-minded women and challenged Utah Officials by protesting at Utah’s Capital regarding the lack of equal protection for children in polygamy. Soon Ms. Chapman began assisting women and children leaving polygamy and was one of four recipients of the National Organization For Women “The Women of Courage Award.” In 2002, she was nominated for the “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.” Her comments during press conferences and a letter writing campaign (she initiated) was far reaching and essential in passing three laws in the State of Utah’s Senate to protect children in polygamy from further exploitation.
In speaking before the United Nations in 2002, she brought the human rights violations occurring in polygamy to an International audience. It was there she noted the similarities between polygamy, slavery, and religious fanaticism that parallel the Taliban’s extreme treatment of woman.
Ms. Chapman is also a regular speaker at conferences held by the International Cultic Studies Association. Ms. Chapman considers her children the greatest accomplishment in her lifetime. She states, “They gave me a reason to leave and find something better for them, for me, for the next generation in our family. There aren’t words to express the pride and satisfaction I feel as I watched them experience milestones, large and small, that I was never allowed to experience.” The FLDS polygamist group functions as an organized crime ring in which young girls are trafficked, across state and national lines. They’re considered a Hate Group with White Supremacist ideologies, by Southern Poverty Law Center. Currently, the FLDS polygamist group (the largest throughout the west) owns more property in the state of Colorado than any other state. Warren Jeffs currently leads is followers from a prison. 19 men have been charged with sexual crimes against children within the FLDS. When charge in one state the established compounds in Texas, Colorado and South Dakota.
“Freedom of religion should never be used as a means to justify the exploitation of women and children.” |
