While most celebrate freedom, others are actively trying to extend its reach. The FLDS cult is imploding and men women and children are being held captive in horrendous conditions. —S. Holley

This post has been pulled from Lindsay Hansen Park’s Facebook page, who is in Colorado City this weekend.

My family and I were headed down to St. George and were invited to help witness some FLDS mothers to be reunited with their children, which is a big deal. I invited some other researchers to come down to watch. Our trip coincided with history in the making—we were invited to attend a very special 4th of July celebration with members of Short Creek. As their community is breaking up, thousands of people have been displaced or hurt by the FLDS leadership. For the first time in years, people are coming together to stand up to their former leaders.

While the FLDS church tightens control, bans toys, punishes families, adds more and more impossible and abusive rules, brave folks organized and are cleaning up the old city park for this event. It was strange to see so many folks trying to heal the community while 50 feet away, the FLDS were making their men and young boys build a 9 foot cinder block wall (which should be completed tonight) to keep people out. There were family members working on the wall while others were repainting swings. Families split by religious dogma and blind obedience. The things happening here are startling and historic. This is how a community both breaks apart and heals. I have so many thoughts but I am exhausted.

It’s impossible to recount all the things we saw that were wonderful or disturbing or interesting. It was an amazing day. I felt bad taping and watching these folks without their permission. I’m sure they feel violated and persecuted. I also got the sense that this was the most interesting part of their week. As we were yelled at, I said to some, “There are so many people out there that love you. So many. You are loved and the world is not a terrible place. It’s full of people who are rooting for you.” Several men and boys held back smiles, even though they were not allowed to talk to us (unless it was hostile).

I want to point your attention to my amazing and brave friend Andrew Chatwin. He is the tireless hero of this story. He spent 10 years standing up to these leaders, determined to bring health to his community. He lost his family and his property over his actions, and yet he stayed. He kindly and tirelessly fights against this oppression. He documents the happenings on his camera, and although he lives the most simple life I’ve ever seen, he is tirelessly dedicated to this work. He had an injured back and took the time to tour us around the city.

We would like to get a collection for him today. He is so modest and humble, I can’t convince him to take donations for himself, but this man deserves to be rewarded for what he has done. If you are interested in helping fund this man’s work (which is directly responsible for bringing down big FLDS leaders like Warren Jeffs), please donate via paypal to this account: coreylynhoward@gmail.com

Andrew, you are the best. I love you, brother. You are brave and wonderful and kind. Thanks for the great adventure today and letting us witness history.

‪#‎shortcreek4th‬

If you are interested in following what is happening in Short Creek, you can follow the hashtag #shortcreek4th on Twitter and Facebook.