Sunday morning nine buses pulled into Eldorado. Three of them went to the First Baptist Church, the others to the Civic Center. Texas authorities would soon load these buses with the FLDS women and children from the YFZ Ranch and take them to Fort Concho in San Angelo, some 45 miles away.
Fifty-five years ago a similar raid on polygamy took place in Short Creek, Arizona. Back in 1953 law enforcement came into town, locked the men in a schoolhouse and loaded the women and children into buses. The families were split apart. The Short Creek raid of ’53 is the the defining event that has shaped the culture and behavior of modern polygamists, driving them underground and away from the outside world. It’s why children from plural families are often taught to avoid contact with outsiders and to never admit who their father is.
Authorities in Texas say that this week’s raid is nothing like ’53. But as I watched the women and children from the YFZ Ranch loaded onto buses while the FLDS men were being kept by police at the still-sealed off compound, I think I saw at least a couple of similarities between the two raids. Don’t you?
As I stood in the street photographing these women and children being put onto buses, I knew I was witnessing a big moment in modern Fundamentalist Mormon history. I’ve seen the historical photos of young boys and little girls from the ’53 raid and I’ve met some of these same people, now grandparents. I’ve listened as they shared their vivid memories and feelings from those days. Looking at my photos today, I hope some of the women and children that I photographed in this raid won’t wait 50 years to recount their experiences.
One thing to stress: I’m not expressing an opinion on what is happening in Texas this week. These posts are meant to give you insight and understanding into a complex situation. I am not writing to say the Texas Raid was bad or good, or to say that polygamy is bad or good. If I am doing my job I am simply an observer for you, providing information that may help YOU decide what is good for society and for yourself.
I do have an opinion on access, however. Certain government agencies are very upset that a lot of these photographs were taken. Government workers have formed lines to block photographers and requested that we be removed from public areas. To their great credit, the Texas state troopers have honored the First Amendment and maintained order while at the same time allowing me to do my job.
These government workers may think they are protecting the privacy of the FLDS, but consider what it would mean if the government could take custody of 419 children and prevent any visual evidence of that act.
One thing I’ve been thinking a lot about was a message someone sent me on our way down here last week, asking me to photograph every single person that was taken in the raid so that their safe return could be ensured. What if it was you and your children? What would you want?
