Girl forced into poligamy marriage - would you help?

Colorado City, Arizona, a city trapped in another century where dress is out of fashion and polygamy is the norm and outsiders are not welcome, just go to hell, back off. I have seen this firsthand in my many trips here to report on the fundamentalist Church of Jesus. Christ of Latter-day Saints, okay, okay, now the sect that still practices polygamy often forces young

girl

s to marry much older men, but what will people do if they have the opportunity to save a young man to marry against him? cameras in this family restaurant just a few hours from Colorado City we hired actors to play The Joneses there's Frank his wife Sherry his other wife Laura another wife Kathy and this young Susan B the camera is her best show we're watching from a check nearby room and see who's coming to dinner the Joneses are here for a special occasion Susan you should smile so the more you're getting married Susan only 15 years old she's about to become this man's wife number four against her you'll stop crying for Please don't do it touch me I don't think I'm ready to get married and now we are your family, but I don't want to get married.

I'm only 15 years old. This woman is clearly distraught, but instead of trying to

help

her husband, she asks him to do it. I moved to the opposite end of the dining room. I want to get away from them. Is it okay while people stare at Susan? I don't want this light. Nobody comes close to her. They are just afraid of interfering in a family matter. Do not do it. Be it this way, polygamy is illegal in all 50 states of the USA. God spoke to the Prophet. This man is clearly worried and it is not his place to question him.

It is his duty to obey. When our polygamists leave, he follows them to make sure Susan leaves. voluntarily in this country we have rights, well, you know she doesn't need to know that she knows what she knows, that she is with us. I'm John in this, sir, I'm a reporter. He's shaking, sir. Sorry, oh, I was. I'm just going to give her that last chance so she doesn't have to go, you know, I thought if she was old enough, she

would

choose if she's family. You know, we can't intervene, we have rights, but she was going to get rid of that. one last chance to escape I'm not ready to get married you don't decide that in the restaurant people are reacting but secretly tomorrow is your wedding this man takes out a camera phone and says he was going to give these photos of the

girl

to the police when the others They head to the bathroom Susan is left alone and for almost 4 minutes no one does anything, it is too familiar for Elisa Wall, who grew up in a polygamous sect and who is watching with us, was

forced

to marry at the age of 14 and wants someone

would

have

help

ed you is about what people will do with that window of opportunity, that opportunity to protect and do for someone else, what you would like them to do for you, what in your opinion should people do, if nothing more call call the authorities call someone or make sure that girl doesn't get out of there because once she leaves that door that window closes I'm not ready I need a couple of years from the beginning this woman clings to all places Is everything okay for her?

She is crying a lot. Be young. When you are 15 years old to be a wife. That's it, but what is she going to do? Now I'm supposed to get this kid out the back window or the bathroom right now. Yes, she is very annoying when the others go to the bathroom and Susan is left alone again the woman throws her a life preserver do you need help honey Susan do you need help do you need help? okay, sit here and don't go anywhere how old are you? you're 15 you're 15 you're a minor someone call the police on her no please don't call the police then they will find me no that's what you need help there are people here that can help you can we come in? back for a minute to get off she takes our terrified girl Bri to the back of the restaurant you're a hero and we want to congratulate you that's not a hero that's not a hero that's helping a child that's not a hero that's not a hero, well, a lot of people didn't react, most people didn't say anything, no, most people didn't.

Elisa touched the wall, I just want to say thank you, thank you for having courage, standing up for her, look what you're doing yeah, you're like a stronger voice than I could have been 15 is not young show respect this woman keeps her eyes on Susan and after watching for over 20 minutes you have had enough how can I help you? I don't know what can I do for you? Okay, come with me. Come on, what are you doing? What are you doing? Come on, come on, where are you taking her? I don't know where she wants to go in 2 days of filming, she is the first person to approach.

Susan in front of the family and now I take her to the front of the restaurant with her arms around her, she was still clinging to me, so I knew she needed help. It's not without risk for you to get involved, yes, but it's riskier for her if you don't help her, but nothing prepared us for the woman we're about to meet. I will teach you to be submissive, to obey and to be a good wife. She decides to literally take matters into her own hands. Do you need to go home? with me you want to come home I have a house I have one I have a room for you sorry what's going on we're fine ma'am thank you she doesn't look well we're fine we're family she's completely outnumbered but it's clear she's not leaving without Susan sit down take care of her Susan please take care of her stay away from her she is an adult she can make her decision how old are you sit down? 15 15 Susan things are about to get physical I'll call the police, don't bring this to our family, go please call the police, she's 15 years old and she's a wife, we need to call the police, let her go she's going to Child Protective Services that's where she needs to go and now the adrenaline takes over let her go don't hurt her I'm not hurting her let's go before someone else gets in her way it's time to let Renee Wood participate in our experiment just take a breath take a breath It turns out that Renee is the former director of a domestic violence shelter in Utah.

I understand that dynamic of abuse and I also understand that it is a difficult cycle to break. More than 100 diners witnessed our scene, but only four people intervened to help that child bride. three of them were women. Women have the sensitivity and knowledge about families and family interaction, which makes them sort of experts, and that sense of experience gives them confidence that what you can do to help is real, it's right, and you can do it. it was just what I wanted to see for Elisa Wall she is an unforgettable example of courage and something more that is love that is love when you are willing to go out of your way for someone else and truly protect them that is the image that will always stay with me