Baby Boy Retires Circumstraint; Arrested In Second Attempt

BABY BOY, strikes again! Weeks after a New York intactivist reported receiving a series of anonymous phone calls from a young man who claimed to have retired a circumstraint from a Cornell University Hospital, the man was apparently arrested by police while making a second attempt.

Richard deSeabra, of NORM New York City, began receiving calls from tbe man in December, identified only as BABY BOY, which is how he said he was named on his circumcision consent form. The man explained that he was on his way to New York Hospitai where he was born 20 years prior, to stop a circumcision and to chain himself to the circumcision room door. deSeabra says he cautioned the man then to abide by non-violent, civil disobedience guidelines, and not to hurt anyone.

The man kept deSeabra abreast of his actions by phone, reporting visits to the hospital Nursery where he questioned nurses about birthing procedures. When he asked about a restraint board they refused to answer his questions. "I saw an Olympic Circumstraint and asked about it," the man reported, "They wouldn't admit what it was used for or how it was used." When he pressed the issue, security was called.

BABY BOY then explained to deSeabra that he left, "zig-zagging through the building until I was outside." But when he reentered the hospital and asked for the ethics committee, a security guard took him to security headquarters where he was warned not to return and threatened with police intervention.

Two days later, BABY BOY phoned the hospital's ethics committee, then retumed to the hospital to speak to a doctor in Pediatric Urology. However he was redirected to Patient Services where a woman suggested he write a letter to hospital administration. He then returned to the nursery, apparently grabbed tbe circumstraint board, and ran through hallways and out the front door.

In defense of his illegal action, Baby Boy said, "Fine, I did steal something from them, but they stole something from me 20 years ago." deSeabra said "I really admire this young man's courage... The energy of the college student is one that various pro-intact movements are yet to tap into. ...This act can be regarded as a landmark in the fight against genital mutialtion." Recent reports are that Baby Boy has been found guilty and sentenced to community service.

From Health & Human Rights Advocate, May 1996. A publication of the the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers, PO Box 2512, San Anselmo, CA 94979-2572

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