Parental Alienation
On May 13, 2011, just after 5am, Michael Fox, a father, parked a hired truck near a pylon on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and climbed to the top of the arches.
The 38-year-old ex-military father protester unveiled two banners, reading “Kids First” and “Plz Help My Kids” at the top of the bridge. He claimed to the media that his children were victims of parental alienation.
Just before 7am, he abseiled down to the road below, where he was met by police officers. Northbound and southbound lanes were reopened about 7.30am.
Immediately after the protest, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper conducted a website poll asking if such a protest was justified.
5 polls on other subjects found on the website of the Sydney Morning Herald on May 14 had between 1,200 and 4,300 voters.
By the end of Saturday, May 14th, about 32,000 people had voted on the poll with 2 out of 3 people saying the father’s extreme protest was justified.