Wayne Whitney's One-man Picket -- 1996:H1
Wayne Whitney - SF Picket Adventure
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - SF Picket Adventure
Date: 12 Mar 1996 01:51:46 -0500
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I wanted to be THE ONE to stir up the hornets' nest at the San Francisco
ORG so I got there early, at 10:30 A.M. before anyone else. As soon as
they saw me it took them less than two minutes to scramble outside with
all their picket signs and cameras and professional videographer. One of
their signs said, "Grady Ward is a copyright terrorist." Another said,
"Grady Ward can't keep a secret." I heard some pedestrians say how the
$cientologists' signs seemed like propaganda to them and that it made them
feel uneasy and distrustful. I'm thinking, "Great, exactly the kind of
comments I like to hear." Some ability to communicate those signs turned
out to be.
Eventually about half a dozen protesters showed up and we all stayed
until about 2:30. About the same number of $cientologists came out and
counter-demonstrated so it made the whole demonstration look twice as
large. Grady Ward took pictures of the festivities and posted them on his
web site at:
http://www.humboldt1.com/~gw/index.html
If you happen to be browsing the net, take a look. My picture is near the
end. I'm the one holding the sign that says, "Stop the Harassment." The
other side said, "Scientology suppresses free speech."
I consider the demonstration a success in a number of ways.
For one thing they now KNOW (once again) that we're out here, we've just
given them a little more "mass" to add to their reality.
For another, I saw my former "Key To Life" course supervisor "Jim"
videotaping us from the second story window. I showed him my sign and he
immediately put down his camera and flipped me off. IT WAS SO COOL! I
MADE AN IMPACT! Does this count as a "response" toward my "SPness" merit
badge?
And finally, there were actually a handful of people who stopped and were
genuinely interested in learning what the fuss was all about. I got a
chance to inform some potential victims what REALLY goes on inside that
building. PEACEFULLY PROTESTING REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Even if
it's just contacting one person at a time.
I consider March the 9th a day of my life well spent.
I did leave San Francisco with mixed feelings however. On one hand it felt
so good to openly defy the organization, me standing there with my bright
green fluorescent sign right outside their front door. I was able to
silently vent my anger in a non-destructive way and at the same time start
to restore some of my dignity that had been so ruthlessly stripped from me
in that building.
On the other hand I saw some public and staff members that I knew while I
was still going there. Deep down they seemed like lovable, caring human
beings to me and I knew that my actions might seem hurtful to them. But I
KNOW what $cientology really is. I KNOW where it all leads. I wished more
than anything that I could just go up and TELL THEM. In the end I knew
that I would have to remain silent and just walk away.
Back to "Ex-Scientologists Speak"
Wayne Whitney - My Picketing intentions
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - My Picketing intentions
Date: 13 Mar 1996 22:33:03 -0500
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I am going to continue picketing the San Francisco mission (at 406 Sutter
Street) AND the San Francisco ORG (at 83 Mcallister Street). The ice has
been broken with the success of the world wide picket last Saturday.
I have already talked to the San Francisco police department and found out
what I can and cannot do. The day watch supervisor even gave me his number
so that I could contact him directly to let him know when I would be
there. I WILL NOT inform the mission or Org, I will just show up
unannounced.
My sign reads, "in my opinion $CIENTOLOGY IS A $CAM."
If anything "eventful" happens I will let you all know.
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Wayne Whitney - picket advice requested
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - picket advice requested
Date: 18 Mar 1996 00:37:04 -0500
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I just got back from my first solo picket outside the S.F. mission on
Sutter street. I was there on Saturday from noon to 3:30 P.M. I carried a
flourecent green sign that said, "in my opinion $CIENTOLOGY IS A SCAM."
The support I got from the general public was tremendous.
Now I need some advice.
One woman suddenly came up to me, pointed to my sign and asked, "What does
$cientology mean?" Another asked," Why is it a scam?" Strangely enough
when I was in that situation and knowing that I only had maybe 30 seconds
or so to get my point across I wondered, "Where do I even start?" I found
myself at a loss for words.
In a one-on-one situation, in a quite place where I have some time, I AM
VERY GOOD at turning people against $cientology. However, when suddenly
confronted with questions like these, out on a sidewalk with all kinds of
distractions going on, I don't think I was as effective as I could have
been. As I keep picketing I WILL GET BETTER. In the mean time I'm asking
all of you for any advice you can give to help me get the word out more
effectively. Maybe someone even has I flyer they could E-mail me,
something that I could pass out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm lucky to live near San Francisco. As I make the long commute there
and back I HAVE to walk through the busiest part of downtown. I HAVE to
walk right through the crowds of people who are shopping at places like
Macy's and Emporium Capwells. These people have money. These are the
people the mission is targeting. When I was walking down the sidewalk
almost ALL of them read the fluorescent green sign that I kept prominently
displayed. Many of them even stopped me to ask about $cientology. Every
trip I make to the mission I'll be getting the message out to perhaps
thousands of people.
If the $cientology organization tries to silence me in any way I will
not say a word about it to this news group. I will just continue posting
as if nothing is happening. I absolutely refuse to be USED as their tool
to make others "shudder into silence." I've talked with several members
of the security department where I work regarding my involvement with
$cientology. From these talks I've decided that this is the best approach
to take. How $cientology handles critics is already well known and
documented in other places. Any input from me in this area would just be
counter-productive.
I would like to thank whoever posted,"Sometimes people go into battle
knowing they or their friends may not come back -- but they do it anyway"
( or words to that effect. ) That post has been a major source of
inspiration for me. I want you all to know that your postings DO make a
difference to me even though I don't respond to them.
Back to "Ex-Scientologists Speak"
Wayne Whitney - Picket update
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - Picket update
Date: 9 Apr 1996 09:12:15 -0400
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I've been picketing the San Francisco mission at 406 Sutter Street almost
every weekend since the global picket of March 9th. I carry a fluorescent
green sign that says, "In my opinion SCIENTOLOGY IS A SCAM". My picket
this past Saturday went very well.
The public support I've been getting has been just tremendous. As drivers
go by they honk their horns and give me the thumbs up sign. Pedestrians
that see my sign often point to it and say , "You got that right,
Scientology IS a scam."
I've been meeting so many people who have either themselves or had
relatives victimized by this cult, sometimes both. I met one woman who was
locked in a basement and held prisoner down in L.A. I met another woman
who was in the cult for fifteen years. Her whole family is still in it and
every one of them has been scammed of everything they had.
I even met one guy who actually knew Hubbard personally. He was part of
Hubbard's inner circle. He had a lot of really interesting "inside"
stories to relate to me about Hubbard. He said that Hubbard was one of the
first ones to admitted that $cientology was all a scam. He told me that
often in the evening Hubbard would sit down, drink his rum, and laugh at
all his followers. One time Hubbard even told him, "I've got them all
groveling at my feet just like I said I would". When I heard that I
suddenly felt so validated for what I was doing. I got this tremendous
urge to just go running through the streets yelling, "I told you so, I
told you so!"
My sign is REALLY helping to get the warning message out. I have a long
commute to get to the S.F. mission (almost 80 miles round trip). Waiting
at bus stops and all through the BART train system I always keep my sign
prominently displayed. Literally thousands of people read it on each
trip. Dozens actually stop and ask me about $cientology. It's been giving
me the perfect opportunity to inform them about $cientology BEFORE
$cientology has a chance to get to them. Even little kids are getting the
message. One little girl pointed to my sign and asked, "Mommy, what is
that man holding?" Her mother said, "Honey, he's holding a sign that says
$cientology is and evil organization and he's warning us to stay away from
it." I got such a rush when I heard that. It made me want to write up a
"success story".
These idiots have known that I've been an "SP wannabe" for the longest
time now and yet they're STILL sending me their propaganda. They just sent
me their latest drivel, a magazine called "Scientology News" Issue 1. I
always read their crap from beginning to end because it keeps me informed
as to how they are currently trying to deceive the public. This way I can
come up with effective counter-measures. Besides, their propaganda pisses
me off even more and motivates me to go on my NEXT picket.
I've never been an activist before but this cult has pushed me too far.
I'll continue standing right outside their mission or their ORG holding my
sign openly defying their criminal organization. I get such a rush
standing right outside their front door holding my sign right in front of
their face, especially when that one Sea Ogre walks past giving me her
"death stare". That world-wide picket on March the 9th broke the ice for
me. Who said that picket was a "non-event?"
If anyone in the San Francisco bay area wants to join me, GREAT. E-mail me
your intentions and maybe we can co-ordinate our efforts. I like to remain
unpredictable because I believe there is safety in unpredictability. I
always call the S.F. police before I show up but I don't want to let the
mission staff know when I'll be there.
Oh by the way, every time I'm on my way to and from S.F. I talk to all the
plants and animals -- AND THEY TALK BACK TO ME. It's a hoot. I guess I've
reached some level of "Otness."
Wayne "SP wannabe"
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Wayne Whitney - Picket Update 4-27-96
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - Picket Update 4-27-96
Date: 29 Apr 1996 01:14:58 -0400
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Picket Report: San Francisco Mission, 406 Sutter Street Saturday April
27,1996
I had a new experience this Saturday. For the first time one of the staff
members came outside and started trolling for new targets right in front
of me. I appeared to be at a disadvantage because he could aggressively go
after new victims while had to remain as a "passive" protester. He could
walk up to anyone and engage them in a conversation. I on the other hand
could only talk to those people who talked to me first. My intention is to
get my message out not to intimidate or harass everyone who passes by. I
only talk to those people who want more information than what's on my
sign. Because of this he was able to make contact with some people and he
even managed to lure a few inside. Fortunately I didn't observe anyone buy
anything. All of them just looked at a few books, got some literature
including the personality test and then left. A few of them even came up
to ME afterwards to get MY opinions.
My policy was that if HE was talking to someone I would just leave them
both alone. I figured that I'm there to get my message out not to make a
scene or harass them or any of their PCs (Pre-Clams). As long as I stick
to that policy the police can't get involved. Unfortunately most times
when *I* was talking to someone he would come rushing over and butt in. He
would immediately start spewing out all these lies, deceptions,
distortions of truths and deliberately attempting to misdirect the
person's attention. I found it a rather frustrating situation. I've gotten
very good at turning people against Scientology when I have the person to
myself. Now I have to increase my skills to be able to do it while a staff
member is right there in my face trying to undermine everything I say.
Cool! Give me a week or two and I'll be there.
At one point this recruiter came up to me with this big smile on his face
and said, " Wayne, I really want to thank you for being out here. I really
do. Ever since you started showing up more and more people have been
coming in to ask about Scientology." I immediately responded with,
"Great, now I'll be able to get my refund faster. Since you want me out
here I think I'll show up more often. Sounds like a win - win situation."
It was so cool. It blew him right out of the water. He didn't know what to
say so he just repeated himself. This guy thought his "reverse processing"
would drive me away. I know their game.
I must be getting to them. They're not trying to ignore me anymore like
they have been all these weeks. Now they are actively trying to recruit
new members right in front of me. Now they are running reverse processes
on me to make me to go away. I guess I'm beginning to "impinge".
Stay tuned folks, this is starting to get interesting.
Wayne
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Wayne Whitney - Picket Report 5-4-96
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - Picket Report 5-4-96
Date: 5 May 1996 19:17:48 -0400
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Hi Everyone,
I just got back from my picket Saturday. I think it's official now, the
clams ARE starting to react to my picketing. Last weekend wasn't just a
fluke. This is the second time that a staff member has come outside after
I arrived and started to disseminate right in front of me. One of the
locals told me that he's never seen any of them disseminating right
outside their front door before. This staff member ( Tim ) stayed out
front the whole time I was there, from about 1:00P to 6:00P (when they
closed up shop for the day).
Around 5:30 he was able to lure some guy inside. When the guy came out he
had some literature and their personality test in his hand. He walked over
to the bus stop which happens to be right outside their front door. As he
was waiting for the bus (which was just pulling up) I walked by and let
him read my sign. I could tell by his reaction that he was really affected
by what he read. I never talk to anyone unless they talk to me first but
when I saw HIS reaction I just couldn't resist. There were perhaps twenty
people waiting for the bus -- a captive audience. I walked up to him and
just blurted out," They scammed me for $95,000. I've watched them scam so
many other people. If they did it to me they'll do it to you. You've been
warned." I only had a few seconds to get my point across so I HAD to be
blunt and right to the point.
You should have seen the reaction of the crowd. They were shocked. Many
glanced over at the mission with a look that said, "They do THAT in
there?" Tim came rushing up and threatened me with calling the police
saying that what I was doing was right on the borderline of being illegal.
I just walked away, being thrown a little off guard by this sudden threat.
I could tell that I had made a significant impact on that crowd. Once I
regained my composure from this new threat I assured myself that I had
done nothing wrong. I have just as much right to talk to people on the
street as he does.
Earlier in the afternoon I watched as Tim was called inside to take a
phone call. By the way he was talking on the phone and looking at me I
figured that he was probably talking to his handler, probably someone in
the legal department. I suspect that they are waiting for me to screw up,
to do something illegal, anything so that the police will be able to get
rid of me. WELL I'M NOT GOING TO SCREW UP. My policy is that if THEY are
talking to someone I just leave then alone. I don't say a word. I won't
even talk to any of the staff members anymore. I just ignore them all. As
long as I stick to this policy they can't accuse me of harassment.
Most of the locals know me now. I've become a common sight. All the ones
that I've talked to approve of what I'm doing. I've got many allies on the
street now. I'm not out there "alone" anymore. If the clams try anything
I've now got friends to back me up.
It's important to me that I point out that when I call them "clams" I'm
talking about the "cult personality" of the individual not the person
themselves. Personally I dislike name calling. I think it's a bit childish
but I just HAVE to make an exception here. I call them "clams" because I
need to keep reminding myself that when I'm dealing with them I'm dealing
with the cult person not the real person. EVERY time I've tried to
interact with the real person the cult person bit me in the ass. I'll
NEVER make that mistake again. BY calling them "clams" I keep reminding
myself which person I'm REALLY dealing with.
Wayne Whitney "Clam Buster wannabe"
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Wayne Whitney - Picket Report May 11, 96
[Wayne Whitney]
From: wwhit71151@aol.com (WWhit71151)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Wayne Whitney - Picket Report May 11, 96
Date: 12 May 1996 12:54:01 -0400
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Picket Report: San Francisco Mission, 406 Sutter Street Saturday MAY
11,1996
Before leaving I called the S.F.P.D. day watch supervisor to let him know
I would be picketing the Scientology mission. He said, "Great! Where is
that at?" I told him 406 Sutter Street. He then said, "Well have fun." I
have to admit that I was a bit surprised by this response.
I asked him if I could talk to someone in person. I told him that I wanted
to let them know who I was, why I was out there, and what I was doing. I
explained that I was concerned that Scientology would try to get me
arrested for harassing them and I wanted to get all my concerns cleared up
once and for all. He said, "Well as long as you keep moving and don't
block their doorway that's not harassing them." I then said that I was
concerned that they might lie about me, that they might say anything just
to get me taken away. He told me that if they got a complaint they would
send someone out and if I wasn't doing anything obviously wrong I wouldn't
get arrested. I asked, "So I don't need to worry about getting arrested?"
He said ,"No." I immediately felt so relieved. I had been living with
visions of patrols cars roaring up, screeching to a stop right in front of
me, then being handcuffed and hauled off to jail. Now I can rest
(reasonably) assured that that won't happen.
In all my pickets I've seen quite a few patrol cars drive by with the
officer staring right at me. They all kept right on driving. I guess I've
become a common sight for them. I know I've made a favorable impression on
the local community now it looks like I've also made a favorable
impression on the local police department.
For the third week in a row a staff member ( Tim ) has come out to
disseminate shortly after I arrived. At one point he came up to me and
finally popped the question that I've been expecting. He asked, "Are you
just doing this on your own or did someone put you up to this?" I replied,
"All my little body thetans told me to be here." He said, "What's a body
thetan? I don't know what that is." I said, "You know damn well what a
body thetan is, if you don't then go inside and clear it."
He just asked me his first question again. I replied, "Xenu sent me. He's
on his way." At that I just walked away. Behind my back I heard him say to
me, "I guess you just can't take responsibility for your own actions." I
thought to myself, "What a clown. I've got my own agenda here, I'm not
going to play his stupid game."
A short while later Tim was able to lure some guy inside. When the guy
came out he walked passed me holding some literature and their personality
test. When he did I pointed to my sign and said, "It's all a scam you
know." The guy said, "Yeah, I know. I was just going to throw this stuff
out anyway." Tim comes rushing up and says, "You know that's illegal? You
can't harass people who come out of the mission." I replied, "That wasn't
harassment. You better go inside and clear the word 'harassment'."
The sign I carry says, "in my opinion SCIENTOLOGY IS A SCAM". As the
afternoon wore on more and more people started coming up to me asking WHY
I thought that. One woman did and after I explained she told me that she
had a niece that was involved and that that's why she asked. She walked
off quickly saying that she had to hurry up and go home to warn her.
A little while later this couple walked up and were curious as to what
Scientologists really believe. At the point I start to talk about the
whole Xenu thing Tim comes rushing up and butts in saying, "That's not
what Scientology is all about." He then points to the word "Scientology"
on my sign and starts getting into a discussion of what the WORD
"Scientology" means. I kind of let him finish and then said, "He's just
trying to distract your attention here. This is what Scientology really
means." I point to the word "scam". They seem convinced. Their
misunderstood word has been cleared. I continued, "He's just trying to
distract your attention so that he can force the PR version on you. I'm
letting you know what REALLY goes on in there." Tim backs off and walks
away. I continue about all the body thetans and they start to laugh at the
absurdity of the whole thing. They were also rather amazed at the prices
clams charge for all these "beliefs."
I've noticed that when I'm talking to someone Tim often comes up and
points to the WORD "Scientology" on my sign and gets the person into
discussing the definition. This immediately distracts the person's
attention from what *I'm* saying. I think I've found an antidote for this,
just point out to the person how they just got manipulated by him.
Around 5:00 P.M. a second person comes outside and starts disseminating at
the corner of Sutter and Stockton. Now there are two of them for one of
me. I wonder what this could mean.
On this picket I noticed that there's been a very significant change in
the mood of staff members towards me. When I first started picketing all
the mission staff tried to be very friendly. When they first saw me they'd
say things like, "Hi Wayne, how's it going?" They'd say it in a very
cheerful tone of voice pretending that they didn't even notice my sign.
Now, however, they all just walk passed, staring at me without saying a
word. I can almost see the little wheels turning in their heads and see
the (S) (P) symbols in their eyes. You know, strange as it may sound, I
prefer this new reaction over their earlier one. It keeps me more in the
"picketing mood." Their other reaction was a little distracting until I
learned that it was best to just ignore them.
I still find it amazing to see how many people's lives have been harmed by
this organization. If you just walk around S.F. you would never see them.
When I go there carrying a picket sign they start coming out of the
woodwork and come up to me to tell me their stories. One woman told me how
on her first reg cycle she was locked in the room and that it wasn't until
she actually started trying to kick the door down that they let her out.
Even then two staff members followed her almost all the way home before
turning around and going back. A doctor told me how one of his patients
needed an operation but had been convinced by the clams to spend all his
money to "go clear" instead.
The stories I hear on the street go on and on. There are so many people
out there who remain silent victims. These people need a voice, they need
to be heard. I wish I could give them that voice.
Wayne Whitney
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