May 22, 1999
Picket report; Atlanta, Georgia
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Picket Report: No Southern Hospitality in Atlanta May 22, 1999
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 05:23:14 GMT
From: ethercat@netcom.com
Message-ID:
Picket time: 5pm till 8pm
Cars: 9 on arrival, about 16 when we left
Handlers: 4
Picketers: 5
co$cns watching the "fer real SPs" in action: about 10 at one point
Mad Cow, wynot, and I arrived at the org in Dunwoody at 5:00 in
anticipation of the event that was "about to change the course of history
on this planet," which was to start at 7:30. Seems there was already a
number of people there. There were 9 cars in the front lot out of a city
of 3.5 million. There were out-of-state plates today as well; Alabama and
Florida were represented at the Dunwoody org today also.
Things were pretty quiet at first. They were watching a video when we
arrived, and it was about 20 minutes before Susan Webb came out, followed
by "John" soon afterwards. They were quite vicious right from the start,
shouting at us "WHAT ARE YOUR CRIMES?" and getting very close to our
faces at times. After reading a few reports from other cities from the
same day, this seems to be a theme across the globe. Trying to
intimidate picketers into leaving, with threats and actions bordering on
violence, in a centralized attempt to deprive us of our right to protest
peacefully and voice our opinions in public.
We had a lot of co$cientologists out with us at one point, but there were
only two others besides Susan and "John" who seemed assigned to us, a
20-year co$cn man and his wife of 35 years. The others stood in the
parking lot and talked amongst themselves, no doubt remarking on how we
were REAL SPs, a part of the grand conspiracy that their leaders were so
valiently quashing at that very moment with their OT (Offensive Thug) Powers.
We were accused of a plethora of crimes, ranging from working from
"orders from the internet" to selling drugs to minors and child
molestation. We were asked what our churches were (no doubt an attempt
to find another place to spread their lies, since the neighborhood
flyering didn't seem to work. We were told the people we are working for
are criminals. We were told that "it is a fact that people who criticize
scientology have crimes they want to cover up."
"John" said that he assumed that I had crimes too, since I was
criticizing his church. I suggested to him that his assumption might be
wrong, since an assumption with no evidence to back it up had no basis in
fact. He listed my "crimes" loudly at times, and at times tried to sound
reasonable and sympathetic, "you can tell me, you don't have to keep
hiding your crimes". He said, "CAN, I bet that's it! I bet your crime
is your involvement with CAN", to which I just couldn't keep a straight
face anymore. I had to laugh, as much as I tried to supress it. He
seized on my smile as an admission of guilt. I managed to shut him up
about that one though. I said, "Well, isn't CAN owned by scientology
now? Am I involved with the old CAN or the new CAN? Maybe I'm part of
the new CAN. Did you ever think of that?" He dropped the subject soon
after that and went on to ask if I had tracks on my arms, since I was
wearing long sleeves I suppose, and suggested I push up my sleeves and
show him. He told me that it was really not good for me to be picketing
a church. Later when wynot heard that on the videotape, it sounded like
a threat. Perhaps it was. If so, it is documented, here and on tape.
We were asked if we spent $360,000 for our salvation (a reference to our
picket sign), and we were told that they hadn't spent that to reach their
particular OT level. (maybe that's why their OT powerz didn't work, they
hadn't paid enough?) Sure were lots of people who claimed to be OT, and
we still didn't go away until they were 30 minutes late for their special
event. Picketers were more important than their event.... Now what does
that say to their parishioners, that their leaders are so powerless
against a group of five picketers that they have to miss the big event...?
I remember Susan at one point taunting me, "Look how scared Ann looks"
and "Ann looks so afraid". I ~was~ scared. I had people over a foot
taller than me bending down and shouting right in my face, bumping into my
friend wynot and shouting in his ear, following Mad Cow, and spewing lies
about us all loudly in public. Behavior very becoming of a church. I
wonder what the public thought as they drove by. I hope our "Scientology
Harasses Its Critics" sign tipped them off a bit.
I had started videotaping as soon as Susan had come out, never knowing
what to expect, and today was certainly an example of that. While "John"
tailed wynot, shouting at him, several times 20-Year Man and Susan
alternately stood and walked slowly right in front of me, in a deliberate
attempt to obscure whatever "John" was doing with wynot from the camera.
Fortunately, Mad Cow was close behind them, keeping a watchful eye on him.
The police had just left about 10 or 15 minutes before, after being called
by the co$cns inside (as always), and telling Susan that as long as we
weren't blocking the street or going on their property, that we could stay
(as always), when "John" became more agressive in his accusations of
wynot, I became worried, and I dialed up 911. I gave the operator there a
summary of what was going on, and hung up. When wynot came back toward
me, he asked me to call the police. I was happy to be able to tell him
they were already on their way, and with that, "John" said "Thank you" and
immediately walked back inside. He returned a few minutes later, saying
he was sorry, he had had to go get a drink of water. Bullshit, I thought,
when I heard this, he had to go get his new orders from above. When he
returned, he was less physically aggressive, knowing that the police were
on the way, of course.
When the police arrived, they talked to the co$cns first. I don't know
why or what was said, but I thought that a little odd, since I had called
and given my name, and had obviously caling on behalf of the picketers...
Wynot and I told the police about "John's" behavior, and were basically
told that if there were a confrontation, we would all go to jail, and the
judge could sort it out. None of the picketers want a confrontation, or
to go to jail, we assured him, we just wanted to peacefully demonstrate,
but we were concerned about it escalating and were feeling physically
threatened. We told him how there had been violence in other places, and
told him of Roland being punched and bloodied in England, and Bob Minton
being arrested under bogus charges. He repeated that if he was called
back to a physical confrontation that we would all go to jail. I asked if
they could supervise the picket to assure that there would be no violence,
and was told no. However, they did pull in across the street and watch
the picket a while after they left the co$ parking lot. Of course, "John"
and the rest of the goon squad were on their best behavior then, until the
police left completely.
While the police talk to the co$cns, we cannot hear what is being said or
have input, since the exchange takes place on their property. When the
police come to talk to us, however, the co$cns are right there,
interjecting their comments. Susan told the police that I had said she
had "given herself an abortion with an icepick". I told the police "she
is lying, who would think of such a sick twisted thing?"
The police seemed unsympathetic to our grievances, but in fairness to
them, it was most likely annoyance at being called out to the "church"
yet again. They were the night shift police, and I'm sure Saturday night
is busy for them. Still, is it legal for them to scream in our faces and
ears just because we're picketing? Don't we have at least as many rights
as citizens just walking down the street? Would they be allowed to
assault and stalk a pedestrian that way, if they didn't like him being
there?
As offensive as the co$cns were, and as unsympathetic as the police
seemed, we have LOTS of support from the local public. We had over 70
thumbs ups, honks, cheers, and positive response from the passing cars.
One yelled, "Run them out of town!" We waved back at the people who
voiced agreement, and shouted out the number. Within the first 10
minutes, we had averaged one a minute.
At one point two high school girls came by and asked about what was going
on. They were studying this subject (not sure specifically what subject)
in school. As soon as the co$cns saw Mad Cow talking to them, they were
right there, giving them a copy of "What Is Scientology?". Mad Cow told
them to pay attention to the book, especially how much time they spend on
bad other things than scientology are, particularly psychiatry. And told
them when they had read what co$ wanted them to know, go to the internet
and read what co$ doesn't want them to know, and make up their own
minds. But be sure to get BOTH sides, he emphasized.
S. and Mea Culpa (formerly C.) honked and waved as they drove past, on
their way to join us. Susan said, "Oh, here come your good-looking
friends", and I couldn't have agreed with her more. There couldn't have
been a more beautiful pair of people in the world at that moment. Our
reinforcements had arrived! Mea Culpa joined us right then, and S.
stopped in next door at the St. Louis Bread Company, got something to
drink, and answered some more questions for the employee there who is so
curious about the neighbors next door, then came on out to the picket
line. Susan made a comment about how bad shape their truck is in, she was
very insulting to everyone that day, especially for a representive of a
"church". I wondered why a church would judge someone on the basis of how
much they could afford for a vehicle... I was tempted to mention
X-Friend's car, which is just as bad as theirs, if not worse, but I held my
tongue.
Of course the newly arrived picketers got some of the treatment which we
had gotten earlier, but fortunately, not quite as agressive as that we had
experienced before the police had paid their second visit an hour or so
before. Mea Culpa returned it to them, asking what their crimes were, did
they eat meat, saying that they smelled like they ate meat. The co$cns
just didn't seem to get it. Mea Culpa is a vegetarian, and to her, killing
an animal to eat it is a crime. 'Cept for clams, of course. :-)
Some things that seemed to upset the co$cns were:
When will Heber face his crimimal charges in Spain?
The Xenu story.
Not talking to them, and not telling them about our "crimes"
We noticed that neither Linda or Bubbles came out today, and we asked
about Linda. Linda had more important things to do tonight, we were told.
More important than attending the event that was "about to change the
course of history on this planet"??? What could be more important for a
co$cn than that??? I wonder what's become of Bubbles... she is usually
out first to take our pictures... Has she blown...? We have also not
seem the other two co$cns who picketed us at our home, I wonder what's
become of them...? Have they blown...?
We were told that we were helping them publicize their "church", since
people would come in to ask them what was going on outside. (For the
record, I have not seen anyone do this while we were there.) Good, we
said, and they told us they finally had a sign. I think we are
responsible for them getting a sign, since our comments on their lack of
a sign here on ars apparently reached upper management, who took pity on
them and supplied not just one, but two canvas banner signs. It is good
that they have a sign, because our response from the public is better
than ever now. Now that they understand why we are there and are highly
supportive. There are lots of people who slow down to read our signs.
Just after the event started (around 7:40), Susan's little girl ran out
to her, wanting her to come inside. Susan went in with her, but was soon
back outside, and stayed outside till we left... I hope her little girl
wasn't too disappointed that her mom wasn't there for the beginning of
the big event that was to change history...
There were several kids there, one who we had seen while on an earlier
picket, and who had played alone outside with a tetherball the whole time
we picketed that day. I had wondered where his friends were, and what
they were doing, and if he wouldn't rather be playing with them on a
Saturday afternoon...
As we were about to leave, we were approached by a guy who asked if "Fiend
of Ron" was there. I told him that "Fiend of Ron" was not there, nor had
he ever picketed there, to my knowledge, and that we had never seen "Fiend
of Ron". He said he was a lurker and a friend of Fiend, and that he had
just thought Fiend might have been there, and that Fiend had been active
in Florida picketing. He said he lived nearby, and I offered him a picket
sign to carry. He turned it down, saying he wanted to stay out of it
(which I can understand) and that he was meeting his wife and daughter (I
think), not at co$, but up the street. He walked off in the direction he
had come from (away from co$). To this person: I am sorry if I seemed
suspicious of you, but maybe if you have read the Atlanta reports you
understand. I hope so.
Now folks, doesn't this picket report sound almost like the others from
May 22? If this doesn't demonstrate these co$ attempts to provoke a
physical confrontation are being directed from above, I don't know what
does.
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