======== Subject: Merkabah's CW Picket Report - Day 1 (or part 1) From: Merkabah Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 13:25:37 -0500 Message-ID: CW picket report I thought I would be going early, like before the first of December, but it was delayed and I knew I had to get some work done and make sure the job could be handled fairly well without me. Arnie called, saying we would be leaving later in the evening on the first, and that was fine with me. Anticipation soared as I left at around 6:30pm to get to Arnie's house. I drove, thinking about what it would be like, and what the torn up sidewalks were like up close. I had never done this before! My heart was beating a little bit faster, and excitement was crawling all through me. I arrived at his house at around 7:30 and then we talked and loaded up his things. We got on the road from DC at 8:00pm, and found out that we both felt the same excitements of going to CW for the picket. I don't think either of us got much sleep during the trip. The van was doing very well, and stopping for gas and drinks was actually refreshing at times, so we could get out and stretch arms and legs and prepare for more driving. The stories I had not heard before about cult activity made the traveling enjoyable and made me more anxious to get there and contribute to the cause. The conversations we had were very interesting. The goal was to get to Bob Minton's TRO hearing, and didn't want to miss it. I just couldn't believe there were actual people doing the things that scientology is doing! I had to see it with my own eyes. Arnie wanted to get there for it also, and this was my chance to get there and see this firsthand instead of reading about it online. We finally got in CW at 11:00am Thursday morning, found the hotel, and got cleaned up. I met a couple of people there, and they were nice. After a few minutes, we headed to the hearing in St. Petersburg. It was a little hard to find, but we found it and went in. I should've taken my camera in, but I wasn't sure that I would be allowed to bring it and tape any or all of the hearing. Upon entering the courtroom, I was greeted by a few people there, and we exchanged introductions. The scientologists all piled up on the right side, and we were on the left. There were many people there! Looking around at the scientologists, there seemed something different about them. It just didn't *feel* normal to me. Something was just different about them. After hearing some of the stories, it hit me. They kinda looked like robots. They seemed to have no emotion! As if they were just following a general routine and did it without thinking. (Maybe they can't think) The judge finally came in, and it got quiet. He began to speak about the situation that led up to the hearing. He told the scientologist side that he didn't like the video tapes they offered him, because he could not see the information on them, due to an incompatible video format they had used. He slammed the tapes down on the bench firmly, and told them he wanted compatible video tapes that can be viewed by anyone, including the public. He wanted the compatible tapes by 5PM. He said he didn't want any more "picket chicken", where ones on each side would get in the other's face, shouting and speaking obscenities. After a bit of review and discussion during the court session, he ruled. Bob Minton was to stay away from any scientology building by 10 (ten) feet. The cult was to stay away from Bob by 20 (twenty) feet. This turned into the "orange dot fiasco" which I will discuss later. After the hearing, the cult members left very quickly. If anyone had been in their way, they may have been ran over like being under a herd of cattle being rounded up to go through a gate. I don't know if they were happy about the ruling, or were mad about it, as it was difficult to tell, due to their deadpan, absense of emotion, stares. Later that evening, Arnie decided to take a nap, and I went to the restaurant in the hotel. There were probably about 15 or so people in there, and the introductions began again. I met some really cool people there. After a bit, some of us decided to go picketing. I was excited, as we were about to go to downtown CW, and I have not seen it yet. We loaded up, and I took my van, and someone took their car. Upon arriving at Ft. Harrison road, I followed them to a good parking spot. As we were parking, Gregg (I think) told me that I was being watched. Sure enough, there was another car that was taking pictures of us. Before I stepped out of the van, all they could photograph was the dark tinted windows, which they love so dearly. It was either a PI or a scientologist trying to find out who was in the van. I grabbed my video camera, and started it up, and pointed it in his direction. Amazingly enough, he decided it was time for him to leave. He left the parking lot across the street, and started driving off in another direction. I zoomed in trying to get his license plate. Picketing the first evening was fun and very interesting. Most of the people driving by were either honking or waving or holding up their thumbs. We had a lot of support. Yes, the sidewalks were torn up. It was actually funny, because they were still picketed in spite of their efforts to prevent it. What a waste of money they spent! Upon arriving back at the hotel, I met more people in the hotel restaurant. What a bunch of cool people! I heard stories that people told of their experiences, and plans of picket signs and was even showed a cool collection of signs that were already made. I had fun looking at all the choices that were there, and many of them had sayings that were really enlightning. Returning back to the restaurant/bar, it seemed that the room was so full of picketers! It was great! (To be continued) Merkabah