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From: eldonb123@aol.com (EldonB123)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Short Paris Picket
Date: 09 Jun 1999 17:01:34 GMT

I went to the Paris Org today with a hand-lettered sign and 50 fliers I had
prepared using Roger Gonnets translation of Rolands "Story of Xenu"
 text.
This I had formatted to fit two-up back and front on an A4 sheet of paper,
which gave me an excuse to stop at a nearby cafe for a beef whilst I cut=
 them in two with scissors.

Then I proceeded to 7, rue Julius Cesar, a not heavily trafficked street. 
 My handheld sign said:
 Le mystEre de la secte =85.1.000.000 F [crossed out]  GRATUIT!
In English, thats:
 The Sects Secret =851,000,000 francs [crossed out]  FREE!

Even so, many passersby thought I was offering a free personality test with a
catchy slogan, so I made it a point to say "Cest contre la secte,"
emphasizing
heavily the word "contre." Then they smiled and took a flier, happy to see
someone opposing their neighbors, who appear to be uniformly regarded with
suspicion. One student I talked to said "Theyre here until 2 a.m. every 
 day. Some of the people I talk to are nice, but its a weird group." 

I meandered about from side to side of the street, stationing myself most of
the time against a ledge opposite the org where I was visible from the big
front windows. Soon six scienos emerged, discussing what to do. Two crossed
the street and engaged me in conversation, part in my fractured French and part 
 in equally fractured English. Another approached and snapped a couple of
pictures, for which I nicely smiled, holding a "LHISTOIRE DE XENU" flier under my 
 chin. They were froggily polite, but obviously perturbed, asking questions about
what problem I had, who I was, where had I previously taken Scientology courses. 
 I answered that there were many pickets happening because of recent scandals,
and that they should check out alt.religion.scientology, even though it was in English.

"You took Scientology courses? Where?"
"In the US."
"Where in the US?"
"California."
"In Los Angeles?"
"Yes, part of them. By the way, how many students do you have here in 
 Paris?"
"A sufficient number." 

I saw six staff members total, but no students. I doubt that they have more
than a handful.

"Whats your name?" In response I gave them a rather obtuse piece of paper  I
had printed out explaining that I was an American ex-Scieno protesting
Scientologys harassment of Safe, and that I hoped it took them a lot of wasted
effort to figure out who I was. This was in English, and I told they could  fax
it to California or Florida or wherever in order to report this entheta incident.

They informed me that I could not hand out flyers and make a "manifestation"
(demonstration)  in Paris without a permit, and that they were going to call
the police. I had been told by four people that I was doing nothing wrong,
including the neighbor who was hanging around, so I told them to go right
ahead, figuring that they were lying. Then I meandered some more, handing out flyers.

Well, sure enough, the police showed up and asked to see my passport. I was
then transported in their van to the XIIeme arrondisment station. They were  a
bit befuddled, asking various questions about what I was doing in France, and
why there was no stamp on my passport from my entry into France (they  havent
stamped passports for several years, since no entry visa is required for US citizens).

At the station, they made phone calls and conferred. One cop who spoke  pretty
good English said I needed to indicate the name  of the author and the
organization being represented on flyers being handed out. I pointed out  that
the name of the author was indeed on the flyer. The other cop said handing  out
flyers is only permitted during official manifestations. None of them could
tell me what law I had violated the old "not my department" runaround. Of
course, people hand out little advertising fliers every day on the streets here
with impunity, although they well may have to register. Complexity,  regulation
and evasion are favorite French pastimes. I informed the cops that many,  many
demonstrations were taking place against la secte in various cities around  the
world, exaggerating nicely I thought.

The fact that I am a writer (even of the non-journalistic type) took them
aback. They were nice enough, and said I could go, but I couldnt leaflet
promiscuously again or I would get fined. They kept my card and a copy of 
 the flier for their files.

Only about 40 minutes of picketing, but it appeared to be a first for the Paris
org. If Roger will be so kind as to find out what I must do to be legal 
 about it, I will return periodically.

All in all, a culturally interesting experience ;-)
EldonB123@aol.com