======== Subject: San Francisco Picket Report, July 3, 1999 From: Realpch Date: Sun, 04 Jul 1999 10:37:46 -0700 Message-ID: <377F9BEA.7C47@aol.com> San Francisco Picket Report, July 3, 1999 It was sunny, breezy, warm, and the first day of a three-day weekend. A great day to picket the San Francisco Scientology Org. We had six picketers! Kristie, myself, Keith Henson, Elvis, Phr and Administrati. Aside from the obligatory picture-taking by the Org, there really wasn't much in the way of "handling". The Scientologists maintained a polite and disinterested demeanor, so the picketers were able to catch up with each other. We had a competing picket, just like last month. This time it was a Mumia March, which passed a block away. By the time I went up to the corner to look, the March had passed and I was just watching a line of motorcycle police. Later on I saw a K-9 unit whiz by followed by a bomb squad vehicle. Kristie said she saw several police cars pass by with people in the back. But all was Peace and Love at our little picket. A cameraman turned up across the street, videotaping us. Kristie checked him out and he was from a local news station. He spent about a half hour taping us walking up and down, and told us a segment might appear on the 5 or 10 o'clock news. I watched for it, and saw a heathcare workers' picket, a Cuban exiles' picket, but not our picket. The Mumia folks didn't get a mention either. Oh well, they got some stock footage...maybe it will come in handy either. If I had known, I might have dressed better. I wore loose khaki pants, a black silk turtleneck, a khaki linen jacket with an Important Pin, and (*gasp*) black rubber sandals from the grocery store. Kristie wore her trademark Red Picketing Jammies and a plethora of picketing paraphenalia. Mr. Henson wore a sensible straw hat and a shortsleeved plaid shirt with one lower button artfully undone, showing off his undershirt. I was tempted to button that button, but decided I like the effect. Elvis favored t-shirt and shorts, Phr his customary black ensemble enlived by an orange t-shirt, and Administrati looked very San Francisco Urban Hip in nifty mini-sunshades and a striking red and black plush retro shirt. I carry two picket signs, and so does Keith Henson. These came in handy, as two of our members arrived sans signs. Mine are pretty lightweight, but Keith's are hefty and pack a punch. I believe one of them mentions space cooties. To Mr. Henson's credit, he carries those signs as if they were no burden whatsoever. As usual, the response from the people in the cars driving by was positive in the extreme. A great picket and everyone behaved well. Peach