Picket reports

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Subject: Nothingness in Nice
From: "Christer Lindström" clind@carasoft.se
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998

Saturday afternoon, wonderful spring-like day in south of France - what better stimulation can you get but picket the Nice outlet of our beloved church? Streets are rather packed, the "Roi de Cirque" festival has just started, with flowers and balustrades all over. It is a local family day, with people of all ages around, and according to my town map, the CoS org is not far away from the main streets. Gosh, these ever expanding, hi ethic, self-controlled religious ubermenschen must be all over that org street corner today - the raw meat is just poring all over them.

But - what's this? A simple sign at the wall of a rather worn down building displaying "Church of Scientology (r)". No activities. No display windows. No religious activities. No clams...ehr..yes, there *are* clams here! Jeez, just 50 meters away there is a local fisherman selling fresh clams! I reluctantly restrain myself from following the obvious a priori action - to see if the clams are hibernating in that fishermans outlet. Instead, I follow a more experimental path of thoughts - the clams might actually be in human form, and entering or leaving the building anytime. I wait. I wait a little longer. I wait for over 20 minutes. Lot's of people all around, but not even a cat entering or leaving the building.

I decide to take a more serious approach. Just a small block away is a local bookstore. I enter, and up until I ask a woman about the "Secte de scientolgie", I am treated with a happy face. The woman either took a bite of a sour grapefruit in exactly the same moment, or she must have some strange grudge against that org. I am told that "they are there, yes" and then silence. I say "thank you" and enters another shop just around the corner. The two guys behind the counter also seem to be familiar with the org, and has a more forgiving, but humoristic approach to my question about them - they plainly laughs a bit about "strange sects",

I get back to the org corner, and take a closer look at the place. The org is supposed to be at the second floor, and on the other side there is a doctor of some sort. I can't enter the place, so I look up at the windows at the second floor. No curtains, shitty windows, and when I examine the doctors sign, it see "relocated to another address". I am getting a bit tired by now. I hoped to do a stealth picket at the Nice org, and there is nothing to picket! No org, no display windows, no scienos, just a small sign. I wait another ten minutes, takes a walk for an hour, comes back, but still nothing. I finally give up. It IS the fisherman who must be using his OT powerz playing games with me, with all scienos morphed into the clams. The final proof comes when I approach the place as I was to buy one of the clams, and the guy decideds to close it! Why else would he close it? Those clams for sale? - No way, just another hideout avoiding the arscc tactics. Well, I decide to capitulate to their tactics, as my main motive is to make them unvisible anyway - it is rather nice to see all that raw meat circulating, completely scieno-free. I call it a day, and decide to keep up with other things in life - pasta and wine!
Greetings from a sunny Nice, Christer Lindstrom

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Subject: Scarff Pickets Munich Org & Confronts Sabine Weber
From: "Garry Scarff" Scarff@iag.net
Date: 19 Feb 1998 07:09:39 GMT

I just returned tonight from a very busy & successful week in Germany, meeting not only police & high-level German security officials but the German media as well on the intent of Scientology in their "Clear Germany" campaign. On Tuesday, after spending the morning with various local police and Bavarian security officials about Scientology, I hosted the first picket on the Munich Org, which caused quite a bit of alarm with the Scientologists there, and a grand meeting with Scientology's Sabine Weber, who was taken aback that I announced her name when she approached me to "ask a question." Throughout Sabine's boring & repititious DA'ing and the distribution of DA packs on me, Sabine kept asking me over & over "Who paid you to come to Germany?", "I know that you don't do this out of individual determinism, who is paying you?"

I reversed the question to Sabine "Who is paying you and how much?" Sabine would only say "Enough", "I get by", but would not elaborate. Then, I brought up the death of Lisa McPherson which Sabine had a very difficullt time talking about. She eventually scampered away after failing in getting the Munich police to arrest me for libel & picketing. The threat of Scientology is so much in Munich, I was watched by Munich police and federal police officers in the event Scientology officials wanted to get violent.

After the picket ended, and a federal officer escorted me to my car, he pointed out the three Scientology officials running together very quickly down the street towards their other Scientology offices. I was informed later that OSA/Scientology officials in Los Angeles had learned of my picket within 2 hours of it beginning on Tuesday.
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Prior to the Munich picket, I met with the heads of the Munich police who informed me that I would not be permitted to walk with a picket sign "Scientology Kills". But they agreed that I could walk with a picket sign relating to a matter which I've testified to already so I walked with two posters which garnered alot of attention by the Munich public (many on the road during rush hour after work):

"WHEN I WAS A SCIENTOLOGIST, I WAS ORDERED TO MURDER 2 PEOPLE"
"SCIENTOLOGY ABUSES IT'S OWN MEMBERS & YOU CALL THIS A RELIGION"?

I was stopped several times on the street by German residents and spoke to them about the banality of Scientology.
Garry Scarff

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From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)
Date: 19 February 1998

After the hearing on Feb. 19th, which put the criminal trial off to the 25th of March, and lunch (at a cafeteria place) with Graham, Deana wanted to picket the Celebrity Center. Since I have been ordered not to picket where Glenn Barton might show up, I had to stay at a considerable distance to tape her.

We parked on the far side of the Mayfair Market - east of CC on Franklin. I got out my camcorder and Deana took my pool cue sign. I taped her from a block away. It took about 5 minutes before she had a whole swarm of people around her. Boy were they enturbulated! Deana kept it up for about 15-20 minutes, hoping Barton would show because she had papers to serve on him but he did not.

At the point they were bringing out a heap of signs to block anyone seeing her, Deana came back to the car and we split. Deana wanted to see some how they would react some of the other places so we drove by Cedars, maybe 8 blocks away.

*This* time they had one alert bicycle security person who freaked out when he saw us and called in on his radio. We did this again about half an hour later, then went back down Hollywood to the CC.

There was a lone clam with a counter picket sign who had been left out on the northeast corner in case Deana came back, an older bald guy with a fringe of white hair who looked near the offloading age. He was less than alert; we went by twice on Bronson and he failed to see us. About this time it started to rain. Deana wanted to try going by one more time, so we came at the CC from the west on Franklin which put us within ten feet of our elderly, chain smoking and slightly damp clam. I was driving and could only see him at that point from the waist down, but Deana says the shocked look on his face when she waved at him was precious. We drove away (and off to Riverside) laughing so hard it hurt. (And wondering how long he was ordered to stay out in the rain.)

So those of you who are going to picket, remember to keep your cameras at the ready or you may miss some of these great shots. Keith Henson

Subject: Postscript to LA adventures
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

[snip]
Deana had an early flight, so we were up early. After dropping her at the airport, I had nearly four hours before my flight out of Burbank. My sense of efficiency was goading me, and Hollywood was between me and the airport. I went back to the motel and climbed into my suit. I figured that if Barton showed up, the cops might be less likely to arrest someone who (as Elliot Abelson put it) "looked like a judge." In spite of yesterday's stunning victory, I was a little reluctant to picket alone.

"Ah!" I said to myself, "Lucy will be up by now and perhaps she could use a photo opportunity." I called, she was game, we settled on the Celebrity Center, target of Deana's picketing last Thursday. We set a rendezvous point in the parking lot of the Mayfair market diagonally across from the CC at Bronson and Franklin.

I got there a few minutes before Lucy. Not wanting to park there without buying anything, I went in and purchased a delicious blue berry bagel for breakfast. I was standing in the front window of the store finishing the last bite when Lucy pulled into the lot. I got out my picket sign, we crossed Franklin and Bronson, and I started walking a picket on the north (Franklin) side of the CC while Lucy took photos.

She got all she wanted before the scientologists woke up and we started back toward the cars. A guy on a motor scooter was fascinated by the picket. He back up and came into the lot and tried to find out what it was all about. Being slightly short on time, and more than slightly paranoid that this might be a scientologist who was trying to delay me till Barton could be rousted out of bed, I left Lucy talking to him and put my picket sign in the trunk of my car.

I pulled out on Franklin and made a left turn onto Bronson. Hot dog! A security guard was walking north on Bronson. I slowed nearly to a stop, leaned over, rolled down the window and give him a friendly greeting, "Hi!" Once again we missed a *great* photo opportunity. The guard give me a "Hi" in response with a totally puzzled expression on his face. That rapidly changed to obvious shocked recognition. I yelled, "You've been picketed!" but he may not have heard me from inside the car. In the rear view mirror I could see him ripping his radio out of a pocket in a panic to report.

But it was too late. In less than a minute, I turned left onto
Hollywood and left again onto 101 headed back to the Burbank airport.

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Subject: Picket Report - Mesa AZ 2/26/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

Today at 12:00-12:30 I picketed for a different reason: I was videotaping the building and sidewalk area to show how the members can come and go without needing to look at me or be blocked in any fashion. I will be presenting the tapes at the hearing tomorrow.

While I picketed for the camera, which was operated by a friend across the street, the current OSA officer Leslie Duhrman and her predecessor, Virginia Leason arrived. Naturally, Duhrman had to come out with a camera and record me, so we got that on tape as well.

I will post the outcome, if a decision is rendered, tomorrow evening.
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Subject: PICKETS WILL CONTINUE IN MESA ARIZONA!
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)
Date: 27 Feb 1998

The Co$ lost in it's attempt to stop my pickets. They had asked for injunctive relief to move my demonstrations "off site"; Instead, all they got was an injunction to not cause enough noise to be heard inside the building during services, which I had not done in any case. In fact, it was the Judge who asked the only question about noise, so it is apparent that this was a "bone" thrown to the Co$. But it will not affect me and, in any case, I have been recording all pickets since their petition was filed. I will have more reports later.
Yes, I will picket while doing the "eagle rock" up and down their sidewalk tomorrow. BP

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[Three reports from Santa Clara]

Subject: Santa Clara Picket, 2/28/98
From: "Ermine!" ermine@aimnet.com

A beautiful day, a little breezy, partly-sunny. Yes there were clouds, but it's been weeks since we had sun, so I noticed it especially. Stukafox and I arrived about 12:30, to find Cautious, Connor and Keith already dealing with the convention center security - we could walk the sidewalk, but no closer to the convention center. Fair enough.

As we arrived and met Keith and others, we'd already picked up a mostly polite $cientology photographer and his sidekick, who asked us if we didn't have lives or something better we could be doing. (I didn't have the heart to tell him that with a $65K job, a beautiful girlfriend, and several close friends who would trust me with their lives because they *know* my word is good, I didn't have time for any MORE of a life than I already had..)

You know, a LOT of traffic passes by at the cross-streets in front of the convention center. We got quite a few honks and waves from people who obviously agreed with our message, although the CO$ just as obviously didn't.

Stuka and I only stayed until 2 pm, as we did have other things to get done today. Still, we were there long enough to meet Sterling Bright, (Rainbo's sister? :) the friendly DSA operative who came out to tell everyone how scared Keith was, and how he was going bankrupt just before his trial. (as if we didn't know WHY?) Just that few moments revitalized me, so I'm sure to have plenty of desire to join in at the March picket. These people are SLIMY!

I'm sure others will post more, but I wanted to post the highlights as I saw them so that we can see various perspectives without posting every detail over and over again.. Ermine!

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Subject: Re: Santa Clara Picket, 2/28/98
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

[snip]
It was a long picket, nearly four hours, from shortly after noon to a little after 4 pm. At one point I left my picket sign and went into the convention center for a drink of water. Darlene tried to get the security folks to arrest me, but they did not buy it - long as I was not carrying a picket sign I had the same rights as anyone else. There was the usual, they took pics of use and we took pics of them. I did run into one dude who claimed he had known Lisa McPherson. He seems particularly upset at my sign which asks "Did Standard Tech Kill Lisa McPherson?"

I talked to one clam who *was able to say Xenu.* He had only been in a few months, and I do believe his eyes were opened and pointed toward the net. This show might well have been a net lost for them. I don't think they had more than maybe 40-50 attend. There was a baby expo going on next door and the scientologists and wantabees were outnumber a 100 to one. Most of the 40 flyers I gave away were to the baby expo people. They *really* hate being picketed. Keith Henson

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Subject: Picket Report, Santa Clara, 2/28/98
From: seekon@ix.netcom.com (Conner)

Let's see, the picketers were me, Keith Henson, a friend of keith's, ermine, stukafox, phr, and a critic who i won't name because i'm not sure how he feels about it. i thought we were eight, so i might be forgetting someone.

We picketed the Scientology "seminar" that was to have featured Jenna Elfmann, who was not actually there, i think. This was held at the Santa Clara Convention Center. the scientology presence was dwarfed, both in numbers and visual presentation, by a Baby Expo also that day. in fact, i don't think the turnout was all that much. i wandered around the affair before we picketed, and i didn't see see many people in or out of the hall scn rented. and one of the attendees told me afterwards that at least half were scn shills.

while i was wandering around, i ran into darlene bright, from the San Jose org. she was quite startled to see me, and said "i hope you're not planning on attending". i said something like "why shouldn't i", and she said "because you're not invited". tch, how rude. if there's one of these things again, i think i'll get myself an invitation.

keith dropped off his signs in front of the CC doors, then went to park his car. as he was returning, an scn named Tom and a CC security type came out, and asked us if we intended to demonstrate, and if we had a permit. we informed him that we did intend to demonstrate, but would do it on the public sidewalks, and not on the CC property. that satisfed CC security, and as we were repairing to the sidewalks, he told Tom that we had every right to demonstrate on the sidewalks, and not to interfere with us as long we were out there. I let tom take some pictures of me. we even did a group pose for him.

it's a good thing we were many, as the CC is expansive, with an interior parking garage, and a number of different entrances and exits. still, we managed to find some pretty good places in front of the doors to the scn event, on a pretty busy intersection (vehicles, not foot), and near the vehicle accesses. We were also very visible to passengers on the light rail system that goes by the CC.

i spent a fair amount of time at the intersection. you could see people reading my signs in their cars ... "Scientology Tech Killed Lisa. What's Scientology, George?" "I think it's some wierd cult, Martha". "What do you think the 'tech' is, George". "I don't know, maybe it's like those wierdos in Japan that gassed the subways". I got a fair number of honks and thumbs up signs, though. One guy gave me the finger. Another one stopped and told me that Scientology kept his sister's marriage together, and that she and her husband were very happy with it, and lived in Clearwater to be close to it. I mentioned that Lisa died at Flag in Clearwater, and he said 'people die lots of places', and took off.

Keith had some flyers, and passed them out to anyone who wanted. he said he gave out about half of his supply, and not all of those to people obviously attending Baby Expo.

we picked up some 'help' when we started picketing. Tom came out and walked along with us, and tried to talk to us. he asked me if i knew lisa mcpherson, and generally tried to intimate i might not know all the facts. he also tried pretty hard to find out why i was against scientology. somehow my explanation that i didn't like seeing people like lisa die unnecessarily wasn't sufficient for him. i believe his intent was to make me question my motives (caving). i wasn't quite impolite enough to ask him if he thought it was fine that people like lisa die, as long as no one complains about the "church" doing it. eventually tom was called in by darlene.

another young fellow also joined me, obviously trying to "handle" the situation. he started in asking me if i was an ex-scientologist, and how i knew about scientology. i answered a few questions, then i said, "i bet you are not very far along in scientology", and he agreed he wasn't, and how i knew. i said that it was the low-level publics, the newbies that see how good scientology is, but that most people begin to see the lies, and leave in a couple years. "what kind of lies", he asked. i mentioned like being clear giving one perfect memory. he actually jumped, i hit a real big button somehow. he said, "but my memory's already gotten better", to which i responded that yes, any discipline could make it at least seem that way, but that when he went clear, he'd see that it still wasn't perfect and that scientology had lied. i think tom must have been watching, because at that point he came over and pulled the young guy away, and told him not to interfere in our picketing. hah! i don't think that young fellow is long for the cult.

at some point darlene came out, in part to talk to keith. i don't know what was said, but as she was leaving, darlene spotted keith's friend (a woman). "Deana? Is that you Deana?" she said, and tried to get around the sign the keith's friend was carrying, to get a good look at her face. darlene actually thought that deana holmes (mirele) had popped up in santa clara just to hinder darlene's little event. we all had a good snicker at that.

we had the CHP cruising the area for a while. i don't know if it was in response to anything, or just part of their regular patrol. one of our people said one of the cops gave him a little thumbs up as he went by.

about 3:00, we took a short break, and keith put down his sign and went indoors to get some water. he ran into darlene, who told him that he could not go into the convention center, and that she was calling security. keith said he just ignored her and got his drink. a bit later two uniformed security, a man and a woman came out to talk to us. it was obvious that darlene had not told them quite the truth, because as soon as we pointed out that we left the picket signs on the sidewalk, they said there was no problem. the woman told me that she thought the scn were a bunch of whiners and gripers, and that opinion wasn't just based on the current situation. hah! another 'big win' for scientology.

this incident does show just how petty and mean scn is, though. i also wonder if darlene's attitude might not be a preview of something else, like an attempt at some SJ-based TROs.

at the end of the day, i positioned myself outside of a driveway. a woman in a light blue escort saw my sign, rolled down her window, and beckoned me over. sitting right in the driveway, blocking other traffic, she asked me about the deaths, and how they happened. then she pulled onto the main street a ways, then backed up to talk some more. she went on about how she really believed what they were saying, but that the management was too much into control. she insisted on getting my phone number, so she could call me when she had some time. sounds ok, but i dunno about this one. she might be real, but it might also just have been an op to get a phone number to track down. anyway, it was a nice day, and i think we done some good for Xenu. some more details: we picketed from about 12:45 to about 4:15, to cover the 1-4 timing of the event.

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> an scn named Tom and a CC security type came out,
umm, wrong name. sorry. the guy that walked with us was named 'Jet'. not the same as the Jet that once posted to a.r.s, if Jet told me the truth when i asked him.

there was an scn named tom who talked to us for a bit. 'xenu' was 'just a word' to tom, and he had no problem saying it. tom would probably have been fun to talk to a bit more.

there was also one teenaged boy who crossed the street from the rail station, who claimed to be a scn, whose parents were ex-scn. he didn't know why they decided to leave. he knew about lisa, and didn't try to push the scn line about it. he claimed scientology got him off drugs and kept him in school. he was a real nice kid. maybe he was just trying troll us by telling us he was scn, but he definitely had some experience with it. (Conner)
(http://home.netcom.com/~seekon/friends.html)
Friends of Dennis Erlich Club

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Subject: Picket report, Mesa Arizona, 2/28/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

Well, the post-hearing picket was a dandy, thanks to Jim Lippard and Jeff Jacobsen and a friend of Jim's converging with me at the org at 1:00 this Saturday.
Since Jeff and I wore the "Scientology Kills" t-shirts with the OT3 story on the back, they had to send for the members who were OT3 or higher to confront us.
I started the picket with duct tape over my mouth to dramatize the "noise" injunction (which I will appeal this week). There were only about 5 cars on the lot at any time, and even though there was a big "Open House - Come in" sign out front, the only person to go in talked to us first and came out talking about how weird they were. This mission is DYING and I intend to keep up the pickets until the ashes are out - DEAD OUT.
We had one camcorder, one tape recorder, one digital camera , one regular
camera and four stout hearts - they had Hubbard's lies.