Picket reports

=====
Subject: Gothenburg picket 6 Mar 98
From: pamnell@medstud.gu.se

With "Picket $cientology Weekend" rapidly approaching, the non-existant local wing of ARSCC(wdne) decided to do a quick warming-up picket of the org in Gothenburg, Sweden, planet Neptune (sorry, couldn't resist :-) ).

I arrived at 5 p.m., and waited across the street for Christer to turn up. Gave me a chance to survey the scene - not that there was much to be seen. The org is inconspicuosly placed on the second floor. They've put up drapes with a scieno S in one of the windows (no money for a proper sign?). There were some people close to the window, and perhaps they noticed me standing there, because a dark haired woman came out and walked over to the "body routing street corner", looking around. A few minutes later, a man repeated this little routine. Of course, there was nothing to be seen - yet. Then again, maybe they were only sensing the ghost of Xenu hovering about the place...

Soon Christer arrived, and we got to work. A lone body router was now inhabiting the corner, so we offered him some company. He didn't look altogether pleased. Christer was a familiar face from former pickets, though the guy seemed to think he was from FRI (Swedish CAN-type organisation). ARSCC(wdne) didn't seem to ring any bell. Then he proceeded to ask for my name, as it was my first time out. I told him I'd already announced on the Net that I would stop by, and was I now going to do their intelligence job for them? He dutifully went inside to report, and I soon got to do the wave-at-the-camera routine. (Hey OSA, don't blame us if the picture came out bad! We did advise you to use a flash, as daylight was fading.)

The response from people in the street surprised me - all positive! Typically, Christer would call out loudly: "Protest AGAINST Scientology! AGAINST!" The passer-by would take three steps, then turn around: "Hey, did you say AGAINST Scientology? Then I'll have one!" We handed out 35 Xenu leaflets, and about as many on Lisa, in less than one hour - not bad in a small side-street. The sad-looking Mr Bodyrouter was trying to give out his fliers, but without much success. Not that we in any way were trying to stop him from doing his job, people just seemed to prefer leaflets with a picture of a cool space alien. We did try to tell him that we're worried about his safety, as he belongs to a ruthless organisation, but he only gave a blank stare. Poor guy, he looked really lost.

Maybe 15 minutes after the photo session, a team of one visibly agitated woman who presented herself as Marie, and a somewhat calmer guy, came outside to inform us that they were going to report us to the police for "disturbing their production" [sic!].

A bit later they came out again, setting off on foot in the direction of the nearby police station. Did they have trouble finding the phone number in the directory? Or - shock! horror! gasp! - did the cops ignore their call?

By now, the zero degrees (32 Fahrenheit) temperature and strong wind was freezing our bones almost as efficiently as alcohol-glycol, but we persisted for a while more. It seemed an interesting prospect to discuss the alleged offense of "disturbing Scientology production" with the police. However, Marie and co. eventually returned alone, not looking pleased.

As the streets were emptying, and leaflets running low, we decided to call it a day at 6 p.m. Christer, being a considerate guy, rang the org's door bell and told them we were leaving, so they could relax.

All in all, the friendly reception from the general public was encouraging. The word is spreading.

When I get home, NOTs is on the TV news again (see Birgitta's post). An interesting evening. Thanks, Christer, for a good lesson in peaceful picketing, and may Xenu shine his light on you, wherever you may journey. ;-)
Catarina --sp2

=====
Subject: Report from San Jose
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998

True to the anouncement, the San Jose locals picketed the org at 80 East Rosemary from 11:30 to 2:15 with a short break for lunch. OSA will have to work to get the other names.

There were a near record 45 cars in the parking lot when we arrived, and many came and went with considerable enturbulation while we were there.

One family, Indian would be my guess, was turned away by seeing our picket signs and a little talk--in spite of Robin's best efforts the raw meat got away. Keith Henson

=====
Subject: Picket Report, Mesa AZ 3/7/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

The days are finally getting longer and warmer, at least in Arizona. So, Kathy and I picketed today from 6:00 PM until almost dark.

We got to see some new faces this way, and they could not avoid seeing us.
There were 7 cars in the lot. During the picket 3 left and one arrived.
Traffic was lighter than in the mid-afternoon, but we still got a number of honks and thumbs-up.
Even without daylight savings ( Arizona abstains), there will be plenty of light for mid-week visits from now through next Fall. Tis the season. Picket early, late and often. Get out there on the 13th, it's the critic's lucky day.

=====
Subject: Sacramento Picket Report
From: Meklar Meklar@ix.netcom.com
Date: 13 March 1998

The ARSCC public information assistance team once again swung into action. The Sacramento Org was subject to a solo picket from 12:20pm to 1:20pm. There were 12-15 cars in the Org parking lot. Foot traffic was good, for downtown Sacramento. Vehicle traffic was excellent. My picket sign read "Scientology is a SCAM" and "$370,000 for Religious Salvation? SCAM!"

The reaction from the Org was under whelming. When the receptionist saw me she immediately picked the phone and began frantically dialing. The second reaction of the Org was to lower the window blinds. After a few moments an attractive young woman came out to take photographs of me. When she couldn't operate the camera she actually ask me if I could help her with it. I responded that I thought that Scientology would have taught her how to operate the device.

When she did manage to get one photo of me my silent partner dashed across the street and began to take photos of her. This action caused moment of enturbulation to my clam photographer. Since my silent partner had come out of nowhere snapped a few photos and dashed off. One my next lap of the building I could see a crowd of higher ups all gathered around the receptionists desk in a conference. That was about the extent of the Orgs reaction.

During my picket I received a fair amount of thumbs up from passing motorists, and few positive comments from foot traffic. Comments included: "Honey, if I had the time I'd be picketing with you." from one in a passing group of woman. "Ain't that the truth" from a passing professional in reference to the "Scientology is a SCAM" side of my picket sign. And "I wrote them off years ago" from an older gentleman.

Unlike last time there was no constant watch from the entrance of the Org. There was however always someone keeping an eye on me from between slats the blinds. There was also no attempt tail us either this time. I guess the Keystone Cops episode from the last time nixed that idea. Picketing during the weekday as opposed the weekend got the message out to more people, so I would rate this uneventful, but good picket. Meklar SP3+

=====
[Two reports]
Subject: Re: Picket report;Seattle, WA
From: starshad@aol.com (Starshad)
Date: 13 Mar 1998

It was a lovely warm day in Seattle, overcast with a few sprinkles, but perfect picketing weather. BooHooWeeper and I, along with signs (mine said on one side "Lisa's blood on $cieno Hands" and on the other "$Cientology The Bait and $witch 'Religion'", Weeper's was "Why Did Lisa Have to Die" and --forgive me if I'm off a word or two--"Thank Xenu for my Body Thetans") caught the bus into town, on the way being asked what we were doing, and handing out leaflets and explaining ourselves.

We began our picket at 11 ayem, and immediately a gentleman walking by who said he wrote for a community-type newsletter expressed interest. He took a flyer and asked several questions.
We were soon joined by a member of the ARSLA (alt.religion.scientology lurkers anonymous) who had made two signs, on one a blow up of the Time cover with the volcanic octopus and "Scientology, Cult of Greed and Power" and the other with the "There Is No Christ.." pic and quote. He had some nice Xemu flyers with no illustrations but a lot more information including urls, and was soon merrily telling passersby as he gave them flyers "It's their founder's birthday and so we wanted to give them a present!" This got a few chuckles and some thumbs up, and some people who were indignant about what they were learning from us.

Pretty fast, we had company from the pathetic little building we were walking in front of, first a dour-faced woman who scowled at us as she laboriously wrote down our sign slogans...I held mine so she could see it...then a fellow who seemed to be trying to memorize them...one fellow came out and asked "Who's Lisa" and when I told him he said "Oh, I know all about that" and refused a flyer. Perhaps under the impression that we were using one of the parking meters outside which had a "broken" sign on it, he tore it off and went accross the street; a few minutes later, some poor guy parked there and tried to feed the meter, and left his own little sign...

The people inside would peer out, then jump back when I smiled and held the sign so they could see, from their second story windows...
Another member of the ARSLA came by, but didn't want to join in, as he was afraid of getting recognized...but he tried to keep an eye on what was happening across the street at the bus stop and park, where one woman (possible clam?) who had taken a flier was waving it in front of the two police officers who were watching (I'd told them we were picketing yesterday) and seemed agitated, gesturing towards us.

We were there about an hour, handed out about 40 fliers, and got a lot of positive response from outside the pathetic little "church", while inside, the dour woman brought out a camera...I gave her a dazzling smile and let her snap my picture, and she scowled harder, while Weeper snapped her...then she practically slammed the door shut while I was telling her "smile, it's a beautiful day!" Must be that famous tek at work (rhymes with drek)

We finished and then went to lunch, and a couple of us had fish and chips, and we all had chowder. Lots of fun.
Bright Blessings, Starshadow SP4
-----
Subject: Picket report; Seattle, WA
From: BooHoo Weeper gsys@gte.net

Supplemental information on Seattle Picket.
The org site was really well situated for an effective picket - anyone wanting a nice stroll is encourged to try it. With a few days notice, I would be glad to try it again. Sidewalk in front of the org is nice and wide, and traffic was moderately heavy. A nearby intersection stop light guaranteed many cars slowing or stopping directly in front of the org, with plenty of time to read the signs (and occasionaly shout encourgement). To put icing on the cake, directly across the street is a small park-like area containig a covered bus stop area. All of those waiting for busses, and of course the passengers on the busses themselves got a good view.

Seattle requires police notification however. The two cops watching from the park area were rather bored, as anyone would be in that situation. When we left for lunch, we told them we would not be returning, and they cheerfully thanked us for the information. At least one of the cops still had a copy of our flyer in his pocket, provided by the enturbulated lady described in Starshadow's post. I'm disappointed that the lady taking pictures did not get a good shot of me, as I was wearing sun glasses (it was a nice day) and most of my face was covered by the camera as I was "returning fire" Don't expect the pics to come out, though - I was chuckling too hard to hold the camera still.

Scienos could be seen using the rear entrance to be building while we were there, very little traffic in or out the main entrance. Their building adjoins what appears to be a modest sized commercial parking lot, and it was not possible to estimate any vehicle count clearly related to the org. Ironically, the org street level storefront windows contained two large signs blaring "Lies exposed" in white on black lettering. The rest of the lettering on the signs was too small for passing motorists to make out on the move, so the signs almost looked like they were ours! (Smaller type contained a pitch for "Slant" book, with prices in US and Canadian dollars.)

A small detail - the "Xenu/Lisa" flyer had the word "secret" printed top and bottom, and along with the pitch "Save a hundred thousand today, have some free secrets" seemed to catch a few passersby who were otherwise uninterested. For those so inclined, and additional "plus" is the teriyaki resturant adjacent to the org. We decided not to eat there, as it would probably keep the cops hanging around, and chances of finding good clam chowder seemed slim. They may do a brisk business with the org, as it is several blocks to the nearest alternative eatery, I am all in favor of anyone who can siphon a few bucks off the "Church" Last, but not least, we had GREAT FUN! Highly recommended activity! Weeper

=====
From: Cristino moonray@coqui.net
Subject: Hato Rey, Puerto Rico: testing the waters
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998

Today I went with a friend to the biggest mall in the Caribbean: Plaza las Americas. This mall is targeted at the middle-high income clientele and giving away leaflets or other promotions is prohibited inside and outside the building.

We were going to an electronics store located near the center of the building on the second floor of the mall. Since I was wearing the $cientology kills shirt and I wanted as much exposition as I could get we used the north entrance, first floor and used the south escalators, turning north on the second floor.

I thought the cult would be unrecognized on this side of the atlantic but I was in for a surprise. Most of the people would read the front of the shirt, look at me and smile.

At one time I went to the pay phones to attend a situation at the office. My friend (a trainee SP) decided to read in a normal tone of voice the OT-III paragraph printed on the back of the shirt. He answered two or three questions from passersby (mostly: is this for real? and who is XENU?). Shortly after, we finished our shopping without incident.

I can say that most people here already know the truth about the Cult of Greed and Power(tm) so scientology is *not* expanding in this island. Cristino, SP2

=====
Subject: Picket report: Helsinki, Finland
From: Peik J Stromsholm stromsho@cc.helsinki.fi
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
The Helsinki org was picketed by three critics today, Sunday 15 of March 1998. It was me, Ville Oksanen and Tiina Pelttari. It was rather uneventful with no reactions from the Scientologists. The police was present and we gave them some information about Scientology in Finland. Because of the freezing weather (-7° C) we left early.

The evils of Scientology are quite well known in Finland, so we don't consider them to be dangerous here. So there were good reasons for not picketing, since it could give them far more attention than they deserve.

But we felt that this picket was more about the strength of free speech on the Internet, the information network that has made it possible for people from all over the world to join this international picket.

We discussed this with some people and told them that there are other pickets all over the world, but there is no organization behind all this, only information about the abuses of Scientology. This is remarkable.

Ville Oksanen will probably web pictures from the picket during next week.

pjs@uwasa.fi, Student of Theology & Law Student at the U of Helsinki

=====
Subject: Picket report, San Diego, 3/15
From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Xenubat (Sue M.))

(Sorry this is so long!)
I'd said in my earlier preliminary LA picket report that I had a great time picketing, so much so that I thought it might be fun to picket the San Diego org. I had never read a picket report coming from San Diego before; plus, I was rather annoyed with myself that I never picketed Minneapolis, yet someone who doesn't even LIVE in Minneapolis went and did a picket last October (the person who stood outside handing out Xemu flyers and was called a Suppressive Person by a Scieno who then threatened to call the police), so I figured this was my way to rectify that! (Plus I was also angry when I heard that Bob Minton's neighborhood got leafleted by Scienos, so that was another reason)

I had drove back to San Diego Sunday afternoon, and after checking in and reading the Sunday papers for a while I still felt like doing it. Around 4 p.m. I called the San Diego Police Department and asked them what their rules were about picketing; they said as long as I didn't block the entrance to the "business" or obstruct people's path I was OK. However, I didn't want to go by myself, so I got the idea of taking a cab over to the San Diego org and asking the driver to park outside and wait while I picketed and then take me back to the hotel, so if something should happen there'd at least be someone to call 911! I knew I'd have to pay for the waiting time ($10/hour in San Diego) but I was willing to do that.

Around 4:45 I asked the bell captain if he could call a cab for me; he asked where I would be going and I told him I was going to the Church of Scientology and if he could ask the driver if the driver would be willing to park outside the church and wait for a while; the bell captain obviously seemed to think that was a rather odd request.

The cab arrived at 4:50. The cab driver seemed to think it was a rather weird request also and wanted to know why I wanted to picket Scientology. I filled him in on my reasons and that I had just returned from picketing in LA with a bunch of other people, and told him that I was from out of town and that several other picketers have been assaulted by Scienos in the past so I didn't want to picket by myself. He said sure, he could wait, but that he had another fare to pick up back at the hotel at 5:30 so wanted to leave before then, and I said that was fine.

We got there around 4:55. The church is at 1330 - 4th Av; it's quite a tall building; I'm not sure if there are any other businesses housed in that building or not. San Diego Gas and Electric (I think) is next to it on one side on the corner; there's a parking lot on the other side which is underneath a walkway connection between the building the Church is in and another building (which had a "For Lease" sign), so the parking lot looks actually like a parking ramp. It said "Private Parking Only" but I don't know if it's just for Scn or for other businesses too. There seemed to be quite a few cars (I didn't count how many).

The cab driver parked across the street on 4th Av. 4th Av. seems to be a rather busy street car-wise. I had a whole mess of flyers with me; I would always keep forgetting to give them to pedestrians, though, and I did the same thing on Monday, too; of course I only started picketing last Friday so I'm sure I'll probably screw some things up for a while yet. I pulled out my sign that said "SCIENTOLOGY: SPACE ALIEN SCAM" and "ARE YOU POSSESSED BY MURDERED SPACE ALIENS?" and started walking up and down 4th Av. I got a few thumbs up and smiles from people driving by. One guy riding down the sidewalk on his bike smiled and said "Space Alien Scam", then, seeing the other side of my sign, said "Yes I am--no I'm not!", then biked off. One older lady waiting at the bus stop was looking at my sign so I gave her a Xemu leaflet. I almost missed the entrance to their church as you actually have to go DOWN several stairs; it's not quite down in the basement level but it seems to be a little ways below ground level. I finally saw their entrance and saw the receptionist watching me so I flipped my sign around so she could see both sides. Nobody from the church came out to talk to me, though. I knew the driver had to get back so at 5:20 I went back to the cab and he took me back.

He asked how it went and I said it was pretty uneventful and he joked that he hoped I wasn't disappointed. He said that it would probably be much busier at this same time tomorrow, being a weekday rush hour then, and that that might be a good time to go back and picket. I said my flight would be leaving San Diego Monday afternoon but that maybe if I felt like it I would do it in the morning around 9:00 a.m. when they open. I filled him in about Scn a little more. I gave him copies of the Xemu, Scam and Lisa flyers. I gave him a larger than normal tip and told him I appreciated having somebody else out there. He gave me his card and said to call him if I wanted him to take me there again.

(My next San Diego picket report describes my first face-to-face encounter with an annoyed Scieno).
-----
Subject: Picket report, San Diego, 3/16/98
From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Xenubat (Sue M.))

MY FIRST FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTER WITH AN ENTURBULATED SCIENO

(Some of the conversations I describe are actually paraphrased and I don't know if they're in their exact sequence; maybe I should have just brought a tape recorder and made a transcript of my picket!)

I decided I did want to go back and picket the San Diego org again after all, so I called the driver and asked if he could pick me up around 9 a.m. to take me there. He said sure, but that someone else wanted him to return to the hotel at 9:50 to pick them up; he said either he could take me back to the hotel before then or he could go get his other fare and then come back a half hour later (10:20) to pick me up if I wanted to stay and picket longer. I said we could play it by ear and see how things went.

He came a couple of minutes late and apologized for being late, and I said no problem. We talked more about Scn on the drive over there. We got to the church about 9:10; he parked down the block on the same side of the street as the sidewalk where I would be doing my picketing, and I gave him some quarters for the parking meter. I got a few more smiles and thumbs-up from cars driving by. When people would pull into the parking lot I made sure to hold up my sign. About 9:20 some woman walking by said to me, "I think it's great what you're doing," but then (I think, I'm not sure) it looked like she was walking into the Church's building! So I didn't know what to make of that.

About 1 minute later another woman (middle-aged, dark haired, about my height, 5'4") came up to me. She started saying, "Gee, what's this? What are you doing this for?" I told her I was expressing my opinion about Scn, that they make promises that they don't deliver and that they charge large sums of money. She interrupted me a couple of times, and asked, "Are you a member?" I said, "No, I'm AGAINST Scientology". I was carrying about a dozen Xemu leaflets and I pulled one out and asked if she wanted one. She backed away and said, "No, this is SCARY!" Then she said, "Wait, let me have one!" and took one, then she said, "Let me have another one!" and then she snatched the rest of them out of my hand! Then she said in an angry voice, "I think you'd better run along now! There's no reason for you to be going up and down the sidewalk like this!" I said politely, "I'll be leaving pretty quick, I'm just expressing my opinion. I'm not going to keep people from going in or out or anything like that." She then said again, "Just run along right now!" I said politely again, "Yeah, I'll be leaving in just a minute." I don't know if my hands were trembling a little or something or what, (I was rather nervous) but then she asks me, "Are you sick or something? What's with your hands? Are you on some kind of medication?" I smiled and said nonchalantly, "No, I'm fine, I'm not on any medication." (I wish I had come back with some zinger like, "Oh, yes, I'm on Prozac!" but I was caught off guard by actually being face to face with an angry Scieno!) She asked me what my name was; I said, "It's Sue." She asked what my last name was and I said that I'd rather not say. She then says again, "Well you'd just better run along now--" and starts walking off; then I swear I heard her say as she's walking away, "--before I slip with my car!" (at least that's what it sounded like to me!)

Of course, I totally ignored her and continued to picket. I did at first try to stay closer to where the cab driver was, though; I saw that he was reading the Lisa flyer. And every time I would walk by where the parking area was I'd first make sure I got a good look to see if any cars were coming, cuz I wouldn't put anything past some of those Scienos! There were a couple of cars that pulled into the lot and I made sure I held up my sign. I saw what I thought were two lady Sea Ogres talking in the parking lot, standing by the wall of the org (I think they had light blue shirts and black skirts so that's why I thought they might be Sea Ogres, but maybe they weren't); I don't know if the witch who was hassling me was one of them or not. However, she didn't come out again to bother me, nor did anyone else. I did make sure to walk by their entrance at least several more times, and at 9:40 I did that one last time, flipping my sign around so both sides could be seen; then I went back to the cab.

I told the driver about the exchange I had with the Scieno and he went, "Oh, jeez!" and shook his head. He said he'd been reading the Lisa flyer and was wondering if they were going to press criminal charges. I said that I hadn't heard anything yet, that Lisa's aunt was filing a civil lawsuit against Scn but that I didn't know if criminal charges would be filed; the driver said, "They should be." We talked about Scn some more; I told the driver how lawsuit-happy they were, how people have been sued for posting their Sekrit Skriptures on the 'net and that people's homes have been raided. I told him about their big libel suit against Time magazine about their cover story on Scn in 1991 and how that backfired on them in my case, because if they hadn't sued Time, I might never have heard of that article and gone to read it, and that I might have gone on and joined Scientology if I hadn't read that article. We got back to the hotel; I gave him another larger than normal tip and thanked him again for waiting out there for me. I said I'd be going back to Minneapolis later on in the day so I wouldn't be going to picket there any time soon; he said if I come back to San Diego for a visit and wanted to picket again to give him a call.

(However, this past week when I was in San Diego, I had applied at some businesses for a job, as I was thinking about relocating to San Diego [Minnesota winters are finally starting to get to me!] and there were a few places that were really interested in getting together with me for interviews, etc. So if I can get the time off from where I work now, it's possible I could be coming back to San Diego for a few days sometime in April! We'll see what happens.)

By the way, I'm sure my SP rating will definitely go up after this! Am I now officially an SP2 or SP3 or what's my new rating? If someone could let me know that would be great! Sorry for making another long post!
-----
> Did you manage to get the leaflets back from her?
No; I didn't try to either, because:

a) I still had a whole bunch more Xemu leaflets in my bag;
b) Even if I hadn't, I didn't want to make a big scene over a handful of leaflets (I tried to follow Dalai Lama-tech).

So I just let her have her Big Win over taking away my leaflets. That might well have been the highlight of her day so who am I to deny her that? Plus I did get back at her by staying and picketing for 20 more minutes. :)
(http://members.cox.net/batchild1/) Sue