Picket reports

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Subject: Picket Report, Mesa AZ 6/3/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

We hit the org just after work today and picketed from 4:00 to 4:45. There was gusty wind that made keeping the signs pointed at traffic a real upper-body workout.

There were 9 cars in the lot and one arrived during the picket. As the summer progresses, we will be doing the evening hours to ensure that the night class stoogent's get the message.

This Saturday's picket will be in honor of Wayne Whitney. Anyone in the Phoenix area who wishes to participate, e-mail me for the scheduled time.

--
$cientology's Total Freedom:
"...agree to use the specific Internet Filter Program that CSI has provided to you which allows you freedom to view other sites on Dianetics, Scientology or its principals without threat of accessing sites deemed to be using the Marks or Works in an unauthorized fashion or deemed to be improper or discreditable to the Scientology religion."

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(two reports)
Subject: Mesa Arizona picket report June 6, 1998
From: cultxpt@primenet.com

In honor of Wayne Whitney, I picketed with the Pettycrews today for an hour. There were 6 cars at the org/mission, and one car drove in while we picketed. I'm always amazed at how many people honk and give us the thumbs up when we picket. Within that hour there were at least 7. One person shouted that God is good and we should get a life or something, apparently thinking that Scientology had something to do with God.

A policeman stopped to gab for a little while. He just seemed to want to say hello.
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Subject: Picket Report: Mesa, AZ, 6/6/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

Kathy and I were joined by Jeff Jacobsen from 10:00 to 11:00 this AM.

Two incidents were especially interesting: A police squad car pulled into the parking lot, and I talked briefly with the officer. I explained what we were doing and why. As he left he commented (about free speech) "That's what makes America great!"

The second incident involved another car pulling into the lot and turning around. Then the driver rolled down his window and introduced himself as a German national who really appreciated what we were doing. I told him I agreed with the German government's refusal to grant scientology tax-free status, and wished our IRS had made the same assessment.

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(several reports)
Subject: WDC Picket 6-6-98
From: Xenu Mania ronsmuerto@hotmail.com

5 picketers on a Wayne Whitney picket took them by surprise on a gorgeous Saturday morning in Washington, D.C.

On the Scientologist side, there was no counter-action. I saw what was probably an ethics officer doing his rounds, one of his assistants, and a sweet little Russian girl who tried to take my picture, but my sign kept on getting in her way. I briefly saw the older gentleman who drives the Saab and a lady who may have been an executive director rushing across the street ignoring the picketers.

I had some bright orange cardboard which I had duct-taped onto some stiff cardboard for my sign. One side (aimed at the public) said:

Truth is Free.
Religion is Free.
Scientology is NOT Free

The other side (aimed at the Scientologists) said:

Don't be a Scientology Sucker.
Exchanging Goods and Services
for Money is Commerce,
NOT Religion.

I had originally planned on cutting the cardboard into the shape of a sucker, but I decided that would be a lot of trouble for something that was not really all that necessary, although it would have been a nice touch.

There was very little wind; it was cool, the sun was shining. My bright orange sign was visible half-way up the block for all the cars stopped at the stop light. Had plenty of good-will honks, thumbs-up, several cars pulled over to get my fliers after they saw my sign.

On the sidewalk, often people wouldn't take my leaflet until I assured them that it was ANTI-Scientology. Then there were people who must have been walking by there everyday. Some had their "Scientology blinders" on; they wouldn't look right or left, just straight ahead like they were afraid of being accosted. Others told me to keep up the good work. One young man said, "You ought to have a sign that says 'Psychiatry mends people, Cults kill people'!"

A young (Scientology?) lady saw I was holding up a picket sign in front of the "church", and she may have actually read part of the sign, because she looked down at the ground quickly and looked real guilty. I felt sorry for her. I told her "Flier, Miss?" She said, "No, thank you." That was probably the nicest thing anybody said to her all day. Joe Cisar
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Subject: Can OSA come out to play?? DC Picket 6/6/98
From: Arnie Lerma

I saw Thierry on the step talking to that annoying kid from Div 6
and I called " Hey Thierry, can OSA come out to play? "
he lost it
then looked at the div 6 guy who wasnt laughing
and straightened up real quick
picket was uneventful,
the locals know thier whackos
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Subject: DC Picket Money
From: rkeller@netaxs.com (Rod Keller)

Just one of the stories from the picket at the DC org on Saturday. Wes Fager and I both had money handed to us to help continue publicizing how Scientology hurts people. Wes got a buck, I got a five, and both have now been converted into stamps.
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Subject: DC Picket 06/06/98
From: lnieman@MCI2000.com (BigBeard)

With nothing to picket here abouts, decided to jump in the old pick-em-up truck after work Friday and head up to DC for the Wayne Whitney Memorial Picket. Hit the Interstate, put the hammer down, and hit DC well before midnight for a good nights rest.

Got a wake up call from ARSCC/DC Central and reported over for some scrambled eggs & toast. Met up with Arnie and Stomps and we loaded up the signs, flyers, & ourselves and headed off to try and get to the FCDC before opening time, so we could get the publics on their way in.

We arrived a bit before 9am and discovered Nukewaster was already on the scene, catching anyone coming in by the rear entrance. This must have really annoyed them, 'cause they shut down all the rear window shades after getting a picture.

Nuke brought 300 or so flyers, and kindly split them with me. This was a new one - four pages of URLs for critical web sites, online books, critical studies, etc. Just to be fair, the "Official" Cof$ sites are listed on the last page. All 300 were gone by the time we left for the day.

Picket sign ($cientology Hates Free Speech & The Internet Will NOT Be Handled) and flyers in hand I started to walk. Problem was, there wasn't anyone around but us picketers and an occasional car.

After a bit XenuMania magically appeared, and about the same time a couple of staff put in an appearance. One was a guy, who looked like a young version of John Carmichael with red hair, that mostly hung around the back. The other was a pleasant black lady who apparently was guarding the front door against us SPs. Both went out of their way to ignore us.

Right at 09:30 the "Now Hiring" and "Bookstore Hours" signs were placed out front, and the black lady asked for one of my flyers. I guess she wasn't officially "on post" until they opened, and I had mentioned it was a new flyer and they might want one. About 10 minutes later "Red" from around back came up and also asked for one. He looked embarrassed about something, and I found out later Nuke had given him a "Flunk" on TR-0. Oh, well.

[Note for Ted: When we first arrived just before 9am there were 10 cars and 1 motorcycle in the FCDC lot. Some of these probably belong to staff that lives in the building immediately next door.]

The crowds started picking up as the sun got higher. At first it was hard to give out flyers. Everyone was saying, "Oh, I have one from last time.", or, "Don't need one, I know all about them creeps." Wasn't looking good for the flyer stats. Then I got the (can I say brilliant here?) idea of asking people if they were on the net.

Anyone who said yes was immediately offered an "exhaustive" list of web sites critical of $cientology, and that just to be fair also included their "official" sites so folks could see what they said about themselves. Flyers started disappeared at last! If they said 'No' to being on the net, I'd ask if they had a friend who was they might take a flyer for.

If the pedistrian traffic flow was in the right direction, I also suggested they get a flyer from Arnie or Stomps that didn't assume net access. Although as the day, and my voice, wore on I started getting a bit lack about referals.

Around 10am a trio of Germans came by. Two gals and one guy. They were taking pictures of the FCDC, and talking about the Oxford Capacity 'test' using just enough English that I picked up they were discussing the Cof$. I offered them a flyer and got a quick snile and a, "Nien, nien" from the guy.

He said somethng to the gals, and they headed into the building. He stayed outside taking pictures for another 10 - 15 minutes. Then he went in. About 20 minutes later all three came out carrying pamphlets and laughing their heads off. I offered the flyer again, and this time they took it, one of the gals said, "Goot" (Good?) about something on the flyer, and they headed down the street at a fast walk, still laughing. German tourists on a lark maybe???

Took a quick break to make a run across the street to Starbucks. Ran into Thierry on the way back and said "Mornin'." He smiled and said "Mornin'." back. Only Cof$er to acknowledge me as an individual all day. He seemed in a good mood and didn't follow us around with a camera the whole time like he usually does. From what happened when Arnie asked him, "Can OSA come out and play?", maybe he's begining to pick up on the absurdity of Cof$es actions. I kind of doubt it deep down, but ya' never know.

Around noon we broke for what was supposed to be a quick lunch. Italian place was a bit slower than we anticipated. XenuMania left about that time, but WESFAGER showed up as a replacement. He continued to march while we ate. So FCDC didn't even get a lunch time respite.

After a satisfying repast, we went back at it again. I had been making a point of keeping the "The Internet Will Not Be "Handled"" side of my sign facing the building. It must have finally got to someone in their, as the window shade was yanked all the way down while I was standing there handing flyers to several people.

[Note for Ted: Right after lunch was the peak vehicle count, 19 cars, 1 motorcycle in the FCDC lot. There were some cars on the street, but no good way to tell FCDC from other locals.]

And so it went, hand out flyers, walk, talk with those who wanted to know why I walked, and walk some more. Until a bit before 16:00 there were no more flyers, Stomps had to leave, and we decided to call it a day by ambling away slowly. As soon as we were safely across the street, a crowd of adults and kids came tumbling out of the building and heading off in all directions. It looked like they had been holed up and waiting for us to leave all day before starting 'libs', or something. Can't have 'em face to face with us nasty SPs now can they?

Arnie's flyers were actually 'paks' of several flyers stapled together. So between the 300 Nuke brought, Arnie's, and Stomp's, I'd "guess-timate" somewhere close to 1,000 flyers were handed out during the 7-1/2 hours of our picket. A number of lenghthy discussions were held with interested passer-by's, and some major enturbulating seems to have occurred.

We then broke up and went our ways. I was amazed how many folks on the Metro ride back to my truck noticed my sign and let it be known they were aware of, and had negative opinions about, Cof$. Last year it was, "What's this about?". This year it was, "The sooner they're gone the better!"

Back on the road the next morning to head home and meet up with the 'Good 'ole boys' to run the dogs. Then mow the grass (Gotta keep the priorities straight!). Have to do it again soon, my doc loves it when I do so much walking. BigBeard

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(multiple reports)
Subject: SF Picket Report, June 6, 1998
From: realpch@aol.com (Realpch)

It was cool and overcast, a wonderful day for the Wayne Whitney Memorial Picket at the San Francisco Scientology Org.

Picketing was to commence at 11am and run to 1pm. I was shamefully late, not only having run into heavy traffic on the Bay Bridge, but also a cheerful parade in my little home town. As I got within seeing distance (admittedly not far in my case) of the SF Org, I was on the watchout for Jour's red picketing jammies. Alas, Jour had engagements elsewhere, but I did see bright yellow picket signs bobbing about.

SF regulars Tani and Phr had been joined by Bstone, Meklar and Elvis. And the picketers had been joined by Mark the Friendly Scientologist and Mr. Camera himself. I had the feeling that they had been expecting us. It was Saturday, casual day at the Org, but Mr. Camera and Mark were dressed in suits. I also saw the Sea Org lady arrive in her little uniform, but she didn't come out to join us.

I'm afraid that our picketing tech was a little lax. I noticed that without Jour, not so many leaflets get passed out! And some of the picketers, not having met each other in person, did tend to "clump" quite a bit. Clumping is when you stop to chat with other picketers and fail to give primary attention to public relations. I confess I am guilty of clumping! And Tani got the undivided attention of Mark the Friendly Scientologist, who walked with him the whole time. The thing is, if you are talking to a Scientologist, you can't be paying attention to handing out leaflets or talking with the public. So it was good that there were other people there today. Elvis and Bstone also had extensive conversations with Mr. Camera.

And we also had a supporter who turned up, but didn't picket. This supporter had known Wayne and came in his honor, appropriately attired and hatted in black. I myself wore black shoes, stockings, skirt and top, and a grey jacket. But I also wore a cute little black cardigan with pink roses on it. I think you should always manifest some gaiety at a wake or memorial. The gentlemen picketers wore what our gentlemen picketers usually wear...software engineer clothes!

At about 1 the picketers decided to call it a day, and go for pizza. There was some difficulty in prying Bstone away from his discussion with Mr. Camera. And for those who think that ARS folk are a gang of organized terrorists, the ensuing discussion of who would go in which car would have been enlightening. I think it took ten minutes to sort out. Mark the Friendly Scientologist asked if it would be too annoying if he were to go for pizza with us. An awkward social moment. I liked his face and would have said yes, like an idiot, and deprived us all of entheta gossip. But Tani wisely agreed with him that it would be too annoying.

And really for the Wayne Whitney Memorial Picket, I think Mark's presence for pizza would have been inappropriate. Maybe some other time. At any rate, the picketers repaired to an nice Irish pub where we had beer, soda and pizza, talked entheta and toasted Wayne Whitney. Peach

Subject: SF Picket Report June 6th
From: taniwha taniwha@taniwha.com

This week a picket was announced for Saturday in memory of Wayne Whitney who died recently. Even though I'd already managed to picket the SF Org this week I was able to make time to go down and join the SPs assembled there.

I made the mistake of getting there first, on time even, so I got my own handler who walked up and down with me for 2 hours talking about life, the universe and everything. We talked about scientific method - and tried to devise experiments that would follow the scientific method, be repeatable by skeptics, publishable and peer reviewed in the scientific community (ok now suppose you thought ideas have mass .... how would you prove it ....). I wish him luck.

Starting out bymyself was pretty lonely but Brent showed up after a while, and one by one SPs came in in dribs and drabs, eventually there were 7 of us.

Mostly it was pretty quiet with the usuall passersby making positive comments. One however was obviously a devotee of the Grady Ward School of Literature, he yelled across the street "Scientology takes it up the ass" .... other people were nicer, if not less positive.

Although I've only been to a couple of them this was the 4th picket of the SF Org in the past 2 weeks.

After the picket we retired to a pleasent bar where we hoisted a few in Wayne's memory and consumed some great pizza.

Some photos from SF pickets, including this one are at:
(http://www.taniwha.com/picket/sf.html) Taniwha - SP3*XVIII

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Subject: W. Whitney Mem. Picket-Elron Way-Jun. 6
From: zinjifar@inreach.com (Zinj)

I'll hope to fill this in some later. Jour paid a visit to LA (for unrelated reasons) so we joined the rest of you in picketing in honor of Wayne.

She wore her red Picketing PJs with a black armband, for the fashion conscious. I had my Scientology Kills T (thanks again Ray).
We drove around once to get the lay of the land, then unloaded our signs and flyers and her trademark bag-o-suckers (to go with her Don't Be A Sucker flyer).

Walking around the back of the Cedars complex we entered L Ron Hubbard Way from the south. There were quite a few Sea Org in evidence, who seemed fairly surprised to see us, but no security was immediately in evidence and there was no hostility (that I noticed). Also no blue tarps :) Could they actually be learning?
We made our first pass up in front of ASHO and got a picture of Jour in front of the building (with lion I hope).
By the time we reached Sunset in front of the Dianetics Building we had picked up a small somewhat elderly lady who began calling from behind (I didn't catch actually what) and when she'd caught up with us asked the standard question "What's this all about?" (I do think it's time they added some variation here)
She said she'd like to talk to us, and we agreed, but said we also had to keep walking.. which was not what she wanted. We did discuss it a bit, but eventually began our Sunset streetfront pass with her walking along.
We had a fairly nice conversation, but it was also of course very much a comm handlung and as usual not a lot of dialogue.

Jour was primarilly picketing against medical ethical violations (I'm sorry Jour, I don't have your sign handy but I'll remedy that later) and especially the Introspection Rundown and Purif, while I was there primarilly there in protest of secrecy, legal and financial ethical violations. I think we complemented each other fairly well, with enough overlap to have a fairly broad agenda.
My sign was one side 'Scientology: 100% Standard UFO Cult' in very bad marker :) and the other (thanks to Jour) Scientologists Pay $360,000 Tax Free to Harass Critics in a two part laser print.. looked pretty good.

We reached the west end of the Sunset frontage along with Cat (or Kat?) our OSA handler, and began our march back, talking all the way. Again we stopped for a few minutes at the corner of Sunset and Elron and had a polite and interesting if not completely two way conversation under the Scientology marquee.

As usual, there is very little foot traffic by that corner, and most of it is scientologists, so flyer hand out is almost non-existent.
I don't think Jour managed to give away a single sucker which is kind of sad.
We finally moved off south down Elron again, with Cat along for the ride and had a very nicely animated discussion of numerous issues.
There was no intimidation at all, no security in evidence, no phony cops and no people with birds or cigarettes on the attack :)
Crossing across our way was a continuous foot traffic of Sea Orgers in their new uniforms, which really are an improvement. I have to admit that the old navy style, since I'm from a navy family, were always a personal affront to me. The blue polo shirts and khaki pants are a huge improvement, although their 'uniformity' is again a little strange.

I think it was a Freewinds anniversary celebration of some sort.. there were at least 100 Sea Orgers in evidence unless they were using the in one side and out the other trick.. :) (which I don't think they were).

We reached the south end of Elron and began back.. I'd considered using the other side of the stree, but Jour had already seen the Our House Bed and Breakfast and the ASHO side was more populated so we continued back north on that side.
Cat stayed up with us all the time and we had a couple of stops along the way and lots of conversation.
The scientologists did not go into hiding and there was a lot of traffic, but they did a good job of staying out of comm with us, leaving that to OSA.

I'd swear I saw Helena Korbin standing at the stop of the ASHO steps as we went by, but since I've never seen her personally I can't swear to it.
The Sea Orgers seem to be practicing a new facial expression, which is 'Amused Astonishment'; eyes wide jaw dropped and not threatening or hateful.
I'm not sure how much was directed to my T-shirt or our signs, but it seemed to be fairly standard issue :)

Jour is a tiny girl, but certainly not reserved or shy, and certainly had no problem making her discussion points.
Cat was unfailingly polite, although there really wasn't much new in her discussion points.

At the north end of the street we again had a long pause in front of the marquee on the corner, which was OK with me, at least then, because about the best public exposure you can expect at Elron Way is car traffic.
Later pickets should probably keep in mind however that this seems to be OSA's prefered discussion spot just to avoid getting bogged down there.
We continued along the frontage, then back and as we approached the corner an attractive blond woman approached us across the Dianetics Center's parking lot (which considering the population present at the various buildings seemed fairly empty, also indicating a large percentage Sea Org).
This turned out to be Gail (sp?) Armstrong, also OSA who joined us on our Elron pass, also in fairly friendly (if not two-way) discussion, and then back to the corner of Elron and Sunset where we had a very long discussion.
Gail did a very good job of ignoring my t-shirt and our signs, and was very friendly and probably because they know me as a lecher got assigned to me, while Cat took on Jour. :)

I'm afraid we didn't use really 100% standard Picketting tech, and we did let ourselves be manipulated to staying at the corner of Elron and Sunset for our discussion. I apologize most humbly.. Jour was always willing to walk.. but as local I should have known better.
I'd identified myself to both Cat and Gail as 'Joe' and Jour as herself, and Gail seemed to know who Jour was since she recognized her as being from the Bay Area.

Obviously we got stalled at the corner as OSA tech to keep us away from the Sea Org traffic. Again I apologize and it won't happen again :)

There were a very few hostile looks from passers-by, but the 'amazed' facial expression was much in evidence. Some foot traffic on Sunset, but not any flyer or sucker distribution. A couple of car beeps.. I'd swear to 2, but Jour thinks only one.

After a long discussion, in which Cat and Gail promised to find us answers to our questions (Gail says she has no e-mail, but can be reached at Gail Armstrong CA webmaster@scientology.org) we finally decided we had to go.
A couple of things: Gail says she's clear, and has done no OT levels. She also makes a great point that Lisa M was taken to the hospital she was because it was to see 'her doctor' since she had an inordinate fear of doctors.
Is there any evidence that Lisa had EVER seen this particular doctor before?

We promised to keep in touch with Cat and Gail, and at first they were willing to have their picture taken with Jour.. but decided maybe it might be better not too.. so there are not a lot of pictures from this picket.
We got in the truck.. and I as tour guide took Jour over to Celebrity Centre, although it was obvious that we wouldn't have enough time to do anything there.
We drove around it twice.. and there was security aplenty.. at least one phony cop and one sea org on the NE corner and 2 others on the side streets around the building. I think they'd been notified :)
After our second go around.. with a lot of visual interest by the security people we left and I dropped Jour off.
By coincidence my return trip took me back in front of the CC and the security was all still there. And obviously recognized me. No following PI cars, but I did pick up an LAPD unit that followed me down Franklin for at least 4 miles, which may have been purely determined by how the (the fairly heavy) traffic flow was going. Zinj
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Subject: Picket Report, Los Angeles, 6/6/98
From: jour0@aol.com (http://members.aol.com/jour0/) (Jour0)

[Some snipping] Full report is (http://members.aol.com/jour0/) here.
Picket Report, Saturday, June 6, Los Angeles headquarters
My picket was in honor and memory of Wayne Whitney.
We had good picketing weather, and Zinj and I put in over an hour and a half around the LA HQ.
Zinjifar generously offered to supply picket signs, which saved me the hassle of getting my huge sign onto the airplane.
I found out just last Sunday that I would be going to LA for a Saturday event. I tried really hard to figure out a way to be at the SF picket in Wayne's memory (11-1, picket SF org; hop on plane; 5-7, picket LA org ... but that would have made me very late for my event). I'm glad there was a nice turnout in SF.

On Saturday morning, Zinj came by and we assembled signs. I had brought pre-printed pages to assemble - one said "DID $CIENTOLOGY STANDARD TECH KILL LISA MCPHERSON?", and the other side said "DOES $CIENTOLOGY GIVE YOU LIVER DAMAGE?" and in smaller letters (since I had extra space to take up), "ASK $CIENTOLOGY ABOUT TOXIC LEVELS OF NIACIN IN THE PURIFICATION RUNDOWN".

While we were putting the signs together (they were old 'X', 'E', 'M', and 'U' signs), my friend's neighbor came by and asked who Lisa was. I dashed inside to get her a Lisa flier, and told my friend, "I'm indoctrinating your neighbors." ;-)

SMALL GIRL ON CAMPUS
(Well, heck, Zinj's report mentioned that I'm a girl (and a small one at that). I had hoped that my handle would be nice and non-gender-specific, and judging by some of the posts to a.r.s., it's been fairly successful, with several people thinking I'm a guy.)

I found the $cn campus very interesting. I had braced myself against the possibility of feeling intimidated, but I didn't feel intimidated at all. The groups of Scientologists seemed unthreatening and barely reacted to our presence (that I could see). I was pleased that they seemed non-hostile. I tried to make polite, friendly, non-intrusive eye contact when I could.

CAT WALK
Zinj mentioned Cat coming out to talk with us. I'd say she was with us for about 3/4 of the time we were out there (and Gail about 1/4 of the time - maybe more). Cat really wanted us to go sit down somewhere, but we were there to picket, and picket we did.

Cat did try a bit of the usual "how can you know what $cn's really about" and "do you believe everything you read" stuff, but she pretty much gave it up after I said that I'd satisfied myself about what was credible and what wasn't, that I'd read for example the Introspection Rundown myself, and that I'd never been to Africa but I believed it was there. She also kept saying I had a "fixed idea" about $cn but I finally got through to her that I DON'T have a "fixed idea". I have information and evidence, and if she has information and evidence that contradict what I think I know, I'm interested in hearing it.

Much of our conversation was about the IR. I maintained my position that it constitutes false imprisonment, and Cat mostly said that Scientologists are opposed to psychiatrists so they can't abide by the law (to which I responded that they should then work to change the law or petition for an exception which still allowed for governmental oversight but without psychiatric care, and she said they were working on changing the law and that that would happen very soon - I said that they should abide by the law in the meantime), and occasionally threw in that nobody underwent the IR involuntarily (I could never pin her down on how someone who's had a psychotic break can competently decide whether to undergo a procedure).

At one point, after she said that all auditing is voluntary, I said I thought I remembered reading something about, if the auditee is uncooperative, ways you could attach the cans to feet or armpits. I explicitly said that I didn't remember it clearly, but told her what I thought I remembered. At this point she launched into a whole thing about the Golden Era of Tech and about David Mayo, who she said wrote a whole bunch of stuff that was out-tech, and which is now not considered part of $cn. So, anybody know - how can we outsiders find out what's considered to still be current tech?

Cat spent a lot of time discussing the evils of psychiatry with me, too (although she let up a little when I told her that I DON'T think psychiatry is evil and I know one person who's had ECT who's doing fine now thanks) (next time I'll have to remember to say "I'm here about $cientology, not psychiatry"). She also tried a fair amount of "but $cn helps people and Scientologists are happy with $cn and support it", not really responding to my "but there's still illegal activity, whether people support it or not". At one point she said that there was no scientific evidence for chemical imbalance in the brain. I said I was pretty darn sure there was (although I haven't read it and now I guess I'll have to go look for it), "but there's no scientific evidence for the reactive mind, either!", to which she had no reply.

I also pleaded several times for intelligent representatives from $cn for a.r.s. to answer our various questions and respond to our criticisms. She said it was policy not to do that. Well, it's their choice, but I think it's a policy that's hurting them.

AND GAIL MAKES FOUR
As Zinj wrote, Gail came out to join us too. (I was amused that, upon hearing my alias, she said "You're from the Bay Area, aren't you?" I should have asked her how she knew that.) She did ask in passing "You didn't come down just to picket, did you?" and of course I said no. (I would much rather have been picketing SF this weekend.) (Note to OSA: I've been in LA probably 3 or 4 times in the past year, and as you've surely noted, this was my first LA picket. Probably not my last, though.)

I immediately liked Gail and was slightly disappointed that she focused on Zinj. (Hey, OSA, next time can I have a cute guy handler with a good sense of humor?) After a while, Cat turned back to me and we had two separate conversations. Gail said she would get some info for me on questions Cat hadn't been able to answer (let's see, what were they? One was why $cn doesn't present itself as a church in Mexico; one was scientific studies on the Purif; I've forgotten what else).
Gail asked me for a flier and I gave her my "Why I'm Picketing" flier, at which point Cat asked for one too.

AFTER THE PICKET
After we left, Zinj drove me over to the Celebrity Center so I could see it for myself. We took a wrong turn on the way, so we took a little longer to get there than the $cn folks probably thought we would (sorry, guys), but as soon as we rolled into view, the security-uniform guy started talking into his walkie talkie.
We really didn't have time for a picket, so we just took in the view and left.
Later, Zinj pointed out another $cn building or two, but my favorite sight was this:
We passed a club with a marquee listing upcoming performers. (I think it might have been at Franklin and Roosevelt but Zinj would know better than I.) According to the marquee, Andy Milne was slated to appear there on 6/9! Wow! Andy Milne doing standup comedy! (Or maybe he's a singer-songwriter or something.)
(No, I know it's probably not the same one. It was just one of those synchronicitous moments.)
During the afternoon and evening, my friend mentioned my picketing to some of the other folks at the event, so once again I got to spread information and answer questions.
I am very grateful to Zinj for coming with me. It was a great picket, and I'm looking forward to the next one. (I'd like to get to at least one other location, though, next time.) Jour