Picket reports

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[multiple reports]
Subject: San Francisco Picket Report, July 3, 1998
From: realpch@aol.com (Realpch)

Well it was finally sunny, bright, breezy and warm. A wonderful day for a picket!

For once I showed up more or less on time at the San Francisco Scientology Org. Picketing there has been an noonish occasion lately. Of course Jour was there before me, clearly visible at a distance in her red picketing jammies. There were quite a few people out and about, I suppose because it was a holiday for many.

I confess I still had my original picket sign. I can't seem to get it together to make a new one! And I had a lamentably scanty supply of leaflets. But since I never do hand out all that many myself, I suppose it doesn't matter that much. But as a point of pride I hope to make up a little set of my favorite L.. Ron Hubbard quotes. Once again today it was apparent that some people are not sure whether I am fer or agin Scientology. I am glad that Jour had a sign which cleared up this point.

We picketed for a long time today...almost two hours. After about 45 minutes, Mr. Camera showed up. He went in the building and came out a bit later and began his tour with Jour. At about the same time, the Stress Test Table made an appearance. And then I finally got introduced and cannot call Mr. Camera, Mr. Camera anymore. His name is Jeff. I was not my usual gracious self at first, and suggested discussing gardening rather than Scientology. Jeff was very personable though, so we eventually did have some minimal discussion upon the pertinent topic. I don't think anyones beliefs underwent any significant changes.

He did go to some trouble to point out how the Org has benefited the neighborhood. They had a sign in the window in memory of a bicycle cop who had recently died. And a group of bicycle cops came by and hung out for awhile. All very commendable. However the "Now Hiring" sign is still in the window. I think it would be kind of them to take it down. Any number of locals have gone in hoping to actually get remunerative employment, and have been offered Personality Tests. This is not what I would call good PR.

We had some guests...Mek and a friend dropped by, but they were not in picket mode. Just a little moral support. Phr arrived somewhat flustered and extremely late! I think everyone was more or less in holiday mode. Right before we left Jeff enquired if we were planning on picketing on the Fourth. Jour and I informed him that we had other plans, and not to drop by the Org on our account.

As for fashion notes, Jeff was wearing his suit, Jour had the famous red jammies, and I had gone California Rumpled Linen Casual, with my fabulous straw hat with the long black hatpin with the cork on one end. Jeff noted this fashion feature and said he was glad I had the thing corked. Perhaps I was a bit snippish with him! I must mention that Mek was wearing a handsome salmon colored knit sport shirt and looked very snappy. Phr was sporting a much needed and very attractive haircut. A good time was had by all. Pch
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Subject: Picket Report, San Francisco, July 3 98
From: jour0@aol.com (Jour0)(Kristi Wachter)

Full Report

SUMMARY:
Suppressives: phr, Peaches, and me
Date/Time: 7/3/98, about 11:55 until about 1:35
Handouts: fliers ("Don't Be A Sucker", "Why I Picket", criminal allegations, Lisa, Xenu), suckers, Attorney General postcards
Weather: sunny and windy
Foot Traffic: steady
Street Traffic: steady
Scn Response: handly; stress test table set up late in the picket
General Passerby Response: favorable
Stats: 33 suckers and 7 sucker fliers; 28 "Why" fliers; 7 Lisa fliers; 2 Xenu fliers; 16 Attorney General postcards; 4 "is $cn breaking the law" fliers.

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Subject: Non-picket report from kady and snefru
Date sent: Fri, 03 Jul 1998
From: tallulah@storm.ca

Just a tip for those of y'all in the LA area who may be thinking of picketing the "Festival" being held on L. Ron Hubbard Way over the 4th of July weekend - don't plan on picketing/leafleting anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the Event itself. Thanks to a healthy dose of picket paranoia, the powerz that be actually got permits from the city restricting *all* traffic - vehicular and pedestrian - on LRH Way, including the sidewalks on the other side of the street. (Guess they learned something from the March pickets.)

At the moment, the Event itself is being held in the parking lot beside the LA Day Org, which is tastefully entombed in white plastic tarps that stretch up over the fence, making it impossible to view picket signs from inside. As for the area outside the parking lot, it is officially 'open to the public'. Of course, if you happen to represent one of the less desireable - read: scepticial - members of the public, you might find yourself somewhat less than welcome, as we did when I and my fellow a.r.s. lurker/picketer/renaissance guy Snefru attempted to attend the event itself on Friday night.

We had no picket signs, we had no flyers; no t-shirts, no buttons - no BTs - no NOTHING, darn it. We were just there to experience the high weirdness of a totally theta event. We were prepared to be on our best behaviour, and were actively engaged in Minding Our Own Business tech when we were summarily ejected from the premises not more than ten minutes after we arrived on the scene.
Snefru recalls:

We arrived, and essentially walked around semi-randomly for about ten minutes. Just as we were attempting to find a seat, as the event was starting, I was tapped on the back a guy who then said something to the effect of "Excuse me, you were here on March 13th weren't you?" I was distinctly surprised that they could possibly have just remembered me on sight from the March Picket in LA, but alas..he called me on it. I responded "umm..well...yes I was." He then asked me to follow him, where he escorted me over to a less populated area of the parking lot. He mentioned "Last time you were here with a Picket Sign." I told him that he was indeed correct, but that as he could see, this time I was obviously sans picketing materiel. He asked me what i disliked about the "church". I said "Well, that's a very good question..there's quite a lot..where would you like me to begin?" He told me that this was a "church event", to which I asked in reponse if this event was open to the public, or was strictly for church members. I intimated that I was under the understanding this was a public event for anyone who wanted to show up, and stated that were I carrying a picket sign on their property, I would at least understand their frustration, but since I was entirely peacably, and totally non-chalantly attending an event causing no disturbance whatsoever, I would respectfully like to stay, and watch the event. He told me that the event was indeed a church event, and only church members, or "people who like the church" were welcome.

I had a rather pleasant, and polite discussion with him for another 5-10 minutes, basically saying that I was indeed critical of the CoS, I did not "like the church", etc, but that I was basically a nice guy, and not even looking to cause any trouble, picket anyone hand out leaflets, or engage in any form of "entheta" at all, but that I really was interested in attending the event to "see what it's all about first hand". He invited me to come back to be processed, and to join Scientology if I ever recanted my current beliefs about the church, and that they would be happy to have me. I explained to him that for an organization that would be happy to have me, they sure weren't making me feel all that welcome, and booting me out of their event, having caused no disturbance, whatsoever, just because of who I was, certainly didn't help their case any, in regards to my being welcomed back if i wanted to "Learn about Scientology", but that I would be forever willing to discuss Scientology with him, or anyone. He summarily declined my offer to conversation. At this point, I decided to essentially give up, and leave the premises. I shook his hand, said it was nice to meet him, and walked out into the street.

I had intended to troll around the street a bit, where all of the booths, and other miscellaneous things were located, figuring "Hey! Public street! They can't kick pedestrians off!" They then approached me, and said please leave..i pointed out that it was a public street, and they had no real right to evict pedestrians. They corrected me, and suggested I ask the Police Officers at the end of the street. The officers confirmed this. (shrug) I left. I go home. I write message to ars. End story. All in all, they were at least polite to us..although had absolutely zero interest in us attending their event even under the most benevolent of pretenses.

As an aside...they *knew* we were coming that night. I don't just mean "we" in the "critics" sense..i mean us specifically. This is not all that surprising considering the Whirlwind Entheta Tour 1998 that we had embarked upon this week. Some of our stops included CST headquarters, Lunch at the Celebrity Center (I have it on good authority the Turkey Sammich is pretty good...but I'd stay away from the Tuna), a tour of the LRH Life Exhibition, extensive scoping of the Big Blue Behemoth on two seperate days, both of which drew attention, a visit *inside* the walls of AHSO, (shh! don't tell!), and a personal visit to the law offices of one Norton S. Karno to enquire about his curious relationship to the "Church of Scientology", and one L. Ron Hubbard. This above, and beyond anything else did *NOT* make them happy. Good ol' Nort (we have now confirmed that Nort is indeed his official nickname, courtesy of Richard Garcia..one of Nort's partners in the law firm) is an understandably touchy subject with them. I guess they have some kinda button about people enquiring into their billion dollar money laundering scams. Note to Garcia: flatten that button, and stop smiling so much, while attempting to make useless banter. It made it obvious you were scared shitless. He also may not want to say things like "Well, OF COURSE they can see Nort! Anyone can see Nort! No Problem! If they want to talk to Nort, they can talk to Nort!", immediately followed by "Uhh...Nort is busy. Nort doesn't answer questions. Nort is a very 'specific' person. Nort is going on vacation tomorrow. Leave us your name, and phone number, why doncha?"

Anyway..they knew we were coming..they were prepared for us two specifically..and they were genuinely seriously enturbulated by our existance, and presence therein. Ohh..and I got Norty-Nort business cards...aren't you all jealous?

Tallulah returns:
Well, sheesh, that pretty much sums up our Thrilling Theta Experience Gone Horribly Awry, although I'd like to add a special note for our friends at OSA who may be reading this post: I do, indeed, look like my 'picture on the Internet', although as you may have noticed, I wasn't actually sticking my tongue out while being thrown out of the Event. But it's flattering to know that you have my full name, geographic location and other particulars at your fingertips. Is that supposed to, like, scare me or something? :) (Usually guys just ask for my sign.)

Anyhoo, that was our take on the LRH Way Festival. Picketers, beware of polite yet unstoppable faux cops and security folks; and all you general publics out there: this event is for people who *like* the Church of Scientology, period. This is Not The Place to evaluate data, apparently. Be warned.
Yrs, from the Whirlwind Entheta Tour 1998,

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Subject: Picket Report, Mesa AZ, 7/4/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

Kathy and I picketed from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Independance Day.
There were only 5 cars at the Mi$$ion. Traffic was light, but very appreciative in terms of "thumbs up" and "V" signs. In any case, even light traffic means 300-500 people can see our signs in an hour.

The Arizona "monsoon" is now starting; we had rain Saturday evening. The heat, which had been 108-112 degress will drop, but the humidity will be up, and wind and rain in the afternoon may make picketing an iffy thing. We will have to be creative :-)

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Subject: San Jose Picket July 6, 1998
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

20 minutes, 5:15-5:35 pm. 30 vehicles. No sprinkler tech, hardly any traffic in or out.

Back for the first time in a week after a trip to another state for a daughter's wedding, and a swing through Yosemite. (The falls are still running at high levels due to the El Nino induced snow pack.)

The weeds in the lot next door are down, someone used a tractor on them, I would guess after discovering the job was near hopeless using a weed whacker. Also, the ivy has been cut out of the gutter on the street, though it still laps way over on the sidewalk.

Does anyone know what the new construction to the east of the ship in Hemet is all about? Keith Henson

PS, new sign being made:
Did LRH "Implant"
David Miscavige?
(Did it hurt? Did (*)
enjoy "Implanting"?

60 Minutes,
Public Eye
Dateline.

Coming up
Turning Point

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Subject: LA Scientology Sit-In, 7/7/98
From: skanda@postoffice.pacbell.net

Today, with a half-hour to spare waiting for a doctor's appointment, I walked over to L. Ron Hubbard Way, past a group of Sea Org members talking in front of ASHO and walked up the block stopping at the opposite side of the street facing the entrance into the org. I quietly sat down on the sidewalk and I watched the normal activity of people coming and going into the building UNTIL I pulled out my handy-dandy store-bought camera and started taking pictures.

Like a swarm of bees protecting the queen, I was surrounded by Scientology security people and Sea Org members demanding to know what I was doing, why I was taking pcitures, threatening to call the LAPD. I was later advised by the LAPD there is no law in sitting on a public sidewalk on a nice summer day and taking photos, and if I am touched or harassed in any manner in the future, to report it immediately to the LAPD who will take action. Look forward to a sit-in in the near future, LA Orgee's.

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Subject: Picket report San Jose 7/11/98
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

Two of us today, second person needs to pick a name yet.
Half hour 5-5:30. No reaction from the cult, 35 cars, a new low for a Sat. There must have been something special going today because there were a bunch of new cars unlike any I have seen before out front. New sign, side one is:

Ask inside: Does
the Bridge(tm)
Really Cost
$360 Thousand?
www.xenu.net
side 2
Tell Scientology:
"I mock up my
reactive mind."
Save $160,000!
www.xenu.net

There was a fair traffic going in and out, and the signs were read. Keith Henson
PS, the signs were made as portrait print in 72 pt bold type and then enlarged by 350% on a giant digital copy machine at Kinkos. Made the letters about 3 inches high. This kind of sign can be read from a block away.

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Subject: Court/Picket report 7/13/98
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

After court (bankruptcy) today I put in a really productive 45 minute picket from 6:20 to 7:05 (pm). There were only about 20 cars when I got there, but lots came in up to about 45, making the lot as full as I have ever seen. I may make this a standard picket time.

The people who came in mostly made a really studied effort at not looking at my signs, which were the same as last time, about the $360k cost for the bridge. A few of them frankly stared at the sign. One guy stopped and looked hard at the sign, then (I think) drove around the building and out. (The car was far enough away I was not sure it was the same one.)

I even got an ack from a guy who was walking back to the org with dinner. I mentioned he could get a better deal with the the FZ to him, and he acked me by calling me an asshole.

There seems to be a running program, round and round the building going on and involving children. After a few laps by my picket a staffer came out and stopped them.

One guy left his kids in his minivan for over 20 minutes. I was getting close to calling the cops, because you are not supposed to leave kids in cars at all, much less that long. One of the kids (just old enough to read) spent a lot of time looking at my sign which had the bit about mocking up your reactive mind.

The Scn's got hammered in the court hearing. The judge put this one to last, and seems to be most interested in the case, calling it unlike anything he had seen in 8 and a half years on the bench. We were there till just after 6 pm. My new bankruptcy lawyer said almost nothing, and the clam lawyers shot themselves in the foot over and over arguing with the judge. Graham (who was there) got off with no sanctions, I am back in bankruptcy, which will keep the judgment collect at bay while the appeal goes forward.

Tom Hogan has an interesting set of scars from a bicycle accident a few weeks ago. I gave him the motions for a protective order and the one on more time to file a rule 60 motion. Besides him, there was the bankruptcy lawyer for the clams a Ms Seid (Chinese), Helena, Warren, and Alan. I wonder how I could get the LRH quote about Chinese to her? Keith Henson

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Subject: Picket Report, Mesa AZ, 7/16/98
From: bpetty@primenet.com (BP)

I stopped by after work for a 40 minute picket, which was about all I could tolerate at 115 degrees.

There were 5 cars in the lot, and no arrivals or exits during the picket. Traffic was heavy, and interest in the crazy guy with the sign was evident.

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Subject: San Jose picket 7/17/98
From: hkhenson@netcom.com (Keith Henson)

My picket was not as interesting as Ted Mayett's. 5:15-5:30. 24 cars.
They were triming the ivy today and there were still piles of it on the sidewalk. No response, no kids running around the bulding.

I guess I should start picketing with a Swedish copy of NOTs or maybe a phone book, or maybe a few hundred pages of Vorlon's output.
Keith Henson (some adventure Ted. The fact nothing happened was most exciting!)

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Subject: Picket report, Minneapolis, 7/17/98
From: Xenubat@primenet.com (Bat Child (Sue M.))

(NOTE: The conversations described are pretty much paraphrased as I don't remember the exact words of the conversations.)

Well, today was the start of the Minneapolis Aquatennial with the Aquatennial Block Party in downtown Minneapolis featuring a free concert by the Smashing Pumpkins; over 100,000 people were expected to come downtown to see the Smashing Pumpkins. Also, all the Metro Transit buses that normally go down Hennepin Avenue were being re-routed to Nicollet Mall (the Block Party was on Hennepin Avenue between 4th and 10th Sts.). Plus the weather was really nice today. All those factors, plus the fact that I hadn't picketed in over two months, made me decide that today would be a very good day for a picket. (I would have loved to have stayed and gone to the Smashing Pumpkins show too but I had work to do this evening (sigh)). So I dragged my picket sign to work today, kept discreetly covered in a black garbage bag. When I got off work, I headed over to the org; I got to the area about 5:25-5:30 pm.

My picket sign was the same one I've used on my other recent pickets: "SCIENTOLOGY: SPACE ALIEN SCAM" on one side and "DOES THE BRIDGE REALLY COST $360,000?" on the other side. I also brought a bunch of copies of the Xemu flyer to hand out to people (I also had Lisa, Scam and Minneapolis/Poole flyers in my bag, but was mainly planning to use the Xemu flyer).

There were lots of extra cops on duty downtown because of the Block Party. When I got to 9th and Nicollet I saw two cops, one of whom was talking to some guy sitting on the sidewalk; the other cop was standing nearby around the corner. I pulled my sign out of my garbage bag and went up to the cop who was standing nearby and told him I was planning to picket the Scn church down the street, that I had done it a couple of times before, and asked if there would be any problems with my doing that. I mentioned that my understanding was that as long as I didn't block people's way or act disruptively I was all right. I said, "Well, the Scientologists might call you guys, so I just wanted to be sure it was OK." The cop said he didn't see any problem with me picketing at all. Some of my relatives aren't terribly thrilled about my picketing--they're afraid I'm going to get arrested--so that was part of the reason I talked to the cops; another reason is so that in case something happened to me, the police would at least be aware of what I was doing; and also so they would realize that not all of us critics are improper lane-changing criminals! ;-)

As I headed over toward the org, by the time I got over to 10th St., one guy read my sign out loud. I pulled out one of my Xemu flyers and asked if he wanted to read more about it and he snapped at me, "I don't think so!" Well, sheesh, I was just trying to be helpful and save him $150,000+--I guess there's no pleasing some people! ;-) That was the only negative comment I heard, fortunately.

Then I saw that Orchestra Hall was having their Sommerfest concert series and there was an outdoor mini-concert going on with a nice sized crowd of people there, so I decided to also walk between 11th and 12th St. with my sign. Also, right across the street from Orchestra Hall there's a bar called Brit's Pub; all the outdoor tables at Brit's Pub were filled up and there were more people standing in line waiting to go inside the bar. So basically my route was down Nicollet Mall between 10th and 12th Streets. (The sidewalk opposite the org between 10th and 11th Streets was closed to pedestrian traffic because of construction.)

I spent a few minutes talking to one guy who asked me about my sign. He asked if I used to be a member, and I said I hadn't, but had almost joined, had taken their Personality Test (he was familiar with that test) , but that fortunately I had gone and read the "Cult of Greed and Power" article in "Time" magazine and decided not to join after reading the article. We also talked about, among other things, the staff's low pay and about the "Freeloader" debt Scn tries to use as a threat to staffers; that a number of ex-members have confirmed the contents of OT-3 (he wondered how I knew about Scn believing we're possessed by murdered space aliens); about the Purification Rundown; and about Lisa McPherson. He saw the side of my sign about the $360,000 price tag and he said, "Wow! Is it really that much?" I said, "Yeah, give or take a few, that's the estimate of how much it costs to reach OT-8, their highest level." He said he didn't think he'd be interested in spending that kind of money. In addition to the Xemu flyer, I also gave him a Lisa flyer, a Minneapolis/Poole flyer and a Scam flyer.

People seemed to be pretty approving, as they were on my last picket. I got a thumbs up sign from one Metro Transit bus driver. I'm still trying to work on my flyer tech--usually I'll wait till I know someone has read my sign before I'll offer them a flyer but people usually would cheerfully take one; several other people also came up to me to ask me for one of my flyers. I'm guessing I handed out between 30-40 Xemu flyers. I think I found just 1 Xemu flyer dropped on the sidewalk during my picket which, being the good citizen that I am, I promptly picked up so I wouldn't be responsible for any litter. :-)

I was originally going to only stay till about 6:00 but I actually continued till about 6:20. I went over to the bus stop on Nicollet Mall between 9th and 10th St. and caught a bus about 1-2 min later. As the bus went by the org, I saw that the man and woman Scienos who had previously come out to question me and Reverend Reversible when we picketed in April were standing outside the org! They were both looking down the street like they were possibly looking to see where I went (?); I just missed them by minutes--what a shame! :-)

(Oh, I forgot to mention this on the April picket report: At the April picket, one of the questions the lady Scieno had asked Rev. was "What crimes have you committed against Scientology?" and Rev. and I both broke out laughing!)

On the bus, one rider across the aisle from me was talking to a friend. After his friend got off the bus, the rider commented about my sign, saying "I bet they hated seeing you there!" and smiling. He told about a couple he knew who lived in the Los Angeles area, how they got evicted from their place and were sleeping in their car at one point, and how they somehow got sucked into Scn (I wondered how Scn managed that, as they usually aren't interested in recruiting downstat homeless people), and how they wound up giving their car to the Scienos and losing more money to them. He was familiar with the E-meter, too. He pretty much thought Scn was a crock and said his opinion of John Travolta went way downhill when he heard that Travolta was a Scieno--thought if Travolta believed in all that Scn stuff he must really be stupid. A woman who was sitting in a nearby seat replied, "Well, all Travolta knows about Scn is the great treatment he gets at the Celebrity Centre; he doesn't see all the crummy stuff that the regular members see." It turns out the woman was an ex-member; she left the church quite a long time ago (about 20+ years?); I don't know how long she was in or where. She also said that there were some useful things about the tech but it was the management that was so rotten, and said she thought L. Ron Hubbard could possibly have been murdered by the people in his inner circle--said how suspicious it was that his death wasn't announced for several days and then they immediately had him cremated after his death and had his ashes scattered at sea. The man then got off at his stop and the woman got off a few blocks later. I told her I was glad she got out of Scn and she said something like that she wasn't really either pro- or anti-Scn any more. Then I continued on my bus ride home.

Well I've taken longer to write this picket report than I did actually picketing! Sorry about that! So this is it for now. :-)
Sue (SP4)(http://members.cox.net/batchild1/)

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Subject: picket report, San Francisco, 7/18/98
From: jour0@aol.com (Jour0)(Kristi Wachter)

Full Report

Suppressives: phr, Peaches, and me
Date/Time: 7/18/98, about 12:10 until about 1:25
Handouts: fliers ("Don't Be A Sucker", "Why I Picket", criminal allegations, Lisa, Xenu), suckers, Attorney General postcards
Tools: sign, disposable camera, tape recorder
Weather: sunny and hot
Foot Traffic: mostly steady
Street Traffic: steady
Scn Response: mostly pleasantly ignored us; stress test table set up late in the picket; one (two?) polite "stay on the sidewalk"
General Passerby Response: favorable
Stats: 37 suckers and 39 sucker fliers; 2 "Why" fliers; 5 Lisa fliers; 1 Xenu flier; 4 Attorney General postcards; 6 "is $cn breaking the law" fliers
(snipped) Full report: http://members.aol.com/jour0/picketreport.980718.html