Charlotte L. Kates

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Subject: Scientologists picket my home, April 26, 1999!
From: Charlotte L. Kates clkates@aol.com
Date: 26 Apr 1999 21:12:22 -0700
Message-ID: 7g3df6$n0@drn.newsguy.com

When I left work this evening (I work a part-time job at a local mall while going to school), I was greeted by my mother with the news that I'd had an "interesting night tonight." And so I had! Despite the fact that I was not at home, and neither were my parents, as they were attending a local town meeting, a crew of six Scientologists came to my house in a van and a red Chevrolet Cavalier, armed with signs, to picket the day's Face of Religious Bigotry, me.

Note: Nearly all of this is information I got from my parents, who were told this by various of my neighbors.

The six Scientologists, including DSA Tim Lomas, DSA PRO Bruce Thompson, and ED Bonnie Di Martino of Philadelphia Org, as well as a young girl approximately 11 or 12, arrived with several signs, including one with a large picture of me, and a caption about how I, Charlotte Kates, was the face of religious bigotry. There is an ongoing parking controversy on my small street with regards to a popular Japanese restaurant at the corner, and a neighbor, fed up, could not believe that 2 more big vehicles were parking there instead of in Sagami's lot. She confronted them, whereupon they told her that they had nothing to do with the restaurant, and went into their spiel about how I, her neighbor, was a religious bigot. She responded They told "everyone who would listen" that I was a religious bigot, that I spew hatred, intolerance, and such. They compared me to a Nazi, even--ironic that I've been an anti-fascist since before I ever had the bad luck to come in contact with Scn. Alluding to my past as a Scientologist, they said that I "used to be helpful" but that I now "spew hate on the Internet."

In addition, they took numerous pictures of passerby and neighbors, and insistently rang our doorbell. Several neighbors informed them repeatedly that we were not at home, and even said that "you can ring the bell all you like, they aren't home." Despite this, they continued to repeatedly ring the bell and attempt to look inside the windows of the house. The local young children appeared to be the only ones who would pay attention to the picketers, whereupon several neighbors took their children inside. The aforementioned neighbor who confronted them upon their arrival also called Collingswood Police, who arrived shortly.

The police officer who arrived told them that this was not the way to handle the situation, and told them to leave. In addition, my next-door neighbor reported that the officer confiscated the Scientologists' signs. The officer called back later and spoke with my parents, as I still was not home from work and blissfully unaware of the scene at home, and took some information and gave them a case number.

So, Scientology, basically, you attempted to intimidate my neighbors, taking their pictures repeatedly--and they reacted by taking their children in to hide them from your harassive behavior, and calling the police. Perhaps you wanted to intimidate my parents. On the other hand--they're proud of me, and happier than ever that I am *out* of Scientology. In addition, you've given me a *wonderful* opportunity to inform my heretofore unaware neighbors about what Scientology really is--after all, they've now seen the harassment in action. They know that Scientology is a destructive, harassive cult, and that I take a stand to prevent others from becoming involved. Quite simply, no one is intimidated--simply more determined than ever to tell the truth about Scientology!

Charlotte L. Kates
(http://www.offlines.org/)
OFFLINESonline: Freedom from Scientology

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Subject: They Come Back--Scientologists Picket My Home Again, April 27, 1999!
From: Charlotte L. Kates clkates@aol.com
Date: 27 Apr 1999 18:26:23 -0700
Message-ID: 7g5o3v$15ah@drn.newsguy.com

(http://www.offlines.org/picketpix.html) Pictures

Well, this time I had just arrived home from school not long before, and was happily chatting away on IRC #scientology about the events of *last* night, when my mother called me from downstairs. "They're back!"

Yes, they were back. There were fewer of them this time--only four. Tim Lomas (DSA) and Bruce Thompson (DSA PRO) were repeat picketers, while Dave Cormier (Purif I/C) was most likely a new addition to the crowd, along with another woman whose name I do not recall. I hurriedly disconnected so my mother could call the police, giving them the case number given me last night. The four of them were circling around the sidewalk in front of my house--three of their signs had pictures of me (an odd picture--mainly the top of my head) with the caption "Charlotte Kates Religious Bigot"; the fourth said "Charlotte Kates--Only a Communist Would Oppose Religious Freedom", an allusion to my younger teenage alliance with left-wing groups.

The 911 operator said that the police would be arriving shortly. Meanwhile, my father had gone outside and was arguing with Tim Lomas. He came back in, and grabbing our camera, my mother and I headed outside, greeting them with a sprightly "Hi Tim! Hi Bruce! Hi Dave!" and taking snapshots of the whole crew as Bruce videotaped the entire picket, the neighborhood in general, me, my family and our house. Tim looked at me coldly and asked how long I had been "spewing hate" on the Internet. My mother said that *this* was spewing hate; Tim replied that this was the "first time" they had been at our house--when my mother reminded him of their visit last night, he seemed almost surprised.

We continued to observe the picket, and eventually my father stood on our step and waited for the police as they continued outside. When the police came in a van and another police car, I went outside to speak with the officer, saying that I was a former member of Scientology, that I'd found out it was a cult, and that I'd left, and that now I speak out against Scientology. The officer spoke with Tim and Bruce (as the OSA reps, they were in charge), and told them once more that this was "not the best way to handle things." After they finally packed their signs and left, the officer came to speak with me and my family--he stated that he will look into the situation with residential picketing after we explained Scientology's pattern of harassment.

BTW, I think any sign confiscation last night was merely temporary, until the Scientologists returned to their cars, since they had the signs again tonight.

And no, Scientology, it's *still not working*. I'm still more determined than ever to tell the truth about the criminal destructive cult of Scientology.

Charlotte L. Kates
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Subject: Once, Twice, Three times....Scientologists Picket My Home, April 28, 1999
From: Charlotte L. Kates clkates@aol.com
Date: 28 Apr 1999 19:46:22 -0700
Message-ID: 7g8h5u$2r28@drn.newsguy.com

This is becoming a trend, it seems...As was the rumor, my picketers returned again tonight, and were, as on Monday, greeted by an empty house. I was again at school; my parents were again out. Therefore, once again, all information is from neighbors. Five Scientologists were back again--apparently the same four as last night, Tim Lomas, Bruce Thompson, Dave Cormier, a woman I don't know, and another female. They picketed with the same signs as before--a picture with "Charlotte Kates Religious Bigot" and the "Charlotte Kates--Only a Communist would Oppose Religious Freedom" sign, and carried a video camera.

One angry neighbor of mine cursed at them and told them to get off her property where they had wandered over the line; another sat outside with his dogs. I can tell you this--the neighbors are truly irate about the whole idea of someone picketing and harassing their neighbor--and their anger is *not* directed at me. After about fifteen minutes of picketing an empty house, the Scientologists left.

Apparently unsatisfied, they reportedly went next to Rod Keller's house in Philadelphia--I await Rod's report on what happened there....

Well, Scientology, how long will this continue? You can be back tomorrow; you can picket me every night--and it simply will not silence me. Just as with all the others on whom you've attempted this tactic, it will fail. I can and I will outlast you. And sorry you miss me so much at home--it seems that I have a life to live.

Charlotte L. Kates
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Subject: Repost: Why Awareness is Worth More than Infiltration
From: Charlotte L. Kates clkates@aol.com
Date: 28 Apr 1999 08:59:53 -0700
Message-ID: 7g7b9p$mua@drn.newsguy.com

Last night, in his attack posting, francoci@relaypoint.net referred to a post that apparently indicated I infiltrated Scn. Since I *didn't* (and, btw, Scn has ethics files containing reports from quite a few sec checks involving questions about infiltration, etc, all of which I passed with flying colors), I was curious to see what exactly was in this post. Well, I found it--Apparently, an AOL newbie on ARS said he was going to infiltrate Scientology, and iirc, my own former org, Philadelphia. Warning him of the dangers of Scientology mind control techniques, I told him that the infiltration he planned was nothing more than a route to getting involved in Scientology, since he was expecting monsters and caricatures--and he'd be very surprised at the "normality" of Scientologists he met. I tell him about how awareness is far better than infiltration. So, Francoci, here's your "smoking gun": tends to make you look like even more of a liar, no?

Charlotte

From: clkates@aol.com (CLKates)
Subject: Re: I'm going to EXPOSE scientology
Date: 17 Sep 1998 00:00:00 GMT
Message-ID: 19980917121300.24921.00000631@ng126.aol.com
References: 19980916191738.14820.00000327@ng09.aol.com
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
X-Admin: news@aol.com

Loitys,

I'm an ex-Scientologist, formerly of the Philadelphia Org. I'm going to offer a bit of advice--infiltration is a bad idea. The thing is, you will not find a group of "wacko brainwashed culties" or skulking OSA agents at the Org--just a bunch of people who have no idea of the real nature of the group they are serving.

They also won't be talking about space aliens--I don't think the Org has any staff that are OT III and above for that matter! (They didn't when I was there..) That's considered confidential data in Scientology; and most staff don't know anything about it. You also will *not* find any Scientologist who will say "suicide is freeing the soul." I never knew any Scientologist who believed that--especially, once again, at Philadelphia Org.

There aren't any Big Cult Secrets at Philadelphia Org--most of those are already out here, on the Net. If you want to expose Scientology, please, picket, set up web sites, post to ARS, flyer, tell your friends about the dangers of Scn. If you want to picket the Org, I'll be glad to do so with you--just give me a date and time. But please, do not infiltrate. It's a fast track to becoming a Scientologist, because what you will find there is not what you are expecting. What you'll find there are a lot of people like you and me, who are not aware of what criminality they are serving.

Spreading awareness may help set those people free, and that is worth more than any infiltration.

Also, I'd like to warn you that by posting this non-anonymously, from an AOL account, you have *seriously* compromised your security to a large extent.

To read my story in the Philly Org, check out (http://members.aol.com/clkates/) My page about the Org itself is available at
(http://members.aol.com/clkates/philly.html)
[Updated URLs--http://www.offlines.org/ and http://www.offlines.org/philly.html
--CLK]

Charlotte L. Kates

Charlotte L Kates http://members.aol.com/clkates "It is time for Scientologists to hold Miscavige accountable for his failed leadership.To support your cause,critics can and will help you.We are here to help you regain the dignity you once had"-Bob Minton
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end repost

Charlotte L. Kates